"A good man is not a perfect man; a good man is an honest man,faithful and unhesitatingly responsive to the voice of God in his life." -John Fisher
We all search for perfect partners but inevitably end up with much less.In most circumstances, we can either choose to make the best of it or give up. Likewise we expect to have perfect children but usually end up with well almost but not quite perfect.
Have you ever wondered,why on only a couple or maybe three occasions, you make a promise to God in the presence of the church?
When you get married, dedicate a child and get bapised, you make a contract with God in the presence of the people.These are covenants
You make a vow to God in front of witnesses (the church).
This clearly shows that these events are the most significant events in the mind of God concerning us.
Why?
When we get married, we make a commitment to another to love, honour and cherish the other in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer till death do us part.
Well, yes that is the promise that we made.
Have we kept that promise? probably not.
We, myself included, are guilty of taking our partners for granted of not taking a step back and looking for the good that is in them, that we saw in the first instance.
It's easier for our conscience to focus on their shortcomings. In that way we somehow feel justified in our opinion of them. Its always more convenient to be the victim in a perceived tragedy.
Lets be honest,our partner was and will never be perfect.that's not the point.
The point is that.it is the relationship that is relevent.
In this regard, it is the promise that we made to love, honour and cherish the other that is the key.
It must be reciprocated, as they say, it takes two to tango.
Likewise, when we dedicate/consecrate a child to God,we make a promise to bring up the child in the way of God, to teach,guide and nurture the child to be a good and responsible adult.
Yet how much time do we spend with our children? do we take time to talk to them or do we talk at them?Do we nurture their spiritual growth? How do we conduct ourselves?Are we examples for them to follow.
Are we keeping our promise?
We make our other contract with God; directly, in the presence of the Church when we are baptised.
We promise that we confess our sins we have repented and we dedicate our lives to God and his ways.Here we acknowledge God as our father and he accepts that we are his. He sends us his gift of his holy spirit to nurture and guide us.It is our commitment with God.Our acknowledgement of him.
why is this important?
Because these three events dominate every aspect of our lives from birth to death which is the essence of our very being to be better human beings.To be signifcant in the whole scheme of things.
If everyone kept these promises that we made with God to a tee, we would have perfect lives, the world would indeed be a better place
Most importantly, we would enjoy the blessings of such relationship, the blessings of love and prosperity in abundance.
Where do we start?
Not to pray that God must change others around us,
But to pray for God to change us first.
For God to change OUR ways, to be closer to him,to grant US, patience, tolerance, meekness, humility, loving kindness, forgiveness and faith
To care, To share.
If we let God change us for the better, our perception of the world and people around us will change too.For the better.We will live more meaningful and fulfilling lives.
Our relationships are what we make of them.
Love one and other that is our promise to God and Gods commandment to us.
Lest we forget he loves us with an everlasting love despite our shortcomings and he forgives us, remembering our shortcomings no more. Can we do the same ? love, forgive and forget?
Why not? Don't forget, God has given us abundance of grace.
"God never promises to remove us from our struggles,He does promise,however to change the way we look at them."- Max Lucado
some verses:
Isiah 24:5
"The earth is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws,changed the ordinance,broken the everlasting covenant."
Isiah 55:3
"Incline your ear and come unto me: hear,and your soul shall live, and I will make an everlasting covenant with you..."
Isiah 54:10
"For the mountains shall depart,and the hills removed ; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee."
Amen
Saturday, March 7, 2009
At the end of the day,...was it worth it?
"The Measure of a life after all, is not its duration but its donation"- Corrie ten Boom
"It matters not how a man dies but how he lives" - Samuel Jackson
Have you noticed how there are some people in life who, if you looked at their life, looks like the aftermath of a tornado. A trail of destruction.
Then there are some who are "builders" who help,who contribute,who share, who love who create and enhance the lives of others through themselves.
At the end of our lives, when we look back , We must have done enough to say our life was worth living,that our being born was not a waste, that indeed, we made a difference.
If we cant say that we made even the slightest difference, then with respect, our lives would have been an utter waste.
Its all well and good to make our weekly appearance in church but fail to make a difference in a day.
If we consider our words, to encourage others, to find something positive to say about or to someone.,to carefully choose our words and works in this regard everyday in itself is a lot.
You will be surprised at the effect of these simple words and how it can and will change the lives of others
If we can do more with deeds, it would be better.
The person who gave up his simple supper of five loaves and two fishes was the catalyst of the miracle for the five thousand that were fed. read -Mathew chapter 14,verses 15 -21.
Our usual excuse is that we don't have enough time.
It may ease our conscience, for example to give a few coins to a beggar or send a cheque to a charity. Is that enough?
How many of us would be prepared to go to a home foer abandoned or 'special' children and spend half a day there.?How many of us would celebrate our birthdays there? how many of us would spend a little time with someone who needs a friend or some comfort, advice, love or care.
Could we have made that phone call, could we have paid that compliment,could we have said I love you... and meant it.could we have spent some time...
We are what we do and say, how we carry ourselves.
We have chances everyday to make a difference in a simple way.
Its the simple things that count.
At the end of the day, our lives must have been worth living...that's our true value.
Lets be remembered as a "builder and not a destroyer"
A few verses,
Matthew 5, 14-16:
14."Ye are the light of the world.A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
15.Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel,but on a candlestick :and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16.Let your light so shine before men,that ye may see your good works,and glorify your father which is in heaven."
Amen.
"It matters not how a man dies but how he lives" - Samuel Jackson
Have you noticed how there are some people in life who, if you looked at their life, looks like the aftermath of a tornado. A trail of destruction.
Then there are some who are "builders" who help,who contribute,who share, who love who create and enhance the lives of others through themselves.
At the end of our lives, when we look back , We must have done enough to say our life was worth living,that our being born was not a waste, that indeed, we made a difference.
If we cant say that we made even the slightest difference, then with respect, our lives would have been an utter waste.
Its all well and good to make our weekly appearance in church but fail to make a difference in a day.
If we consider our words, to encourage others, to find something positive to say about or to someone.,to carefully choose our words and works in this regard everyday in itself is a lot.
You will be surprised at the effect of these simple words and how it can and will change the lives of others
If we can do more with deeds, it would be better.
The person who gave up his simple supper of five loaves and two fishes was the catalyst of the miracle for the five thousand that were fed. read -Mathew chapter 14,verses 15 -21.
Our usual excuse is that we don't have enough time.
It may ease our conscience, for example to give a few coins to a beggar or send a cheque to a charity. Is that enough?
How many of us would be prepared to go to a home foer abandoned or 'special' children and spend half a day there.?How many of us would celebrate our birthdays there? how many of us would spend a little time with someone who needs a friend or some comfort, advice, love or care.
Could we have made that phone call, could we have paid that compliment,could we have said I love you... and meant it.could we have spent some time...
We are what we do and say, how we carry ourselves.
We have chances everyday to make a difference in a simple way.
Its the simple things that count.
At the end of the day, our lives must have been worth living...that's our true value.
Lets be remembered as a "builder and not a destroyer"
A few verses,
Matthew 5, 14-16:
14."Ye are the light of the world.A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
15.Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel,but on a candlestick :and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16.Let your light so shine before men,that ye may see your good works,and glorify your father which is in heaven."
Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
