Smile always

If I can leave some last words with you, I’d say, “Smile always.”
No matter what comes your way, smile always.
Smile despite pain, sorrow and fear.
Smile in the valley of shadow of death.
Smile in the mundane everyday life.
Smile through your tears. Smile even when you have lost something or someone dear to you.
For it is in losing that you gain (understanding).
“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:26 NKJV

There is a saying that goes like this, “Smile, and the world smiles with you.”
I am not sure how true that is, but I know there will always be folks who can use some cheering up.


Sv “.+


P/s: Smiling is not one of my fortes, but if you ever find me smiling, by God, I sure must be happy. Really happy ; )

21/02/2008 14:34

A to Z

I'm neither the author nor the finisher of my life nor my faith. He is.
He was right there at the beginning, and He will be right there at the end of the world.
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and was and who is to come, the Almighty."
The Revelation of Jesus Christ 1: 8 NKJV.

Why do our problems increase in size as we grow older? Why do we encourage children to believe in their dreams when we have allowed ours to die?
As children, we would turn to our parents for comfort. As adults, we bury our wounds together with our troubled hearts and say, "That's life".
That is not life. That is a big fat lie from the devil himself! No matter how difficult life gets and how faint our hope is, we cannot make do with lesser.
Living is about believing that someday righteousness will overcome evil, someday our dreams will come true, someday we will rediscover true love.

We only have one lifetime. We cannot afford to merely exist and be dead in our spirit!
Our physical existence ceases when our lifespan is over, but our spirit which transcends the physical world lives on.
Why do Christians worship God? Why do we sing hymns and spiritual songs? Perhaps in the midst of worship, we encounter God.
And in the presence of God, there is love, joy and goodness. We catch a glimpse of heaven. We grasp a sense of God-reality. We see this life differently.

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.
Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people.
God Himself will be with them and be their God. "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:1-4 NKJV.

Love our children, pray for them. Let them see God through our living, loving, talking, doing. Guide them in the way that they should go.
They will want a lot of things, but they will not need everything that they want. Living is hard. Leave them with something to live for.
God, love and the betterment of mankind.

Shalom,
Sv ",+

18/02/2008 12:25

Through His Eyes

And I will worship You in the beauty of Your holiness
And I will worship You for all the things You have done in me
And when my life's complete, I'll place my crown at Your feet
I will worship You on bended knees

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day,
and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 NKJV

Feet firmly rooted to the ground, I saw the end, so I understood the present.
The crown of life is not about wealth or status but His will be done. Then rest will come.
But for now, peace is enough. The peace of GOD that surpasses all understanding guards my heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

Then he told them what they could expect for themselves: "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead.
You're not in the driver's seat - I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how.
Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self.
What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? Luke 9:23-25 The Message

He does not love me any lesser if He does not give me the world.
He does not love me more than others when I gain wealth, fame or status.
He gives me enough each day. Grace in mistakes. Wisdom in troubled times. Love in brokenness. Hope for life.
His words ricochet in my mind, targeting the bull’s eye.

“Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday
human concerns will be met.” Matthew 6:33 The Message
“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow.
God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. Matthew 6:34 The Message

When you took me in, and put me behind the steering wheel and said, "Drive." It took me a while to realize that I had been given the license to drive.
So I took the cue, started the engine and took to the road. There were times when the ride was tough, and times when it was enjoyable and empowering.
Sometimes I ended up lost at the crossroads. All alone not knowing which way is the right direction. Then I hear a still small voice.
“The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.” Matthew 6:21 The Message

Thank you for remaining, J.
Sv

Fri 01/02/2008 17.59