AGING GRACEFULLY

                            AGING GRACEFULLY

I have been doing a lot of retrospection lately. How time flies!

When I was in my elementary school, I used to examine my scrawny muscles and wonder when they would grow big and strong.

When I became a teenager I wondered when and how I would marry, live on my own and own things. …

I slept…. I woke… I ate …. I laboured ….

Then I met Christ and a lot of things changed….

I became conscious of God … the value of life …. time ….. and eternity.

So I dreamt ….. I prepared…. I connected with Him …. I lived ….. and I served….

And now I am in my forties and I feel that time is really passing…..

The vision is very clear and expanding but my energy level is flagging…..

  

What have I being doing? What have I done?

How much have I affected my world?

I have this sense of not being really fulfilled…

There is so much ground to cover…. I feel so inadequate….  And time is not on my side…. I need to hurry before my time is up….

This was I who believed I could never get old nor get weak …..

And I feel I am getting old very fast… receding hairline…. aching joints….. spreading wrinkles…. loosening shapes…..and all the works ….

 Or is God not very conscious that I am getting old fast and I am not getting younger?

But I feel the Lord quickening me within

His Spirit speaks to me like never before

giving me wisdom, grace and strength for each new day….

I feel faith, hope and power rising

I feel His heartbeat of love for my generation

I know that by His grace I shall not be consumed

And know that He who began the good work in me will be faithful to complete it till I declare His greatness to many generations. 

So I am going to grow old gracefully because my times are in His hands.

Selah!                              

                                           Be  Thankful   !

Grateful men are very rare. But ingrates are a dozen a dime.

It is appalling the level of selfishness and ingratitude some people exhibit.

A housewife said to her friend at a social gathering ‘‘my husband does not appreciate all that I do. He says ‘what’s the big deal in your keeping house, cooking and laundering for the family? I could do better if I did not have to go to work. He says it like ‘woman, it’s your duty and I don’t have to thank you.’’

A new worker had not worked for more than two weeks at a factory when he began to speak ill of the overall boss. ‘If not that I had a string of bad luck, I would not be doing this kind of job’. Yet before he got the job he was pleading tearfully ‘please ma, I desperately need the job. I promise to work hard and be faithful.’

People can spend all day complaining and agitating about their unsavoury lot, yet when there is a little improvement in their situation they find it hard to say, ‘thank you’. They are just like uncouth kids who want the whole world now but rarely find anything they have received appreciable.

An ingrate is like an armed robber, he ‘steals’ all you have and leaves you empty and unhappy.

Do you remember Jesus’ parable about the ten lepers who were healed. Only one came back to thank the master for his healing. This is why the blessings of so many people are not full, do not last or get lost. Ingratitude puts an obstacle before their miracle.

We find it easy to fight, agitate, grumble and manipulate things our way than appreciate what we have.

If you want to get ahead in life, you must learn to be grateful to God and man. Appreciating all the good that is done for you will help you get along with others and get ahead in life.     

    “…in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

The Power of Patience

                                        The Power of Patience

     I hate waiting. I like to have my things done fast and quick. My flesh crawls when I have to wait and wait for service at a service counter.

     I know you probably do too. You like to have your stuff now and all of it!

     You want your wedding now! You want your breakthrough now!

     There are countless businesses, relationships and destinies that have been truncated by impatience.

     But I have learnt that not all things come quickly, not all things worthwhile will come to you at the flick of your finger.

     You have to learn the power of patience.

      Career success takes a process of time.

      It takes time to build life giving relationships.

      It takes time to grow, mature and become established.

     Many great achievements follow the gradual process of time and you might have to wait if you want to get a worthwhile blessing that will stand the test of time.

    For example you can’t force the process of marriage, childbirth, maturity and financial breakthrough. If you do, it will most likely come with disastrous consequences.

     There is power in patience. While you are waiting and working, you are learning, growing, maturing and becoming established.

     You have to follow due process and wait for your time. This does not mean you must not be ambitious. No. You can be ambitious but don’t be hasty.

     Life will give you what you desire as you plan wisely, work diligently, persevere and keep moving forward.

     You must learn to wait patiently on the Lord.

     There are times you can’t have your way nor make things work out for you fast.

     If you are patient, you will wear out all your opposition and resistance.

    If you are patient, you will have your desire over your enemies.

    Remember the adage ‘the patient dog eats the fattest bone.’

    Don’t look for short cuts or you will be cut short. Learn to wait on God and He will bring your desires to come to pass.

    “Wait on the Lord, and keep His way, and He shall exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off you will see it.” (Psalm 37:34)

                           

WHY ARE MARRIAGES FAILING?

A friend asked me “why is my marriage not working? Why can’t I keep permanent and enjoyable relationships?

I don't claim to have all the answers but could it be that ;

 

-          you are selfish and care only about yourself?

-          you are too proud , ‘closed’ and unreachable?

-          you lack tact in relating with people?

-          you have diarrhea of the mouth?

-          you find it difficult to give yourself to your spouse?

-          you love your stuffs more than your family?

-          you are too busy and pressed for time to relate?

-          you are playing God over your spouse by trying to change them?

-          you are too perfect for ordinary folks to satisfy?

-           you are not kind and compassionate in dealing with people.

-          you are an unfriendly person who loves strife?

-          you are allowing small conflicts to grow and fester?

-          you are not affirming your love for your partner.

-          you easily misunderstand your friends?

-          you are intolerant and impatient with people?

-          you find it difficult to love people?

-          you do not respect your spouse?

-          you believe wrongly that all men are brutes and women are demons?

-          you are a sexist?

-          you are cynical and suspicious of your folks?

-          you have disappointed the trust of your family and friends?

-          you are not appreciative of your relationships?

-          you have neglected your marital and financial obligations?

-          you are not working at and growing your relationship?

-          you are not forgiving and forgetting offences committed against you?

-          you lack people skills?

-          you are being distracted by a lot of external  influences?

-          you have given up on your relationship?

-          you are not seeking God’s help in your relationship?

-          you are allowing satan to break your family and friendships?