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mvic -> RE: Just a thought ... (7/4/2008 5:51:43 PM)

If you want to make God laugh tell Him your plans.

Years ago, I was talking to my boss about career plans in a large organization. He smiled at me and said that in three years time he’d achieve a great ambition. I was puzzled; but he explained, showing me a small organization sketch he had drawn up, that within three years several senior managers would have left the organization. He said “X retires next year, they’ll promote Y to take his job, this leaves a vacancy which will be filled by Z” and so on and on. He had planned who would leave when creating a potential vacancy which he was best placed to fill.

How sad, I thought. He was so keen to progress up the organization that he had plotted a potential path to help achieve his ambitions.

How often do we too, plan so far ahead, that we forget to take into consideration what God wants for us, or what He might wish us to do on His behalf.

“Not my will, however, but your will be done.” Luke 22:42.



mvic -> RE: Just a thought ... (7/5/2008 3:16:37 PM)

Insecurity, shyness, loneliness, not quite fitting in.

All too often one meets people who, for one reason or another, feel that they are left out from what this world has to offer. They may well be part of a group of friends at work, or at school, college or university, but yet they feel that they don’t quite fit in somehow. They are not the center of attention – the funny one that everyone admires, the intelligent one, or the artistic or athletic one.

They are part of the group alright, but they are on the sidelines. The one who never quite gets noticed!

Such inner loneliness and insecurity can be crushing and can so easily suffocate one’s soul.

Look around you today – is there such a person you recognize? Do the kind thing and include them in your personal world.

True Happiness consists not in the multitude of friends; but in their worth and choice.



mvic -> RE: Just a thought ... (7/6/2008 1:08:40 PM)

A young teenager was helping me plant some wooden fencing posts. I held the post upright tightly with both hands and said: “When I nod my head hit it hard.”

I nodded and he hit my head with the hammer !!!

Now for the serious bit: is God trying to communicate with you but you’re not listening? Don’t wait for Him to take drastic action before you pay attention.



mvic -> RE: Just a thought ... (7/10/2008 6:58:27 AM)

I was at a large supermarket today – suddenly the fire alarm rang. The customers left their trolleys laden with goods just where they were standing and walked outside the building, followed by the supermarket’s staff. The customers were led to one corner of the car park whilst the staff gathered at another corner and a roll call was taken. We waited for about half an hour until the all clear was given. The staff entered the building first in single file; I counted about 200 or so.

At that point a thought occurred to me; I don’t know why – perhaps it was prompted by the staff’s red uniforms. I thought: do they have fire alarm drills in hell? Do the devils gather at one corner outside hell whilst the inmates gather somewhere else? Can the inmates seize an opportunity to escape?

On second thoughts: hell and the devil are no laughing matter. They exist all right and we should be on our guard when the devil tries to lead us astray.

“ … and lead us not into temptation, ”



mvic -> RE: Just a thought ... (7/12/2008 1:21:38 PM)

In every situation of Trust there is always the risk of betrayal. Whether it is a friendship, a business partnership, a marriage or whatever; in every circumstance where two or more people trust each other there is always the risk that someone will betray that trust.

We all know about the greatest betrayal ever – Judas betraying Jesus with a kiss.

So what are we to do? Not trust anyone ever and go through life suspecting everyone. This would be impossible and would jeopardize our every relationship. We have to accept that with trust we become a little more vulnerable and susceptible to abuse of that trust. It’s a risk we take as we journey through life.

With one important exception:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” John 14:1 NIV.



mvic -> RE: Just a thought ... (7/14/2008 4:27:18 PM)

We often strive to control our life’s events. We want to be in charge. We want to do it our way because we believe our way is best. We want to be able to say: “I did it my way.”

And in this pursuit of self-will we inadvertently (or perhaps deliberately) put God aside. Momentarily, He does not feature in our plans.

When God is sidelined, as we sometimes do, He doesn’t stop loving us. Instead, we block an opportunity for Him to influence our efforts for our own and others’ good.

“Thy will be done …”



mvic -> RE: Just a thought ... (7/15/2008 10:33:50 AM)

I visited an elderly lady today.

She said: “Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be … when I was young we used to think back about holidays by the sea, walks in the countryside, and all the simple clean fun we had when we were kids. Now it’s all computer games, DVDs, and confounded gadgets which people don’t really need. Pretty soon they’ll need a satellite navigation system to find the toilet in their own homes!”



mvic -> RE: Just a thought ... (7/16/2008 7:22:19 PM)

Just because you have Christian ethics don't expect everyone else to be the same.



mvic -> RE: Just a thought ... (7/19/2008 12:51:57 PM)

There are times in this modern lifestyle of ours when, quite honestly, we are totally mentally and physically exhausted. There are so many things to do and to fit-in in this 24/7 treadmill we are on that we dare not stop for one second lest we fall.

And it gets worse – money is tight, prices are going up, demands put upon us increase daily, and, to cap it all, we are getting older every day and we cannot cope as well as we used to, especially when our health fails us.

It’s at times like these that we feel like giving up.

What is the answer dear Lord?

“Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28.



mvic -> RE: Just a thought ... (7/26/2008 8:30:11 AM)

Ah … summer!

Why is it that at barbecues it is always the man who stands by the fire?

Women are always busy preparing everything else. Getting the table ready and the children in place. Serving everyone. Being hospitable. Multi-tasking and doing a million other things.

Yet … everyone is impressed by the man’s burnt offerings !!!



mvic -> RE: Just a thought ... (7/31/2008 5:15:52 PM)

A little child of six was taught by his parents that Jesus is always with him. Helping him, protecting him and guiding him as he goes through life.

One day the child was out riding his tricycle. He was pedaling as hard as he could up a hill followed by his parents on their cycles. No matter how hard his little legs went round and round, the tricycle hardly moved up the steep hill.

Eventually the child got off the tricycle and said: “It’s no use Jesus, you’ll have to get off and help me push it up the hill!”

There are times in life when we are really down. Maybe it’s because we’re over-tired. Or it is because things have been going badly for us lately. Things out of our personal control perhaps, like the illness of someone we love, or loss of a job, failure in exams and so on.

That’s the time when, like a child, we should stop and ask Jesus to help.



mvic -> RE: Just a thought ... (8/4/2008 8:55:09 AM)

Many of us go through life carrying the pain and hurt caused to us in the past. This pain slows us down. It makes us stumble from time to time. It hinders our progress in our journey towards God.

It isn’t always easy to forgive. But that shouldn’t stop us trying. We can do so with God’s help.

We can ask Him to take away the pain caused to us. He can do that; after all He did take a lot of pain on our behalf when nailed to the Cross.

We can ask Him to heal the hurt. He can do that too; He did heal many people when He walked amongst us.

We can ask Him to teach us to forgive. He did just that as He was dying.

As for forgetting; that isn’t so easy. The memories of our hurt will always be with us.

Jesus has not forgotten what we did to Him. He has the scars in His hands, feet and side to remind Him everyday.

And every time He looks at the scars, He forgives us once again.

So every time we remember our hurts, we too should forgive again and again.



mvic -> RE: Just a thought ... (8/8/2008 5:26:19 PM)

There are times in life when others hurt. And they turn to you as the cause of their hurt. Maybe it’s something you did or said – but they believe you are the cause of their hurt.

You don’t really know what you did or said. You can’t remember intentionally or un-intentionally hurting them. But they blame you and keep their distance. You can’t discuss it with them or even attempt to understand and to apologise – if indeed it is your fault.

So what do you do?

Pray to God to forgive you if indeed you caused their pain. Ask Him to remind you how and when you caused their hurt. So that you may make amends. Or if you didn’t cause their hurt; ask Him to open their heart to listen to Him so that they may realize their mistake.

Wait for the Lord to restore Peace in your heart and theirs.



mvic -> RE: Just a thought ... (8/12/2008 7:17:53 AM)

I was talking with an elderly man the other day. I’ve know him for years. He’s been ill for some time and has undergone many operations; and he’s always on medication to help ease the pain.

I asked him if the pain had eased a little.

He smiled and said: “Pain is a sign that I’m still alive. When the pain stops suddenly, I’ll be in real trouble.”

I smiled back.

He added: “The Lord has been good to me. There are so many people in this world so much worse off than I am.”

As I left him I felt really small and humbled.



mvic -> RE: Just a thought ... (8/14/2008 7:21:22 AM)

Once upon a time an elderly man was making his way home through the park after a long day at work. Some youths set upon him. They were carrying knives. They mugged him, injured him badly and left him lying in a pool of blood.

A while later a city gent happened to pass by. He looked at the bleeding man on the ground and thought: This may be a trap. If I stop to help him someone might come out from the bushes and attack me. I'd better hurry home.

And so he did.

A while more later another man happened to come along. He saw the elderly man on the ground and thought: I'd better pretend not to have seen him. If I stop and call the police and ambulance they will ask me a lot of questions. They will want a lot of information. I'll be a witness and I'll probably have to go to court eventually to say what I saw. I really can't be bothered with all this. I'd better rush home.

And so he did.

A bit more later a learned man came by. He had studied sociology, philosophy, and many other important subjects. He looked at the injured man on the ground and thought: Whoever did this needs help. They must be from an under-priviledged background and up-bringing. Poor souls!

And he hurried home thinking about society.

Moral of the story: What a mess we made of this world in the 21st Century.



mvic -> RE: Just a thought ... (8/19/2008 2:18:37 PM)

Fear can be good for you.

Fear can make people careful and not take unnecessary risks. A bit of caution and thinking before acting is a good thing.

Too much fear however is harmful especially if it is irrational and unfounded. I know of so many people afraid to go out at night because of crime. Or deadly afraid of every pain they get in case it is serious. Yet, so afraid that they dare not go to a doctor in case he confirms their worst fears.

I’m not going to say that I’m immune to fear and anxiety. Yes, there are times when certain thoughts come to mind … However, I also realize that to give way to fear is to doubt God. To doubt His love, His protection and His caring for us.

Do not be afraid – I will save you. I have called you by name – you are mine. Isaiah 43:1



mvic -> RE: Just a thought ... (8/25/2008 6:26:37 PM)

Is your life exciting or is it mundane?

Not many of us spend our lives mixing with celebrities and enjoying the material luxuries that this world offers. For most of us life is a simple routine of work, bringing up the family, and a little leisure when we can fit that in. Some people can’t even afford this routine lifestyle, especially if money is short; they have no job or are in poor health.

Compare that to our spiritual life.

Is it barren and completely distant from our Creator? Or do we walk daily hand in hand with Jesus by our side?

How many times during the day do we pray silently, and thank our Lord for all He has done for us?

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” Matthew 6:19-20.



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