When I Say, “I Am a Christian”

 

When I say, “I am a Christian”

I’m not shouting, “I’ve been saved!”

I’m whispering, “I get lost sometimes

That’s why I chose this way”

 

When I say, “I am a Christian”

I don’t speak with human pride

I’m confessing that I stumble

Needing God to be my guide

 

When I say, “I am a Christian”

I’m not trying to be strong

I’m professing that I’m weak

And pray for strength to carry on

 

When I say, “I am a Christian”

I’m not bragging of success

I’m admitting that I’ve failed

And cannot ever pay the debt

 

When I say, “I am a Christian”

I don’t think I know it all

I submit to my confusion

Asking humbly to be taught

 

When I say, “I am a Christian”

I’m not claiming to be perfect

My flaws are all too visible

But God believes I’m worth it

 

When I say, “I am a Christian”

I still feel the sting of pain

I have my share of heartache,

Which is why I seek His name

 

When I say, “I am a Christian”

I do not wish to judge

I have no authority

I only know I’m loved

Meditation: But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. – 1 Corinthians 15:10

You will succeed in Jesus' Name!

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Practice Humility

 

This is a real-life story about the all-important virtue of humility.

Many years ago, a rider came across some soldiers who were trying to move a heavy log without success. The corporal was standing by as the men struggled. The rider asked the corporal why he wasn’t helping. The corporal replied, “I am the corporal; I give orders.”

The rider dismounted, went up and stood by the soldiers, and as they were lifting the log, he helped them. With his help, the log was moved. The rider quietly mounted his horse, went to the corporal and said, “The next time your men need help, send for the Commander-in-Chief.”

After he left, the corporal and his men found out that the rider was George Washington.

The message is clear. Success and humility go hand in hand. When others blow your horn, the sound goes further. Just think about it? Simplicity and humility are two hallmarks of greatness. Humility does not mean self-demeaning behaviour.

— Author Unknown

Meditation: You will save the humble people; But Your eyes are on the haughty, that You may bring them down. – 2 Samuel 22:28

You will succeed in Jesus' Name!

The Balancing Act

 

This is an inspiring anecdote about the balancing act of life.

A 91-year-old woman died after living a very long dignified life. When she met God, she asked Him something that had really bothered her for a very long time. “If man was created in God’s image, and if all men are created equal, why do people treat each other so badly?”

God replied that each person who enters our life has a unique lesson to teach us. It is only through these lessons that we learn about life, people, and our relationships with God.

This confused the woman, so God began to explain:

“When someone lies to you, it teaches you that things are not always what they seem. The truth is often far beneath the surface. Look beyond the masks people wear if you want to know what is in their hearts. Remove your own masks to let people know who you really are.

When someone steals from you, it teaches you that nothing is forever. Always appreciate what you have. You never know when you might lose it. Never take your friends or family for granted, because today and sometimes only this very moment is the only guarantee you may have.

When someone inflicts injury upon you, it teaches you that the human state is a very fragile one. Protect and take care of your body as best as you can, it’s the one thing that you are sure to have for as long as you are on earth.

When someone mocks you, it teaches you that no two people are alike. When you encounter people who are different from you, do not judge them by how they look or act, instead base it on the contents of what is in their hearts.

When someone breaks your heart, it teaches you that loving someone does not always mean that the person will love you back. But don’t turn your back on love, because when you find the right person, the joy that one person brings you will make up for all of your past hurts times a thousandfold.

When someone holds a grudge against you, it teaches you that everyone makes mistakes. When you are wronged, the most virtuous thing you can do is forgive the offender without pretence. Forgiving those who have hurt us is often the most difficult and painful of life’s experiences, but it is also the most courageous thing a person can do.

When someone ridicules you, it teaches you that nobody is perfect. Accept people for their merits and be tolerant of their flaws. Do not ever reject someone for imperfections over which they have no control.”

Upon hearing the Lord’s wisdom, the old woman became concerned that there are no lessons to be learned from man’s good deeds. God replied that man’s capacity to love is the greatest gift He has. At the root of kindness and love, each act of love also teaches us a lesson. The woman’s curiosity deepened. God, once again began to explain:

“When someone loves us, it teaches us love, kindness, charity, honesty, humility, forgiveness, acceptance, and all of these can counteract all the evil in the world. For every good deed, there is one evil deed. Man alone has the power to control the balance between good and evil, but because the lessons of love are not taught often enough, the power is too often abused.

When you enter someone’s life, whether by plan, chance or coincidence, consider what your lesson will be. Will you teach love or a harsh lesson of reality? When you die, will your life have resulted in more loving or more hurting? More comfort or more pain? More joy or more sadness? Each one of us has the power over the balance of love in the world. Use it wisely!”

Don’t miss an opportunity to nudge the world’s scale in the right direction!

– Author Unknown

Meditation: The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. – Deuteronomy 29:29

You will succeed in Jesus' Name!

Lessons on Life

 

There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn some life lessons, not to judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away.

The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer, and the youngest son in the fall.

When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen.

The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted. The second son said no it was covered with green buds and full of promise. The third son disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen. The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.

The man then explained to his sons that they were all right because they had each seen but only one season in the tree’s life.

He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life can only be measured at the end when all the seasons are up. If you give up when it’s winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, fulfillment of your fall.

Moral: Don’t let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest. Don’t judge life by one difficult season. Persevere through the difficult patches and better times are sure to come some time or later.

– Author Unknown

Meditation: While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. – 2 Corinthians 4:18

You will succeed in Jesus' Name!

The Truck Driver and the Mental Patient

This is a story about wisdom in unusual places.

One truck driver doing his usual load delivery at a mental hospital parked his vehicle beside an open drain. He discovered a flat tyre when he was about to return from the mental hospital. He jacked up the truck and removed the flat tyre to fix it.

When he was about to fix the spare tyre, he accidentally dropped all the four bolts in the open drain. As he cannot fish the bolts in the open drain, he started to panic as to what should be done?

Just then, one patient happened to walk past him and asked the driver why he was looking troubled. The driver thought to himself, since there is nothing much he can do or this mental joker can, he might as well talk to him just to keep the bugging away. So he informed the mental patient about the whole episode with a helpless look on his face.

The patient just laughed at the truck driver and said, “You cannot even fix such a simple problem? No wonder you are destined to remain a truck driver for life.”

The truck driver was astonished to hear such a compliment from a mental patient. “Here is what you can do,” the mental guy continued, “Take one bolt from each of the remaining three wheels and fix it onto the fourth tyre. Then drive down to the nearest workshop and replace the missing ones. Isn’t it simple my friend?”

The truck driver was so impressed with this quick fix answer and asked the patient, “How come you are so smart and intelligent and you are here at the mental hospital?”

The patient replied, “Hello friend! I stay here because I am crazy, not stupid”.

No wonder, there are people who behave like the Truck Driver, thinking that they can figure out or fix things and other people are just plain stupid. No matter how learned or wise you are, always remember there could be some crazy guys in your professional/personal life, who could give you lots of quick fixes and brush your wisdom.

– Author Unknown

Meditation: For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. – Romans 12:3

You will succeed in Jesus' Name!

Unconditional Love

 

This is a very moving story about unconditional love.

A soldier was finally returning home after having fought in Vietnam. He called his parents from San Francisco. “Mom and Dad, I’m coming home but, I’ve got a favor to ask. I have a friend I’d like to bring with me.”

“Sure,” they replied, “we’d love to meet him.”

“There’s something you should know,” the son continued, “he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a landmine and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live.”

“No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us.”

“Son,” said the father, “you don’t know what you’re asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can’t let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He’ll find a way to live on his own.”

At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him. A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. They were told their son had died after falling from a building. The police believed it was suicide. 

The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him but, to their horror they also discovered something they didn’t know. Their son had only one arm and one leg.

The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to love those who are good-looking or fun to have around but, we don’t like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from people who aren’t as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are.

Thankfully, there’s someone who won’t treat us that way. Someone who loves us with an unconditional love that welcomes us into the forever family, regardless of how messed up we are. That Person is Jesus Christ. He beckons all to come to Him irrespective of their handicap.

– Author Unknown 

Meditation: But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. – Luke 6:32

You will succeed in Jesus' Name! 

The Marriage Vow (Conclusion)

Here is the conclusion of the very inspiring story that we shared Tuesday last on the importance of adhering to the marriage vow.

A Month Later

“Mother, he’s not even talking to me. All of a sudden, we are both strangers. He doesn’t eat my food, he comes home late, he hates me so much and it’s killing me. I’m confused, it’s truly hurting…”

“For how long will you hide the truth from him? You’ve got to let him know…you can’t carry his…”

There was the sound of a car horn.

“Mom I’ve got to go…he’s back.”

“Baby, you’ve got to let him know. It can work when you two are one in mind.”

“Bye mom.” she ended the call.

Lawson came into the house, about to walk past her.

“Lawson.” She held him.

“I’m tired.” He didn’t want to look at her face.

“I know…can we talk for some minutes?” She tried to help him remove his suit.

“Look, what is it?” He jerked from her.

“Do you hate me this much? You can’t even look me in the eye. You can’t even stand my presence. Lawson…it’s me Sara…your best friend…” Tears began to well up in her eyes.

“I’m in no mood for this.” He turned around to walk away.

“Don’t you dare leave when I’m talking to you!” She dragged him by the suit. Just then, some papers fell to the floor. Sara quickly bent to pick them up…her hands shook and her body became numb all over.

“D…divorce papers? Lawson?” She searched his eyes. “Answer me goddammit!” She held him by the collar of his shirt, crying.

“They are for you to sign. I want out.” Lawson announced.

“Y…you what?” she slowly freed him from her hold.

“It’s not going to work Sara, can’t you see?”

“Lawson, I can’t believe you would think of a divorce and even go this far…why are you so wicked!” she cried, angry.

“No! Why are you so wicked?” He retorted, flaring. “Think about me for once. I am a man for Christ’s sake. My children are my pride! And you are about to deny me that for the rest of my life because of your stupid mistake!”

“What about me! Have you stopped for once to think about what I’m going through?”

“It’s your cross, carry it.” Lawson fixed his angry eyes on his wife.

“No, it’s now our cross and I am not signing those divorce papers! We vowed never to leave each other!”

“Isn’t it better Sara that you save yourself more hurt and sign these papers than to see another woman move into this house before your very eyes?” He said with a tone of sarcasm.

Sara’s heart thumped, “What?”

“You heard me…another woman who can help me raise a family, so save yourself the stress and sign the dxxx papers. I need it tomorrow.” He turned around to leave again.

“She still can’t carry your baby.” Sara dropped.

“Not all women had abortions. Not every woman was like you.” He scorned.

“You are the one who can’t give me a child!” Sara let out, crying.

Lawson stopped now, turned around and walked towards her, “Whatever your plan is won’t work.”

“I told you I could never have a child because it’s you who can’t make me pregnant.”

“Shut up! Shut up, Sara! What the hell are you saying?” He shook her shoulders violently.

“You are infertile Lawson…the doctor says you have primary infertility…” Sara burst into tears.

Lawson gasped, losing his balance.

“Mother called me to give me the news. I was shattered, I felt like my world was over. But, more importantly, I thought of you. I thought of what the news could do to you, I thought of the best way to tell you. That was why I said I can never have children. Not because I can’t give birth to babies, but because I can’t have them by you.

“Never for once did I think of leaving you. I bore your insults, your scorn, because of my past. It was so easy to judge me and think of yourself. I am the one who is hurting; I am the one who should bring some miserable divorce papers…but I thought of you…I thought of hope, faith, and a miracle…I thought of my vow to you on that altar. In sickness and in health, remember?” She smiled through her tears, “All of a sudden, you are as weak as a baby…looking in your eyes, I can see you suddenly have lost all your guards, you are so wicked.”

“Sara…” Lawson fell on his knees, torn.

“No!” She quickly fell on her knees too, “No Lawson…” She couldn’t bear to see him cry.

“I’m…I’m infertile,” he cried, “What is left of me?” He searched his wife’s eyes.

“Lawson please…” she held his face, “I understand…it has been so hard for me…I have put myself in your shoes since the first day…”

“You don’t deserve this…you deserve better…I can’t believe I scorned you all along…please let me leave you.”

“No.” She shook her head, “You are my husband. I won’t leave you. I won’t let you leave me…I believe in miracles”

“I’m doomed…Sara I’m doomed…” He allowed his wife to take him in her arms and he wept like a child on her shoulder.

In the Morning

Sara gently opened her eyes; looking beside her bed, it was empty. She quickly sat up on seeing a note on the bed. Hands shaking, she opened the letter to read:

Sara,

I cannot bear the shame. I have treated you so unfairly, yet you love me still. You are with me even in this condition of mine. To think that you knew all along and you never for once gave me a clue that it is my fault we are in this mess makes me so unworthy of you. I love you enough to let you build another life with a man who can make you happier.

I’m torn, Sara, and all I ask is your forgiveness. I have always loved you and if you truly love me then please start your life over again – without me. I am truly sorry for disappointing you.

Lawson.

Sara couldn’t control the tears. She couldn’t think straight anymore. She picked up her cell phone, shaking.

“Hello, Mr. Lawson’s office please”

“Hi Lola…” she cried, “Have you seen my husband today?”

“No…no ma’am, we’ve been expecting him at work. He has a presentation in 15 minutes.”

“Oh, God…God…” Sara dipped her hand into her full hair.

“Everything ok, ma’am?”

“Thank you.” she ended the call.

She quickly got down from the bed and ran into her car in her pyjamas. She dialled his mobile repeatedly as she drove…no answer.

At 2:00pm

She sped into Fred’s compound, a close friend to her husband.

“Fred!” she banged the door hastily until the door flung open.

“My God Sara, what’s wrong?” Fred held her.

“It’s…it’s Lawson…have you seen him? Is he here?”

“No…Haven’t heard from him in a week.”

“Oh God!” she held her hair.

“What’s wrong?”

She was already dashing away into her car.

“Sara!” He called after her.

She zoomed away.

4:30pm

“Mom, Dad, I can’t find Lawson…I can’t find your son…” she cried as she paced in front of the elderly couple who looked lost.

“You have to calm down and tell us what happened.” Lawson’s mother put her arms around Sara.

Sara burst into tears, “Please Dad could you try his number, maybe he’d pick your call?”

“Have you been to his office?” He picked up his cell phone and dialled his son’s number.

“I have been everywhere I know him to likely be.”

“It’s ok…calm down please.” Lawson’s mother consoled her.

“He’s not picking. What exactly went wrong between you two?” Lawson’s father searched Sara’s eyes.

9:00pm

Sara was still in her pyjamas and on her way back home, exhausted and stuck in the traffic. She had told Lawson’s parents everything. The poor couple was so shattered and begged her to begin a new life. Sara buried her head in the steering, crying; she didn’t realize the green light was now on.

“Hey get off the freaking road!” a driver cursed from behind her.

“God please don’t let him harm himself…keep him safe and lead me to him…please God…” She quickly started the car and began to move.

Suddenly she remembered the church where they had wedded and taken their vows. It was two hours from here; she made a U-turn and headed for the church hoping to find some solace there.

She got down from the car drenched and exhausted. She trudged into the open entrance of the church. She paused for a moment; shocked…it was Lawson sitting at the front row of the empty church, facing the altar.

“Lawson!” She began to run towards him, happy, relieved that he was ok.

“Sara?” He quickly stood as she approached him, “Sara…”

They both ran into each other’s arms. He hugged her so tightly.

“I looked for you everywhere….this was the last place I thought you’d ever be…I just came and I saw you…Lawson….I’m so happy you are ok.” she touched his face.

“I didn’t know where else to go…It just feels like I can’t face the world anymore…” he slowly released her from his embrace.

“Take my hand.” Sara stretched out her hand, “C’mon, just take it.”

Lawson gently clasped his hand into hers and she took him to the altar and stood to face him. She searched his eyes intently. She hadn’t seen him so weak and helpless.

“Five years ago Lawson, we both stood on this altar. Remember our vows? Remember you whispered in my ear never to leave you. I told you I wouldn’t…that’s why I’m here. I am your wife, Lawson. I am meant to be with you forever, through the bad and good times. We’ve had good times, why would I leave you now? All I want from you is to believe that you can still give me a child despite what the result said. I want you to believe in a miracle.” She held his face, “Remember when you told me I was a miracle in your life? Our children will be our miracles too. Trust God with me because I know it won’t be long.”

“Who are you Sara…” Lawson was weakened by her words.

“The one who vowed to be with you until the end.” She smiled through her thin tears.

“God, I love you so much, Sara.” He hugged her again.

“So will you come back home with me?” Sara searched his eyes.

“I have no other place to call home.” He placed a soft kiss on her lips.

2 Years After

Lawson and Sara were on the sofa watching a late-night movie. Sara was resting on his shoulders when she felt the movement.

“Lawson, Lawson, it moved again…don’t miss it this time touch…touch.” She gently placed his palm on the side of her stomach. Both felt the movement of their child.

“I can feel him…I can feel him!” Lawson placed his head on her belly.

“I can feel him growing each day inside of me…”

“What do you think it’s saying now by this movement?”

“Thank you dada for believing in me.” She laughed. They both laughed.

“The movement has stopped.” He slowly removed his head from her stomach, “I think he’s sleeping.”

Sara rested on his shoulders again, “In six months you’d be a father, “You finally got your miracle.”

Lawson tilted his wife’s face to him, looking into her eyes, “Sara…you were the miracle I needed. Thank you for not leaving me.”

Sara tickled his nose with hers, “I love you too. Always will,” she smiled, “We missed a whole lot in our movie.”

“Movie can wait, but this can’t” He gently planted a kiss on her belly.

The End.

We forget our vows so easily, so quickly that once our marriages start hitting the rocks, we fail to realize that there is power in a union. When there is union, every mountain can be subdued. The problem is people don’t yet fully understand the concept of marriage; until you do, please don’t go to the altar because what you don’t understand will eventually become a burden and confuse you.

The concept of marriage is ‘for better, for worse.’ The “worse” moments always come. Not that you should always expect bad things, it is a statement of fact that challenges come in marriage to make you stronger in oneness. so don’t use it against yourselves.

In addition, miracles are real and it is better we all learn to have the patience to wait until our miracles come. Always remember that marriage is a ‘stick and stay’ relationship, not a ‘hit and run.’ 

Author Unknown

Meditation: If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small.. – Proverbs 24:10

You will succeed in Jesus' Name!