Love and kindness are never wasted.
They always make a difference.
They bless the one who receives them,
and they bless you, the giver.
– Barbara De Angelis
Monthly Archives: December 2011
Kindness is catchy
I stumbled on this story about random acts of kindness catching on at Riley’s Cafe in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It seems that patrons are passing along the kindness they receive to others and it is continuing each week. Read the Random Acts Of Kindness Reported At Cafe story at KCCI.com Channel 8 in Des Moines.
Ripples can begin with a single pebble. Be that pebble.
John baptizes Jesus (Matthew 3: 13-17)
Bible Summary:
Jesus arrives at the Jordan River to be baptized by John. John says he should be baptized by him instead. Jesus tells him to continue as God requires. John agrees and baptizes him. As Jesus comes up from the water, the heavens open and the Holy Spirit descends on him. Then God says from heaven, “This is my Son, with whom I am pleased.”
My Thoughts:
Within a couple of pages, Matthew’s story of Jesus jumps from birth in Bethlehem to rebirth in adulthood through baptism in the Jordan River. One is the birth into the realm of our physical world and the other a birth into the spiritual world.
I believe we make the transition from childhood to adulthood at the point that we experience this connection with the spiritual world.
- It is the time that we realize life is more than our job, our possessions, our wants and our needs.
- It is the time that we truly see the beauty in everything and everyone around us.
- It is the time that we look around and see how we can make this a better place.
- It is the time that we stop pushing others aside and give them a hand instead.
- It is the time that we realize we are part of a greater good, a greater being.
- It is the time when we are filled with joy and harmony and nothing can take its place.
And, God is pleased.
Talent is like electricity
Talent is like electricity.
We don’t understand electricity.
We use it.
– Maya Angelou
Learning through LeBron James
LeBron James has grown up a lot since losing the National Basketball Association (NBA) championship to the Dallas Mavericks in June. He left hometown Cleveland, actually Akron, the year before to join All-Stars Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade to form the ultimate team at the Miami Heat. LeBron expected the NBA championship as a sure thing. He was “just blinded” by the idea of proving everyone wrong. It took him weeks to deal with the loss.
LeBron sounds humble now, “I’m at a good place right now, not too much bothers me … you can never ultimately get over losing a final but I think you have to move on because there is a season now…”
I believe this defeat will give LeBron the strength to work harder to earn that first championship. Don’t give up on your dream LeBron! Read the “I am myself again” says relaxed LeBron story at Reuters.
Be a Beacon to Others: Nothing is sure in this life. You can have the most talent or all the money in the world and still not come out the winner. The key is not in the winning, but in the journey. Work hard towards your dreams and goals, but also be a beacon to others in all you say and do.
God Gives Moses the Tablets (Exodus 31)
Bible Summary:
On Mount Sinai, God tells Moses which craftsman from among the people of Israel to use to design and make the Tent of His presence, the Covenant Box, altars, and lampstand. He also commands Moses to tell the people to keep the Sabbath, the day of rest. God gives Moses two stone tablets that He wrote the Ten Commandments on.
My Thoughts:
Skills: We each have our own skills. Some are craftsman, some artists; others have the aptitude for medicine. Each is as unique as a snowflake. Focus on what you are good at, your unique ability. Carve out a niche somewhere in this economy with that skill. There are hundreds of ways to use your talents and make a living. “Try on” different jobs to see if they “fit”. If not, keep looking until you find your bliss. Have faith and you will.
Whatever you do, never let anyone make you feel unimportant because of your career choice. They may make more money and have more material belongings, but if you do what you were meant to do, you will be a thousand times happier. And God will smile.
Day of Rest: Each time I read about God’s command to take a day of rest I think about all the single mothers who work hard, many with two jobs, and then come home to care for their children. How can they take a day of rest? They rarely get an hour of rest.
The commandment has two elements to it: worshiping God and resting your body and soul, both which can help you live longer. If you are one of these moms, ask a friend or family member to watch the kids once a week for an hour or two so you can go and worship God, even if it is just taking time alone with Him in a park communing with nature. It will cleanse your soul and rejuvenate your batteries for another week. God bless!
Scientists in Pursuit of God Particle
Scientists have been in pursuit of the “God particle”, more scientifically named Higgs Boson, since Peter Higgs posited the theory in 1964 that this smallest particle gives form to all other particles to create all matter in the universe, including us. Higgs rejects any religious explanation of the origin of the universe, but the questions still stand: what existed before the Big Bang created the universe and what made it explode into the universe we live in today? God is the only thing I can imagine. Find out more in The Higgs boson: vital to life but is it there? story at Reuters.
If you are humble nothing will touch you
If you are humble nothing will touch you,
neither praise nor disgrace,
because you know what you are.
– Mother Teresa
John the Baptist (Matthew 3: 1-12)
Bible Summary:
John the Baptist preaches in the desert telling people to turn away from their sins since “the Kingdom of heaven is near.” The people come from all around Jerusalem to confess their sins and be baptized in the Jordan River.
John chastises the Pharisees and Sadducees for coming to be baptized, telling them to act without sin and not hide behind God’s covenant with Abraham.
He later tells people he baptizes them in water as they repent, but another will come to baptize them in the Holy Spirit, one that is much greater such that John is not worth to carry his sandals.
My Thoughts:
Repent Sins: John admonishes everyone to stop doing bad things. You cannot just say you are going to change or hide behind being absolved through confession. You must act without sin.
Proclaim the Coming of Christ: John proclaims someone greater than he is coming. He is a very humble and does not take advantage of his position after drawing an audience.
Baptize with Water and the Holy Spirit: Water is one of the purest things on the earth, the thing that sustains all life. The Holy Spirit is often shown as light coming down on a person. Water can cleanse us from our sins but only if we truly “see” them by the light of the Holy Spirit.
God’s Anointing Oil and Incense (Exodus 30)
Bible Summary:
God instructs Moses to:
- Make an altar where Aaron is to burn incense every morning and evening.
- Collect a tax from every man during census for upkeep of the holy Tent. Each man is to pay the same whether rich or poor.
- Make a bronze basin for the priests to wash their hands and feet before entering the holy Tent.
- Mix the spices myrrh, cinnamon, cane, and cassia with olive oil to make sacred oil to anoint the Tent and everything in it.
- Blend equal parts of the spices stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense to make the holy incense.
My Thoughts:
Taxes: So, basically this chapter of Exodus says God created the first tax!
God or Coincidence: The last bible study topic was about wise men giving baby Jesus gold, frankincense and myrrh and this Exodus story describes what frankincense and myrrh were for. Coincidence or did God have a hand in the timing? When I was younger I would have said this was a coincidence, but now that I have experienced so many of these in my life I know that God is with me.
Follow your instincts: A few chapters back I struggled about jumping ahead to the New Testament. I think I found my answer. Follow your instincts and see where they lead you.