Under Pressure

Slavery maybe something of an abstract concept to those in the western world privileged to be told that they live in a free society. However when the challenges of daily living are considered – bills to pay, onerous responsibilities to meet, friends to retain, personal image to sustain, rat-race to maintain – then it’s no wonder even those in the ‘free society’ appear just as enslaved as those from previous eras or other countries. Everyone is under pressure to some extent and that pressure can cripple, depress and rob the joy to be discovered when we break free.

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)

Safe Journey

Shalom

Directions to Life

How can you know the directions a full life if you’ve never been there before? Help will be needed in getting the map on how to get where you’re heading. Acknowledging that having not been there before it is not possible to know the directions the next best thing is to check if someone has been there before or if fellow travellers have any travel tips. The smallest search will uncover good instruction for direction to life – it is to now look for it and accept to get ton that destination of life in all its fullness.

The road to life is a disciplined life; ignore correction and you're lost for good. (Proverbs 10:17)

Safe Journey

Shalom

When All Hope Appears Gone

When their brother fell ill, his two sisters hoped that he would help. Hours and days passed. All hope appeared to be lost when their brother eventually breathed his last. Their brother dead, they buried him and some days later this great teacher they had hoped in turned up. Moved with compassion, this man brought hope when it appeared to have died by bringing him back to life. There are other stories of lost situations miraculously recovered. These say one thing – however dim the glimmer, however overwhelming the darkness, the smallest light says where there is life there is hope.

So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me." When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out." (John 11:41-43)

Safe Journey

Shalom

Beaten to Life

It’s tricky isn’t it? When is a bad thing a good thing in disguise? That’s where wisdom helps in determining these things. What is clear, however, is that some of the worst things to happen are some of the best things to happen. Sometimes it takes adversity to recognise who your real friends are. It takes adversity to discover how rotten you can be and live away from that. It takes adversity to highlight issues and rise from the ashes with renewed purpose, trust and hope in things that are true. Sometimes we need to be beaten to life.

A severe beating can knock all of the evil out of you! (Proverbs 20:30)

Safe Journey
Shalom

Slap Up Meal For Wise Living

There’s nothing like a good meal with friends to create a good atmosphere for sharing the issues of life in a relaxed setting. The food is not just the meat, potatoes, vegetables and salad. The drink is not just the vintage selection from the cellar. With some of life’s deep insights and joyful and sobering experiences there is plenty of food for thought and life-giving water to sooth the soul. Invite someone over to your place for that chance to feast on the food of life.

"Are you confused about life, don't know what's going on? Come with me, oh come, have dinner with me! I've prepared a wonderful spread--fresh-baked bread, roast lamb, carefully selected wines. Leave your impoverished confusion and live! Walk up the street to a life with meaning." (Proverbs 9:4-6)

Safe Journey
Shalom

Listen to Lady Wisdom for Life

What one outstanding feature would attract you to something? Possibility of more money? Possibility of a better job? What if the value on offer was to experience real fulfilling life? Would that be more valuable than money, fame or possessions? Like no other commodity or value available in all the world wisdom is the quality that guarantees enriching, enjoyable and encouraging existence. Wisdom turns empty lives to exciting ones. Wisdom turns problems into opportunities. Wisdom sees light where others see darkness. Available on diligent request, wisdom invites you to join her to make the most of life’s journey.

Blessed the man, blessed the woman, who listens to me, awake and ready for me each morning, alert and responsive as I start my day's work. When you find me, you find life, real life, to say nothing of God's good pleasure. (Proverbs 8:34, 35)

Safe Journey
Shalom

The Company You Keep In The Right Direction

Have you ever paid attention to the company you keep? Are they going in the right direction? More than meaning well, do they put it in action? How do they rub off on us? How do we rub off on them? Managing life is as much about the choices we make in our relationships that shape us as they are about the decisions we make that shape us.

So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. (Proverbs 2:20)

Safe Journey
Shalom

Enjoying Life is Child’s Play

It can come across as though life is a morose routine of working to get enough to survive. Gaining responsibility does not mean we have to lose the joy of living. There is something about the child-like ability to give everything in having fun that can stick through life’s ups and downs. We remember funny incidents or relish the food we eat and good company we keep. Where there is lack in those areas it can be found. It is not something bought with money but in time engaging in real life-giving relationships all to make enjoying life child’s play.

So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 8:15)

Safe Journey
Shalom