Category: Reflections

Posted in Christian, Life, Personal Musings, Reflections

Freedom of The Spirit

Posted on by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

“The Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom ” (II Corinthians 3:17), New International Version

This message from the Bible has been haunting my mind for the past few days. Each time I review the verse, a persistent question is what is the freedom we are talking about here and whether I am free ?

To understand this better, I had to go into the chapter of II Corinthians,  wherein St. Paul talks about the pursuit of Holiness. The Lord is the Spirit, St. Paul writes. He could be referring to the Holy Spirit is God or the Lord (Jesus) is Spirit, even as God is Spirit or St.Paul could be saying that Jesus is the true meaning of God’s law. St. Paul then speaks about the freedom that God’s Spirit gives us. 

On reading the first letter to Corinthians (I Corinthians 11:2-16), he writes about misconception that because the Holy Spirit was working in their lives; they consider themselves free to do whatever they wanted.

It is here that we understand what “freedom” really is. True freedom is not the right to do whatever we want. True freedom is when we turn to Christ; the Holy Spirit frees us from our evil deeds and from the devil’s power. However, that is just the beginning of God’s work in our lives. By His Spirit, God has given his people the freedom to become his children, to understand His Word and removes the veils covering our mind. God’s spirit frees us from the sticky web of sin which entangles us, trapping and blinding those who live in it.

So, the answer to what is freedom is clear ? Now, to find it, we have to change so as to embrace the Spirit of the Lord and be free to serve God to our capability.

15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate[a] the Lord’s glory,are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. – 2 Corinthians 3:15-18, Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Posted in Life, poetry, Quotes, Reflections

Which Road is Yours to Take ?

Posted on by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things
“Crossroads” is something that we all really want to avoid. And here, I am not talking about the 1986 or 2002 movie or the novels or the music albums; but about the practicality that we have all faced at some point of time.
The inner clash lies in which path to take: the one worn out or the one less traveled by or whether we need to forge a new path. As Mary  Buchan said, “ Life presents us with moments of decision—crossroads where we either choose a new direction and move on, or cling to what we already have and be miserable.”     

The million dollar question is : how do we move on ? The past will remind us of what had happened or had been, but who are we really now ? What have we decided to do or become? Make this powerful choice consciously, carefully and then envision yourself living your own dream. Then finally act upon your decision and go ahead.     
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. 
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Posted in Christian, Reflections, Stories Around the World

Are you like the little boy ?

Posted on by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things
Actions speak louder than words or even beliefs. Yes, this old adage goes a long way and it does ring almost all the time. We belong to a conversation savvy world, where words and deeds are at polar opposites. It goes same for those of who often give out advice. Or for those of who often preach. Many of us do read the Bible regularly, some occasionally but the more important fact lies in the fact that how many of us have honest faith in God’s words. During difficult times, and here I don’t mean physical hardships but mental, emotional, social or even financial ones; do we really lift our burdens and hand it over to the Lord or do we fret and worry about tomorrow. We are human, so we do tend to worry but how many of us have the real conviction that just as the Lord brings hardships, He will always provide too. For that we need absolute faith which doesn’t come without absolute trust in His Grace.
This story below is one of a boy’s absolute faith in the Lord, that put an entire congregation to shame. For those of us who have previously come across this story, the food for thought is: who would you be: the little boy or the congregation ? And for those of us who haven’t heard of this story, do read on.
 
This is a story of absolute Faith
It was a dry summer, and farmers, residents of a small village, were worried about what would happen to their harvest. On one Sunday after the Mass, they turned to their pastor for advice. “Father, we must do something, or we will lose a crop!”
“All that is required of you is to pray with absolute faith. Prayer without faith is not prayer. It must come from the heart, “answered the priest.
The next week the farmers gathered twice a day and prayed that God would send them rain. On Sunday they gathered as usual for the mass and someone was the last to arrive. This time it was a little boy who rushed in putting his umbrella in the stand. After the mass, the farmers came to the priest. 
“Nothing happens, Father!” We every day get together and pray, but there is no rain and no.
“Do you really pray with faith?” Asked the priest. They began to assure him that it was so. But the priest replied:”If you pray with faith, then like the little boy, you would have taken your umbrella with you !”
“Finally, brethren (sisters) of mine, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His power” (Ephesians 6: 10).
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Posted in Christian, Personal Musings, Reflections

Strength for The Journey

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16 I heard and my heart pounded,
    my lips quivered at the sound;
decay crept into my bones,
    and my legs trembled.
Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity
    to come on the nation invading us.
17 Though the fig tree does not bud
    and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
    and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
    and no cattle in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
    I will be joyful in God my Savior.

19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
    he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
    he enables me to tread on the heights. “

Habbakuk 3:16-19, NIV 

New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Posted in Daily, Random Thoughts, Reflections

Meaning of Life….

Posted on by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

We often reach a standoff, were we wonder what is going on in our lives. The daily cycle gets tedious and ultimately we end up questioning ourselves, our purpose and above wasting away precious time and memories.

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“What is the meaning of life ? 

Life is without meaning
You bring the meaning to it.
The meaning of life is whatever you ascribe it to be.
Being alive is the meaning.”
-Joseph Campbell

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Posted in Reflections, Stories Around the World

Is Your Jar Full ?

Posted on by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

Here is something I would like to share on this blog. I am sure many of you have come across this story, but for those of you who haven’t, do read on.

“A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full.. The students responded with a unanimous ‘yes.’

The professor then produced two Beers from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand.The students laughed..

‘Now,’ said the professor as the laughter subsided, ‘I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things—your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions—and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.. The sand is everything else—the small stuff.

‘If you put the sand into the jar first,’ he continued, ‘there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.

Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and mow the lawn.

Take care of the golf balls first—the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the Beer represented. The professor smiled and said, ‘I’m glad you asked.’ The Beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of Beers with a friend.”  ….”