faith – Page 18 – Sugar And Spice… Among Other Things

The Priceless Gifts

Posted on October 7, 2018October 6, 2018 by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

As children, we were always eager to attend parties as well as host them. For which birthday girl or boy wouldn’t love cutting the cake, opening all the presents, giving away the game prizes, handing thank you kits for all the guests and in short, having loads of fun. The pre-birthday days or rather week would be all hush-hush with eager eyes and ears round the place hoping for the best surprise gift. Post the birthday, we engage in the fun of our gifts. Yet a month later down the road, with some of the gifts the novelty may wear off, while others may be still in use for some more time or their use may have been past time though they may still be precious to us.

It’s almost the similar scenario for Christmas, country fair prizes, competition prizes and so on. No doubt, the joy of getting a gift or winning a prize is exhilarating but it lasts for only some time. Then it fades away into a sweet memory.

Compare these gifts with the priceless gifts from our Heavenly Father. The heavenly gifts, whether of providence, nature, family, grace or blessings far outrank all the materialistic gifts of the world. The inner joy and sanctum of peace granted by the gifts from Our Father doesn’t change with the shadows, neither do they wax and wane with time. Instead, they grow quietly and steer us through the battlefields and downhills we face in life. For like the stars above, Our Father is always there keeping watch and guiding us through His Light and His Grace when we have lost our way or are left in the dark.

As James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

Sometimes it’s only in hindsight that we realize these precious and perfect gifts bestowed on us. Yet even then, the beauty of these priceless gifts don’t fade away but persist with time. Even words can’t express the joys of the gifts. The only way to thank the Lord for the benevolence of His Grace would be to live by His Word, which though may sound difficult, is feasible.

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Christian, Life, Personal Musings, Reflections

Everything In His Time

Posted on October 4, 2018September 19, 2018 by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

Most of us who listen to gospel music or attend church would have either heard of or sang along to the popular hymn “In His Time“. It was originally written and sung by Diane Bell. The lyrics are based on the verse from Ecclesiastes 3:11, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” The entire chapter 3 of Ecclesiastes has beautiful concepts regarding time, God-given tasks and the prevalence of injustice as well as the final judgement by God. During difficult and busy times, or through injustice and even sorrows, the words of this chapter have always comforted me.

Starting from the verses of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8; these words give importance to every activity and every emotion of man’s body, mind and soul. Every action has its own time, every growth happens in their allotted time and every word will be said as per its’ time. There is time for fun and gaiety as well as time for sorrow and forgiveness. There is a time for struggle as well as joy. Even birth and death will happen in their time as well as love and leisure. In short, everything has its’ own time.

3 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: ²a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, ³a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, ⁴a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, ⁵a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, ⁶a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, ⁷a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, ⁸a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

As we read on, the futility of man’s attempts to gain from his toil as well as his mortality is asserted. In fact his very gains are gifts from God and whatever God has done, nothing can be added or subtracted for even the past will be accounted for. In fact, the words show that the best man can do in his allotted time is to be happy and do good.

⁹What do workers gain from their toil? ¹⁰I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. ¹¹He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. ¹²I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. ¹³That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. ¹⁴I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him. ¹⁵Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account. (Ecclesiastes 3:9-15)

The last set of verses highlight the harsh reality of today’s world. The prevalence of injustice is rampant though at times it may be very subtle, other times it may be very obvious. However the Lord will hold all accountable and there will a time for every deed to be judged. We all from dust and we go back into the dust. So in our time here we should enjoy our work, live by our Faith and reap the fruits of the Spirit.

¹⁶And I saw something else under the sun: In the place of judgment—wickedness was there, in the place of justice—wickedness was there. ¹⁷I said to myself, “God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every deed.” ¹⁸I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. ¹⁹Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. ²⁰All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. ²¹Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?” ²²So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them? (Ecclesiastes 3:16-22) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

On reading God’s Words, there is always an answer for every trouble and hope for every problem. In fact armed with His Words, every difficult time would be endurable and we would be able to not only survive but also rejoice. Although our Faith should lie in the truth is that it will all happen as per His Time.

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Christian, poetry, Reflections

Wait

Posted on September 30, 2018September 19, 2018 by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

I’ve read this poem many times, at different occasions and yet it speaks to me differently each time I read…and in each waiting season I face.

Wait
by Russell Kelfer

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate . . .
And the Master so gently said, “Wait.”

“Wait? you say wait?” my indignant reply.
“Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By faith I have asked, and I’m claiming your Word.

“My future and all to which I relate
Hangs in the balance, and you tell me to wait?
I’m needing a ‘yes’, a go-ahead sign,
Or even a ‘no’ to which I can resign.

“You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
And Lord I’ve been asking, and this is my cry:
I’m weary of asking! I need a reply.”

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate,
As my Master replied again, “Wait.”
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
And grumbled to God, “So, I’m waiting for what?”

He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine . . .
and He tenderly said, “I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.

“I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.
You’d have what you want, but you wouldn’t know Me.
You’d not know the depth of my love for each saint.
You’d not know the power that I give to the faint.

“You’d not learn to see through clouds of despair;
You’d not learn to trust just by knowing I’m there.
You’d not know the joy of resting in Me
When darkness and silence are all you can see.

“You’d never experience the fullness of love
When the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,
But you’d not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

“The glow of my comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight.
The depth that’s beyond getting just what you ask
From an infinite God who makes what you have last.

“You’d never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.
Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,
But, oh, the loss, if you missed what I’m doing in you.

“So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
That the greatest of gifts is to truly know me.
And though oft My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still . . . Wait.”

There are many plans in the heart of man, but only the Lord’s will take place. Proverbs 19:21

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Christian, Life, Reflections

Fleeing Essence of Time

Posted on September 26, 2018September 26, 2018 by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

“Time is an illusion”-Albert Einstein.

From the physician who proposed the Theory of Relativity, Einstein had furthered the concepts of space and time. Interestingly, it is all conceptualized on relativity, speed of light and time. From time immemorial, man has been trying to understand time and its finer aspects. In our attempts to travel through time, innumerable theoretical concepts have been attempted, all to no avail. Unfortunately time doesn’t stick around long for it.

As we all travel down today’s path, how many of us pause to realize that all this can go in a flash, many a time beyond our control ? Unfortunately it is in man’s nature to plan a lot. Yet the purpose of planning waits to be seen. Some plan for the future, some to enjoy the present. No matter how concrete our plans go, sometimes we don’t even realize the fact that all these can be altered in a matter of seconds. Yet the beauty of human nature is that we still hope and pray that it happens the way we wish to see it go.

The human race is tied to time. Through all means, we try to keep account of time to fulfill our worldly dreams and desires. The concept of time has been problematical for scientists, philosophers, thinkers and even theologians. The theory and understanding of how “time” is employed in the divine scheme of things is also controversial.

Divine timing doesn’t follow the rules. Although we in our earnest prayers, hope and ask for the blessings; sometimes nothing makes any sense. And instead we land with another set of worries r problems as we see it. That’s when we should realize that true faith requires us to hand all our burdens over to the Lord and trust Him to do what’s best. True faith requires complete trust in Him and for that we have to fully follow the Christian path by His Word. Our time frame is set by our limits. Yet the Lord’s time frame is infinite. “8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:8-9)”

One of the greatest promises of the Lord, the gift of salvation doesn’t have a time limit. In the light of this fact, we have to realize that each day God gives is not for us to simply live it, but for us to become better. For if today there will be no time, tomorrow we may lack strength and the day after tomorrow there may not be us.

So instead of banking on the future time, live the life of Faith for today first. Along with the intense planning for the day; take time off for yourself , your loved ones and your Faith. Above all, instead of trying to count the clock and get lost in the mundane, do try to live the hours and do something that makes it all the worth.

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Christian, Life, Personal Musings, Stories Around the World

Take the Battle to the Sky

Posted on September 25, 2018September 19, 2018 by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

Among the birds of prey, the eagle has it’s own special place in the wildlife kingdom. Besides soaring the skies, it fiercely protects its young and preys on the smaller land creatures especially snakes. Ever wondered how the eagle kills the deadly poisonous snake?

The eagle usually hunts from a high perch or from the skies, scanning the land below for prey with its’ sharp eyes. When it sees a snake, it swoops down, seizes the reptile behind the head and crushes the spine with its talons and beak. If it loses the advantage of a surprise attack and the snake turns on it, the eagle will flap its wings to try and induce the snake to spend its’ venom and energy reserves before moving in for the kill.

Another way for the eagle to kill the snake is not fight it on the ground. Instead it picks it up into the sky with its’ heavily scaled claws; thus changing the battle ground. Then it releases the snake from the sky. Unlike the eagle; the snake lacks power and balance in the air. It is weak and vulnerable in the air, whereas on the ground where it is powerful wise and deadly.

Why the talk about the eagle and the snake? The scriptures quotes eagles many a time. There is are many references to the eagle, but the one that I want to quote is from the book of Isaiah. “Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.” (Isaiah 40:31)

Take the fight with the evil into the spiritual realm by praying and there God will takes over the battles. Don’t fight the enemy in their comfort zone, change the battle grounds through prayers and His Word. Let God take charge; for then the clean victory will be ours.

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Christian, Family and Society, Random Thoughts

Love and Charity

Posted on September 21, 2018September 20, 2018 by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.
11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.
12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-13 New International Version (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.

These verses from 1 Corinthians regarding love has been read across various Sundays, bible learning lessons, fellowship meets, family prayers and even during personal time. Although the teachings revolve around the concept of “love”, the echoes of “charity” are not far behind.

Love and charity independently can endure evil and provocation. Yet love with charity drives away resentment, deters angry passions and gives way to tolerance and preserves patience. Charity suppresses envy and neither is turned away by the welfare of her neighbours, rather charity rejoices in them. In fact, love has many faces but as St. Paul says indirectly in his letters that charity is the face of love which never fails but has a permanent, perpetual and ever-lasting grace. The phrase “Charity begins at home” reflects that we don’t have to look far to find her. Charity starts by doing good at home, in the family and neighbourhood. Charity believes in actions and not in words or monetary gains. The real truth lies in the reality that charity should be ingrained in us knowingly or unknowingly, so that the inner peace and grace would be a part of our persona.

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Family and Society, Life

Wear the Gold Ribbon this Month

Posted on September 15, 2018September 15, 2018 by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

“Cancer”- this word is one of the most dreaded ones to be heard or even thought of. It brings fear not only to the ones struck by it but even family members and loved ones bear the brunt. Although sometimes we may be able to fight it; other times we may not succeed. The hardest part even after all the treatment, is not knowing whether it is gone permanently or may make a comeback.

One saddest parts of life is when cancer occurs at a very young age, either in childhood or adolescence and sometimes even as early as infancy. These children have to forgo their regular life and endure months and months of treatment. Sometimes it doesn’t work out and they give into the disease. Sometimes they do survive. Yet even if the cancer has regressed or has been removed; there would be countless visits to the hospital. These children, if they survive will have to deal with countless side-effects ranging from chronic pain to thyroid problems and worst of all, secondary cancers.

The National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month which is observed in the September is an annual national health campaign organized by major childhood cancer organizations to increase awareness of pediatric cancer and to raise funds for various aspects of its research. While many of us may not be actively involved in the pediatric cancer units or dealing with survivors, what we can is to raise awareness and give support.

By support, it doesn’t necessarily mean monetary support alone but even emotional, mental, physical and even spiritual support. There may be cancer survivors in our neighbourhood, church groups, extended family, schools and workplaces. Some of the small town hospitals may have a few cancer victims admitted with concurrent ailments.

What we can do is to lend a hand and more importantly our time if, where or when required and above all, extend our support to their families too. It is in these hard times that we need to help and share our Faith and support. Sharing our time and faith will help to ease the stress and burden for both the survivors and the victims as well as their families.

As the Scripture says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”(Deuteronomy 31:6)

Our time in this world is short, for we never when or how will our call come ? As, Albert Einstein had said, “Time is an illusion.” Thus, what we do with our time is valuable as it builds our character and eventually our faith. For, I believe there are no casual encounters: either God sends the person we need, or we are sent to someone by God, unknown to us. So this month, let us wear the gold ribbon and give our time to the children with cancer. And give them the faith to fight the battle.

“16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-19)