Category Archives: Hope

The Power of an Encouraging Word

Posted on April 9, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

Fifteen year old Douglas Maurer went into depression when he was diagnosed with leukemia and learned he was to have three years of chemotherapy that would send him bald and bloated. To cheer him up his aunt ordered some flowers; … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts of Kindness, Anxiety, Generous spirit, Healing, Hope, hope and love, inner peace, Inspiration, Living Life, Power, Strength, supportive community, tribulation and trouble | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What’s in the bag?

Posted on March 26, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

There’s an old legend about three men each carrying two sacks, one on their back and one on their front.. When asked what was in the sacks, the first said, “On my back are all the good things that have … Continue reading →

Posted in Appreciation, Attitude, Bitterness, Blessings, Contentment, Encouragement, Futility, Hope, Inspiration, Life's journey, Living Life, Making the most of what you've got, Seeing the possibilities, Spiritual blindness, Spiritual discernment, thankfulness, Troubles, Trust in God, Wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Pain – ‘God’s Megaphone’

Posted on March 26, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

There’s nothing that challenges faith in a loving God more than the problem of pain. C.S. Lewis said that of all the things that come to us in life, pain is the one thing guaranteed to get our attention. Joys … Continue reading →

Posted in angry with God, Discernment, Encouragement, Faith, God, Grace, Hope, Life's journey, Living Life, Pain, pilgrimage, Religion, Spiritual Insight, Trials and testings, Wisdom | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘Thank God I can still feel pain’

Posted on February 27, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

Doctor Paul Brand, who has spent a lifetime treating lepers, had a frightening experience one night. Getting ready for bed after hours of travel he discovered there was no feeling in his heel. So he took a pin, pricked it … Continue reading →

Posted in Appreciation, Awareness, Discernment, Hope, Leprosy, Life's journey, Pain, Senses, Trials and testings, tribulation and trouble, Uncertainty of Life, Wisdom | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Discovering our wings

Posted on February 27, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

The famous Danish theologian and philosopher, Kierkegarde, once remarked that the first miracle Jesus performed was to turn water into wine. He went on to say, “The Church, however, has performed an even greater miracle; it has turned the wine … Continue reading →

Posted in asceticism, Awareness, Faith, God, Hope, Inspiration, Living Life, Personal Growth, Religion, Spiritual Insight, Transformation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Forget you’ve been here

Posted on February 21, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

New York’s Mayor La Guardia, while serving as a judge during the Great Depression, had a widow brought before him charged with stealing bread. Her defence was that she had no food, no job, no money and two children to … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts of Kindness, Forgiveness, Hope, Justice, Mercy, Sympathy and Support, tribulation and trouble | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Granny Smith

Posted on February 21, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

There’s an old tombstone outside St Annes Church in the Sydney suburb of Ryde, dedicated to the memory of Maria Ann Smith. In the early days of Sydney she was the midwife for the area and was commonly known as … Continue reading →

Posted in Appreciation, Awareness, Discernment, Encouragement, Faith, Hope, Inspirational, Life's journey, Making the most of what you've got, New Life, Spiritual Insight, Transformation, Trust in God | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Fear of Death

Posted on February 17, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

The most universal fear is the fear of death, and it comes because we focus on this world instead of the next. The reality is that nothing in this world is as solid and real as it appears. Everything is … Continue reading →

Posted in Anxiety, Death, Faith, Futility, God, Heaven, Hope, inner peace, Life's journey, Peaceful Sleep, Spiritual Insight | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

I believe in the Sun even when it’s not shining

Posted on February 17, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

It seems hard to believe that someone like Mother Teresa in later life should have written to her spiritual confidants revealing that inwardly her sense of the presence of God, that she had previously found quite overwhelming, seemed absent. However, … Continue reading →

Posted in Awareness, Faith, God, Hope, hope and love, inner peace, Inspirational, Knowing God, Life's journey, Moods, pilgrimage, Spiritual Darkness, Spiritual Insight, Trials and testings, Trust in God | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Blessed are…

Posted on February 14, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

I was leading a study group recently, and we were discussing the meaning of the word ‘blessed’, which Jesus used to describe those whose lives reflect the qualities of the Sermon on the Mount. I explained that the Greek word … Continue reading →

Posted in Appreciation, Attitude, Awareness, Contentment, Faith, God, Healing, Hope, inner peace, Life's journey, Moods, Promise, Spiritual Insight, Terror, Trials and testings, Trust in God | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment