Category Archives: Strength

Disappointed? Often! Discouraged? Sometimes! Defeated? Never!

Posted on April 29, 2016 by vincentsmithauthor

Scott Peck’s famous book, The Road Less Traveled, opens with the words:’Life is difficult.’ He says we’ll never get on top of life until we accept this fundamental truth, but when we do accept it, the fact that life is … Continue reading →

Posted in Spiritual growth, Spiritual Insight, Strength, Trials and testings, tribulation and trouble, Tried, Troubles, Victory, Winners | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Strong but gentle

Posted on March 23, 2016 by vincentsmithauthor

An editorial in the prestigious Wall Street Journal said: ‘People want to be lightly governed by strong governments.’ I suppose that’s what most of us have wanted since childhood. We wanted our dad to be big and strong and able … Continue reading →

Posted in Gentleness, God, God's love, God's nature, Strength | Leave a comment

Afflictions v Affections

Posted on November 11, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

Malcolm Muggeridge, just before his death, said: ‘Contrary to what might be expected, I look back on experiences that at the time seemed especially desolating and painful with particular satisfaction. Indeed, I can say with complete truthfulness that everything I … Continue reading →

Posted in Strength, Tested, Trials and testings, Tried, Troubles | Leave a comment

Handling pressure

Posted on June 6, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

In the depths of the ocean there are two ways of handling the enormous water pressure that would crush a normal submarine. One is that of the bathysphere whose hull is made of steel plate several inches thick. It keeps … Continue reading →

Posted in inner peace, Spiritual blessing, Spiritual comfort, Spiritual Insight, Storms of life, Strength, Stress filled life, Tested, Trials and testings, tribulation and trouble | Leave a comment

Insults never hurt unless you let them.

Posted on April 27, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

A renowned Greek philosopher told one of his students that if he wanted to learn to be wise, he should give money to everyone who insulted him for a period of three years. And that’s what he did. When the … Continue reading →

Posted in Character, Insults, Self-control, Strength, Wisdom | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The world on our shoulders

Posted on March 20, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

Bruce Larsen was for many years a counsellor in New York. Sometimes he would take over-stressed clients to the RCA Building to see the famous statue of Atlas holding the world upon his shoulders, barely able to stand under this … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlas, Faith, God, God in us, God with us, God's faithfulness, Sleeplessness, Storms of life, Strength, Stress filled life | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Spirit Trail

Posted on December 15, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

The famous weavings of the Navajo Indians include what they call the Spirit trail in which the weaver deliberately forms a break in the pattern. It’s the artist’s way of letting the weaving take on a life of its own, … Continue reading →

Posted in Imperfection, Spiritual discernment, Spiritual Insight, Strength, Weakness | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Not Alone

Posted on November 13, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

A few years ago, best selling writer Philip Yancey wrote these words: ‘For all its faults and failures, the church offers a place to bring wounds and to seek meaning in times of brokenness and struggle. Visiting them I heard … Continue reading →

Posted in Courage, Faith, Mystery, Prayer, Spiritual growth, Spiritual Insight, Strength, Troubles | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Live, love and laugh

Posted on October 6, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

When Norman Cousins was diagnosed with a rare and incurable disease, he released himself from hospital and decided to treat himself. Aware of the harmful effects that negative emotions can have on the body Cousins prescribed his own treatment, consisting … Continue reading →

Posted in Joy, Laughter, Life, Life's journey, love, Positive Thoughts, Strength | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The joy of the Lord is my strength

Posted on September 8, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

Dr Trisha MacNair, in her book The Long Life Equation – one hundred factors that can add or subtract years from your life, says that the choices we make now often have enormous consequences in later life. Drawing on hundreds … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith, God, Joy, Life, Life's journey, Strength | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment