Tag Archives: God’s Will

Plucking weeds and planting flowers

Posted on April 18, 2016 by vincentsmithauthor

Abraham Lincoln once said: ‘Die when I may, I want it said of me that I plucked a weed and planted a flower wherever I thought a flower would grow.’ Someone said that the whole process of evolution in this … Continue reading →

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Turning things right side up

Posted on February 13, 2016 by vincentsmithauthor

One of the most puzzling things about Jesus’ teaching was that he constantly took the accepted standards of the world and said they don’t work; and then turned them upside down to show what does work. The people whom Jesus … Continue reading →

Posted in Abundant life, Christlikeness, Jesus, Life, Living Life, Standards, Uncategorized, Values | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Life is a bridge

Posted on January 22, 2016 by vincentsmithauthor

The early church had a saying: ‘Life is a bridge. You cross over it, but you don’t build your house on it.’ It reminds us that we are travellers through this earthly existence and our true home lies beyond it. … Continue reading →

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Revelling in the years

Posted on January 22, 2016 by vincentsmithauthor

Henry Durbanville, in his book The Best Is Yet To Be, wrote, ‘I feel so sorry for folks who don’t like to grow old…I revel in my years. They enrich me…I would not exchange…the abiding rest of soul, the measure … Continue reading →

Posted in Age, Beauty, Life, Life's journey, Life's lessons, old age | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The happiness that makes life complete

Posted on January 22, 2016 by vincentsmithauthor

The ancient Greeks used to call the island of Cyprus: ‘the Blessed Isle.’ They considered everything about it to be ideal, its climate, fertility, its beauty, the taste of its wine and so on. They believed Cyprus had everything in … Continue reading →

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The essence of prayer

Posted on January 22, 2016 by vincentsmithauthor

The most universal expression of spirituality is prayer. Even in the secular western world most people say they pray – but probably for things to change for their benefit. However, real prayer is about getting our lives and actions in … Continue reading →

Posted in Obedience, Prayer, Submission to God's will | Tagged , | Leave a comment

‘Nothing is written’

Posted on December 24, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

One of the all-time great movies is Lawrence of Arabia, and one of its greatest scenes is where Lawrence, having led his men across the burning cauldron of the supposedly uncrossable Nefud desert, goes back into that furnace to rescue … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith, Fatalism, Fate, Fear | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Knowledge and privilege always bring responsibility

Posted on August 29, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

One aspect of human courts of law that often seems unjust is that ignorance of a law is not deemed to be an excuse for having broken that law. So, for example, someone wrote to a motoring organisation complaining they … Continue reading →

Posted in accountability, Judgement, Knowledge, Privilege | Tagged | Leave a comment

Missing the mark

Posted on June 18, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

A few years ago TV viewers in Britain were horrified to see knife thrower Jayde Hanson ‘nick’ the head of his female assistant while attempting to repeat his world record of one hundred and twenty knives thrown in two minutes. … Continue reading →

Posted in Failure, Forgiveness, God, Mistakes, Sin | Tagged , | Leave a comment

First things first

Posted on June 5, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

A seminar leader once placed a large jar next to a pile of rocks and asked how many rocks would fit in the jar. Then he piled as many in as he could and asked if the jar was full. … Continue reading →

Posted in Putting first things first, Spiritual growth, Spiritual Insight, Success | Tagged , | Leave a comment