Tag Archives: Hope

‘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

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

Don’t worry about things that are unlikely to happen

Posted on February 14, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

Just before the start of a major concert, a member of the orchestra approached the great Toscanini with a panicked look on his face. ‘Maestro,’ he said, ‘my instrument is not working properly. I cannot reach the note of E-flat. … Continue reading →

Posted in Attitude, Awareness | 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

And it came to pass

Posted on February 4, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

A group of people was once asked to name the passage of the Bible that most helped them when they were going through difficult times. Most came up with old favourites, except for one elderly man who said: ‘Mine is: … Continue reading →

Posted in Attitude, Awareness, Bible, Encouragement, Faith, God, Hope, Life's journey, old age, Trials and testings, Trust in God, Uncertainty of Life, Wisdom | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Out of the Mouths of Children

Posted on February 4, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

I heard about a young boy travelling by airplane to visit his grandparents. He happened to be seated beside a theological college lecturer. The older man noticed the boy was reading a Sunday school book, so he decided to encourage … Continue reading →

Posted in children, Encouragement, Faith, God, Heaven, Religion, Trust in God | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Fellowship of the Ring

Posted on February 3, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

There’s an old eastern fable about a ring that turned those who wore it into better people. The man who had it couldn’t decide which of his three sons to give it to. So he had two identical rings made … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts of Kindness, Attitude, Faith, Healing, Jesus, Life's journey, Making the most of what you've got, Personal Growth, Religion, Spiritual Insight, Wisdom | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment