NOW IS THE TIME TO BUILD A HOUSE FOR THE LORD

 hursday of the Twenty-Fifth Week of Ordinary Time 1 (28 Sept. 2023)

📖Haggai 1:1-8; Ps 149:1-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9bc (R.v.4a); Luke 9:7-9

🎤NOW IS THE TIME TO BUILD A HOUSE FOR THE LORD 

After Ezra had settled the people in their land, things were so difficult for them, and so, they put off the reconstruction of the temple first while they went on rebuilding their own homes. Some of the leaders who should have cautioned them instead supported them with the normal excuse, "God will understand." It was at this time that God sent the prophet Haggai to the people.

The major message Haggai gave the people was on the immediate rebuilding of the temple of God. This temple was damaged when the people were taken to exile.

While we can historically place the ministry of Haggai in the post-exilic era of the Jews, we can say that he is talking to us too. First is on the need to support, in every way we can, in the building of the Church of God, both the material structure and the spiritual one.

Second, remember that our body is equally the temple of the Holy Spirit. Sin sends us into exile from the presence of God and destroys his temple in us. We must equally begin to rebuild this temple, and now is the time. Tomorrow may be too late.

Consider the insecurity that Herod felt at hearing about the works of Jesus. He had a strong material house, but he was still insecure because he had not built a home for God in his life. So shall it be for those who do not have a good place for God in their lives before the end.

May God help us to understand at all times the urgency of preparing well for the coming of the Lord before it is too late. Amen.

Do have a grace-filled day. Peace be with you.

HOW TO WIN AS A COUPLE

 HOW TO WIN AS A COUPLE

1. Cover each other's weaknesses

2. Celebrate each other's strengths

3. Have no topics that you cannot talk about. No judgment. Openness will open your mind to solutions

4. Consider each other's opinions and contribution

5. Be 100% in. Full commitment

6. Make incremental progress. Seek growth, not perfection

7. Develop a culture of reviewing your relationship; are we doing OK, and where can we improve?

8. Accept correction, be humble

9. Work on yourselves to be the best wife, the best husband

10. Have joint goals

11. Support each other in your individual goals

12. Keep each other as a priority even as you have friends

13. Thank God together. A thankful couple is a powerful couple

14. Don't compete with each other, accommodate each other

15. Bring whatever lessons or opportunities you learn out there into your marriage. Learn together

16. Be patient. Some wins take time

17. When you fall whether as a couple or as individuals, pick each other up

18. Protect what you have built together. It is very easy to lose it fast

19. Control your tempers. A lot of bad choices are made in moments of anger

20. Don't copy other couples. Create your testimonies.

Forgive yourself

Forgive yourself for everything

You did to survive

Sometimes it takes all you've got

Just to stay alive

Not everyone will understand

Sometimes not even you

The strength it takes just to stand

And keep on fighting through

It isn't quantifiable

No two survivors are alike

And no one knows just what it takes

To find stars in the night

When everything is just too dark

And you relive it all again

Take a breath and remind yourself

You made it in the end

I might not know your story

But I have one of my own

And I know it's not easy

To forgive yourself for coming home

But I promise you it's worth it

It's something only you can do

Remember, you did more than stand

You found a way to make it through.

~Mandy Kocsis©2022~

Beauty in others

You see the beauty in others,

But can you see it in your own reflection?

You see the magnificence in others,

But can you acknowledge it in your own being?

And you see the potential in others,

But can you uncover it in your own self?

You must give yourself permission to shine.

For who among you

Has been lessened 

By the greatness of another?

It is not another person

But your own thoughts that keep you small.

So shine bright and let yourself grow,

Because your example will inspire and encourage others to do the same. 

Words by Tahlia Hunter

How does a peaceful mind help deal with the chaos of life?

Our relationship with ourselves largely determines our relationships with the people around us and our response to external situations.

Life is not easy for anyone. Something or the other is going on all the time. When the mind is disturbed, external disturbances magnify the problem and make the situation seem bigger than it is. When the mind is calm, thinking ability increases, we become patient, relationships with others improve, and we do not panic even in the most challenging situations.

To create peace within yourself, you have to trust the process of life, accept life as it comes and trust that whatever happens will be for good. Increase your inner strength by praying and meditating, and use this strength to remain calm in every situation.

Dr Bhawna Gautam

Life will test you many times

 As I grow up I realized that life will test you so many times until the day that being strong is your only choice, I've experienced countless breakdowns, feeling lost while asking myself what is my purpose, I found myself settling for less and judge by a lot of people, I've been used and forgotten but I don't regret any of those moments because I've learned a lot.

I've learned how to be tough and to guard my heart when it's necessary. I've learned that history sometimes never repeats itself and sometimes you have to let go and move towards the blessings you deserve. I've been buried in the dark a few times and I learned to love myself in there. Being in the dark doesn't mean you've been defeated because hope begins in the dark, the bigger the hope in your heart the wider the light that will mold you to be the better version of yourself.