A New Year's Prayer

Lord, You make all things new
You bring hope alive in our hearts
And cause our Spirits to be born again.

Thank you for this new year
For all the potential it holds.
Come and kindle in us
A mighty flame
So that in our time, many will see the wonders of God
And live forever to praise Your glorious name.

Amen

God's Plans for our future are good

For I know the plans that I have for you,' says the LORD, 'plans for your welfare, and not for calamity, to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11, (NHEB)

God's compassion is new every morning

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

Lamentations 3:22-24 (NIV)

Seek God for the future:-

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Proverbs 3:5-6, (NLT)

Let go of what has gone before and press on to what is ahead

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13-14, (NIV)

Do not be afraid about the future - instead, give everything over to God in prayer:-

Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart

Philippians 4:6, (GNT)

 Source

I AM METH

 This was written by a young girl who was in jail for drug charges, and was addicted to meth. She wrote this while in jail. As you will soon read, she fully grasped the horrors of the drug, as she tells in this simple, yet profound poem. She was released from jail, but, true to her story, the drug owned her. They found her dead not long after, with the needle still in her arm.... 

 Please understand, this thing is worse than any of us realize... 

 My Name Is "Meth" 

 I destroy homes, I tear families apart, take your children, and that's just the start. 

 I'm more costly than diamonds, more precious than gold, 

 The sorrow I bring is a sight to behold. 

 If you need me, remember I'm easily found, 

 I live all around you - in schools and in town. 

 I live with the rich; I live with the poor, 

 I live down the street, and maybe next door.

 I'm made in a lab, but not like you think, 

 I can be made under the kitchen sink. 

 In your child's closet, and even in the woods, 

 If this scares you to death, well it certainly should. 

 I have many names, but there's one you know best, 

 I'm sure you've heard of me, my name is crystal meth. 

 My power is awesome; try me you'll see, 

 But if you do, you may never break free. 

 Just try me once and I might let you go, 

 But try me twice, and I'll own your soul. 

 When I possess you, you'll steal and you'll lie, 

 You do what you have to -- just to get high. 

 The crimes you'll commit for my narcotic charms 

 Will be worth the pleasure you'll feel in your arms, 

 your lungs your nose. 

 You'll lie to your mother; you'll steal from your dad, 

 When you see their tears, you should feel sad. 

 But you'll forget your morals and how you were raised, 

 I'll be your conscience, I'll teach you my ways. 

 I take kids from parents, and parents from kids, 

 I turn people from God, and separate friends. 

 I'll take everything from you, your looks and your pride, 

 I'll be with you always -- right by your side. 

 You'll give up everything - your family, your home, 

 Your friends, your money, then you'll be alone. 

 I'll take and take, till you have nothing more to give, 

 When I'm finished with you, you'll be lucky to live. 

 If you try me be warned - this is no game, 

 If given the chance, I'll drive you insane. 

 I'll ravish your body, I'll control your mind, 

 I'll own you completely, your soul will be mine. 

 The nightmares I'll give you while lying in bed, 

 The voices you'll hear, from inside your head. 

 The sweats, the shakes, the visions you'll see, 

 I want you to know, these are all gifts from me. 

 But then it's too late, and you'll know in your heart, 

 That you are mine, and we shall not part. 

 You'll regret that you tried me, they always do, 

 But you came to me, not I to you. 

 You knew this would happen, many times you were told, 

 But you challenged my power, and chose to be bold. 

 You could have said no, and just walked away, 

 If you could live that day over, now what would you say? 

 I'll be your master, you will be my slave, 

 I'll even go with you, when you go to your grave. 

 Now that you have met me, what will you do? 

 Will you try me or not? It's all up to you. 

 I can bring you more misery than words can tell, 

 Come take my hand, let me lead you to hell.

 

 If you care enough, please forward this profound poem and share the deadly outcome of this drug that is killing our young kids young and old...

4 Ways Our Greatest Storms Speak of God's Glory

The glory and honour of God is the overall message of all of creation. It's so universal that even our greatest storms and trials speak of God's power and majesty.

There sure is a whole lot of difficulty in seeing how worship and adoration can come out of the ugliest and most gruesome times of testing, but when our hearts are in the right place, that's exactly what happens.

Yesterday, we had a memorial service for a dear friend and ministry-worker who passed away at the age of 25. It was a tragic loss. It's hard to say goodbye to someone who was gone too soon.

But the joy and peace that rested upon all his friends and loved ones was hard to miss. All of us were filled with gratitude and praise to how wonderful God is.

How could the beauty and splendour of God be shown in the most gruesome and trying times? Here are four ways that our greatest storms can speak of God's glory.

1. God's Power Is Made Perfect in Weakness
2 Corinthians 12:9 says, "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

It's in times we are weakest and most vulnerable that God shows His strength and power. In times of great trial, God has shown Himself to be faithful, still sustaining us and keeping His faithful and good work going.

2. Our Character Is Best Moulded in Trial, Not Comfort
Even the biggest losses can be beneficial to us. I thank God for all the hardships that I get to face because it's through these tests that I grow better and stronger. Not that hardship is the only way we learn, but it remains one of our most effective teachers. That's what James 1:2-3 declares: "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness."

3. Jesus Gives Rest When We Are Weary
Jesus knows our pain and struggles because He, too, once walked as man just as we do. Because of that, He knows when to invite us to rest in Him. And rest is exactly what He gives. Rest not just for the physical body but also for the soul.

As He said in Matthew 11:28-30, "Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

4. Jesus Can Calm Any Storm
Just like when Jesus calmed a literal storm once, He can calm all kinds of storms that we go through. Our storms are opportunities for God to show His strength. He invites us only to be still and know that He is God.

When we are founded in Christ, we are like houses established on a rock such that even in times of testing, we will stand firm.
Source

Verses on Faith in Mind – Seng-ts’an

 “The Great Way is not difficult for those not attached to preferences. When neither like nor dislike arises, all is clear and undisguised. If you wish to know the truth, then hold to no opinions for or against anything. To set up what you like against what you dislike is the disease of the mind..”

The following is Richard Clarke’s translation of the Hsin Hsin Ming (Verses on Faith in Mind) by Seng-ts’an, the 3rd patriarch of Zen….

The Great Way is not difficult for those not attached to preferences. When neither like nor dislike arises, all is clear and undisguised. Separate by the smallest amount, however, and you are as far from it as heaven is from earth.

If you wish to know the truth, then hold to no opinions for or against anything. To set up what you like against what you dislike is the dis-ease of the mind.

When the fundamental nature of things is not recognized, the mind’s essential peace is disturbed to no avail. The Way is perfect as vast space is perfect, where nothing is lacking and nothing is in excess.
Indeed, it is due to our grasping and rejecting that we do not know the true nature of things. Live neither in the entanglements of outer things, nor in ideas or feelings of emptiness. Be serene and at one with things and erroneous views will disappear by themselves.

When you try to stop activity to achieve quietude, your very effort fills you with activity. As long as you remain attached to one extreme or another you will never know Oneness. Those who do not live in the Single Way cannot be free in either activity or quietude, in assertion or denial.

Deny the reality of things and you miss their reality; assert the emptiness of things and you miss their reality. The more you talk and think about it the further you wander from the truth. So cease attachment to talking and thinking, and there is nothing you will not be able to know.

To return to the root is to find the essence, but to pursue appearances or “enlightenment” is to miss the source. To awaken even for a moment is to go beyond appearance and emptiness.

Changes that seem to occur in the empty world we make real only because of our ignorance. Do not seek for the truth; Only cease to cherish opinions.

Do not remain in a dualistic state; avoid such easy habits carefully. If you attach even to a trace of this and that, of right and wrong, the Mind-essence will be lost in confusion. Although all dualities arise from the One, do not be attached even to ideas of this One.

When the mind exists undisturbed in the Way, there is no objection to anything in the world; and when there is no objection to anything, things cease to be in the old way. When no discriminating attachment arises, the old mind ceases to exist.

Let go of things as separate existences, and mind too vanishes. Likewise when the thinking subject vanishes so too do the objects created by mind.

The arising of “other” gives rise to self; giving rise to self generates others. Know these seeming two as facets of the One Fundamental Reality. In this Emptiness, these two are really one, and each contains all phenomena. If not comparing, nor attached to “refined” and “vulgar”— you will not fall into judgment and opinion.

The Great Way is embracing and spacious— to live in it is neither easy nor difficult. Those who rely on limited views are fearful and irresolute: The faster they hurry, the slower they go.

To have a narrow mind, and to be attached to getting enlightenment is to lose one’s center and go astray. When one is free from attachment, all things are as they are, and there is neither coming nor going.

When in harmony with the nature of things, your own fundamental nature, and you will walk freely and undisturbed. However, when mind is in bondage, the truth is hidden, everything is murky and unclear, and the burdensome practice of judging brings annoyance and weariness. What benefit can be derived from attachment to distinctions and separations?

If you wish to move in the One Way, do not dislike the worlds of senses and ideas. Indeed, to embrace them fully is identical with true Enlightenment. The wise person attaches to no goals but the foolish person fetters himself or herself.

There is one Dharma, without differentiation. Distinctions arise from the clinging needs of the ignorant. To seek Mind with the discriminating mind is the greatest of mistakes.

For the Realized mind at one with the Way, all self-centered striving ceases. Doubts and irresolutions vanish, and the Truth is confirmed in you. With a single stroke you are freed from bondage; nothing clings to you and you hold to nothing.

All is empty, clear, Self-illuminating, with no need to exert the mind. Here, thinking, feeling, understanding, and imagination are of no value. In this world “as it really is” there is neither self nor other-than-self.

To know this Reality directly is possible only through practicing non-duality. When you live this non-separation, all things manifest the One, and nothing is excluded. Whoever comes to enlightenment, no matter when or where, realizes personally this fundamental Source.

Each thing reveals the One, the One manifests as all things. To live in this Realization is not to worry about perfection or non-perfection. To put your trust in the Heart-Mind is to live without separation, and in this non-duality you are one with your Life-Source.

Words! Words! The Way is beyond language, for in it there is no yesterday, no tomorrow, no today.

by Seng-ts’an, Third Zen Patriarch
Translation by Richard Clarke

3 CRUCIAL STEPS TO LETTING GO OF AN EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT

“Unexpressed emotion will never die. They are buried alive and will come forth later in uglier ways. ~Sigmund Freud~

 

 When I decided to write about this topic I was conflicted because it was through my own emotional turmoil and trauma that I experienced spiritual awakening.

Taking my heart past the limit, I was so immersed in my emotional body that my heart couldn’t handle it. The pain and the inner turmoil were so intense that it felt like my chest was being ripped apart and it was on that day when I fell to my knees and surrendered to my pain, that I experienced spiritual awakening and enlightenment.

And so, I was conflicted, as I am living proof that if you take your heart to the limit and let it be your guide among st the trials and tribulations of the world, it will lead to you to the path you ultimately seek.

But then I realized, upon exploring the subject of emotional addiction, that no one should need to take the path, as I did. And that conscious evolution, and enlightenment will come much easier if we all had the proper teachings and tools.

And so, here are 3 Steps to Healing Emotional Addictions and Why it is So Important.

1. Do Away With Distractions

The television, the radio, the magazines and the social media sites (that aren’t teaching you anything). They are an emotional addiction and are there to keep your mind immersed in your body. These outlets want you to continue the cycle of thinking a certain way, causing you to feel a certain way, strung out in a feedback loop of negativity.

Think about your favorite song and how it makes you feel. Each song sparks an emotion within you, this emotion is triggered by a memory, the memory produces a thought and the thought generates a feeling. This all is the grand illusion that keeps you from the realization that you are a conscious creator. It keeps your mind immersed in your body of thinking and feeling and the cycle continues. This is the prime purpose of media. In fact, it is the number one sales strategy.

 

The more you engage in this cycle, the longer it will take to overcome your own emotional addiction to the pain and suffering in which you are experiencing.

2. Give it the Attention it Needs

It is common in hurtful situations to try to avoid the pain and stifle the memories. But by stifling the memories they will manifest negatively and cause havoc in other aspects of our lives. This being the number one reason it is essential to undergo inner child healing.

By accepting our pain and bringing our memories forward into conscious awareness they can be healed. When we can embrace our pain, we can then empower our own growth. We grow most through difficult experiences, so it is essential to embrace it as best you can. So sit with yourself, understand yourself, understand why you feel the way you feel, understand your pain and do not try to put on a false mask.

3. Awareness

Once you have embraced your pain, now is the time to release the negative thought pattern and how to do that is by understanding this.

Each time we have a thought we create a chemical in the brain and thereby we create a chemical reaction. Alike to physical addictions we can become dependent upon the chemical reactions in our own bodies and we become used to feeling a certain way based on how we think.

This is why, when seem to be stuck in negative thinking patterns that it is as difficult to break as a physical addiction. Our bodies become dependent upon the chemicals we have created. When you are aware of this function, you can then determine your course of action, and break the addiction.

By consciously changing the way we think we can reroute a self-defeating thought and create new and more positive chemical reactions in the body.

Source

God Listens to Your Slightest Whispers

"You know what I long for, Lord; You hear my every sigh." – Psalm 38:9

God knows everything. He knows our deepest longings, our wildest dreams, and can make them all come true. Would you want Him to do that for you?

A Loving Father
Our God is our very loving Father who knows what we need even without us telling Him. He also knows what we want to say even before we could say anything. All that He wants is for us to pursue Him.

You see, friends, God knows all that we need and wants to provide for us. He feeds the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea. No sparrow ever falls to the ground without Him knowing and allowing it. He's just that detailed and careful.

 And because He cares for us, He wants to meet our every need. Christ came healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and setting the captives free. He reached out to those who did not and could not speak to Him for some reason: that old woman with the issue of blood; that Gadarene demoniac who was so demon-possessed only demons spoke through his lips; and even us who, after being born thousands of years after His death and resurrection, are still affected and blessed by what He has done for us.
 
Indeed, He knows what we need before we ask them.

Come to Jesus
So what does this leave us with? He knows what we need anyway, so why should we pray? He knows our deepest longings even if we just keep it to ourselves, so why should we even lift up our voice to tell Him?

It's simply because He wants you to get close to Him.

All throughout the Bible, we find God reaching out to men, desiring that they would come to Him
We read Him reaching out to Adam although He knew Adam already sinned. We read how He reached out and delivered Israel from Egypt. We read how He decided to dwell in the midst of His people through the tabernacle of Moses. Yes, long before Christ was born as a normal human to reach out to us, God was already reaching down to pull us up.

But in the fullness of time, God, in His great love for mankind, sent His one and only begotten Son Jesus Christ to rescue us and take us for Himself.

For Himself. That's it. He wants you for Himself alone.

God heard your whispers. Your whispers for love. For acceptance. For purpose. And He responded by His Son. I hope you would come to Him in gratefulness to His grace.
Source 

How to eat your way to better grades

The saying goes that you are what you eat, so when it comes to exam time it makes sense to think carefully about what you are feeding your body. Food is fuel and knowing what to eat and drink ahead of exams can make all the difference to your performance.

A key factor in how well you do in an exam is “cognitive function”, which pretty much means the functioning of the brain. This includes variables such as memory and attention, and it can be easily affected by how much, and what type of food you do or do not eat. So it is logical that to enhance exam performance you want to think about optimising your cognitive function, with diet a key factor for consideration.

So where to start? Well, the first thing to consider – which is particularly important for morning exams – is to eat breakfast. Evidence suggests that breakfast consumption, when compared to skipping breakfast, enhances cognitive function in children, adolescents and adults – and that missing breakfast can impair your cognitive function and exam performance. So you should always make sure you eat something before an exam – ideally about two hours beforehand. It also matters what you eat.
In adolescents in particular, our work suggests that the breakfast should be low glycaemic index (GI).
Low GI foods produce a slower rise and lower peak in blood glucose concentration after eating which is believed to be beneficial for cognitive function. For example, muesli and porridge (with no added sugar I’m afraid) would be an ideal start to the day. A number of things can also help to reduce the GI of breakfast, such as adding milk. Milk promotes the release of insulin, the key hormone in glucose uptake which helps to lower our blood glucose concentration. Adding an apple can also reduce the GI of our breakfast.

Start your day with oats. CatchaSnap/Shutterstock

The breakfast should also be reasonably high carbohydrate, given that glucose (from carbohydrates) is the main fuel used by the brain. This could include foods such as breakfast cereals, toast and porridge. However, you may also want to think about adding in some protein as it helps us to feel fuller for longer.

Because the last thing you want is for your stomach to rumble halfway through an exam, a breakfast containing both carbohydrate and protein may be the best course of action – such as scrambled eggs on wholegrain toast. It’s also probably best to avoid high fat foods, such as a full English breakfast, as they can make us feel tired.

Thirsty work

Alongside breakfast, it is also very important to ensure that you stay hydrated. Lots of people do not drink enough and evidence suggests that dehydration impairs our cognitive function leading to poorer exam performance. In terms of what to drink, water is always a good call, as lots of “energy drinks” and fruit drinks contain lots of sugar.

Something also worth considering is caffeine. Caffeine has very well documented effects on cognitive function and alertness – so you may want to think about boosting your caffeine intake. However, this must be done with slight caution – don’t over do it. A very large dose of caffeine can also have negative effects, and lead to you being unable to concentrate (and wanting to get up and run around the exam hall). But the opposite can also be true, especially in habitual caffeine consumers. If they abstain from caffeine completely they may experience negative consequences.

Caffeine can be a great way to give your brain a boost, but try not to overdo it. Africa Studio/Shutterstock

So that’s your nutritional pep talk for morning exams, now what about for an afternoon one? Well, similar things hold true. You want to be eating a lunch based on carbohydrate and protein (consumed around two hours before the exam if possible) and to ensure that you stay well hydrated, with moderate caffeine intake.

It is also worth pointing out that nutrition is not a one size fits all science – what works for one person may not work for another. So use these tips as general guidelines. My greatest recommendation would be to “practice” these exam nutritional strategies, to make sure they work for you. It is better to find out in advance, rather than on the day, that you can’t stomach a big bowl of porridge at seven in the morning.

Simon Cooper, Senior Lecturer Sport Science, Nottingham Trent University
This article was originally published on The Conversation.

Carrot Juice - good for the heart

THE LINK BETWEEN CARROT JUICE AND HEART HEALTH

Carrots have a robust nutritional profile which helps you obtain the 17.5 to 21 cups of veggies a week which are recommended by the U.S Department of Agriculture. According to the USDA, besides lowering the risk for obesity, kidney-related issues, and cancer, a diet high in vegetables protects against heart disease, too.  Most of the heart-protecting properties of carrots are attributed to their vitamin content.

VITAMIN A

As reported by a review published in “Heart and Circulatory Physiology” in 2008, getting sufficient amount of vitamin A helps combat heart disease.  This nutrient prevents thickening of the ventricular walls and suppresses the response to stress which leads to heart failure.

VITAMIN C

According to the Linus Pauling Institute, Vitamin C content in carrots reduces the risk of developing coronary heart disease and the risk of dying from heart-related disease.  A cup of carrots provides up to 10 percent of the recommended daily intake for vitamin C.

VITAMIN K

Vitamin K activates protein Gas6, a compound which promotes cellular communication. It also keeps blood clotting in check and thus prevents excessive blood clotting which has a negative impact on the heart.

Inspiration - Be as simple as you can be

"Let silence take you to the core of life." ~Rumi



“If you see yourself in the correct way, you are all as much extraordinary phenomena of nature as trees, clouds, the patterns in running water, the flickering of fire, the arrangement of the stars, and the form of a galaxy. You are all just like that.” ~Alan Watts

“Be as simple as you can be; you will be astonished to see how uncomplicated and happy your life can become.” ~Paramahansa Yogananda



“Everybody has a little bit of the sun and moon in them. Everybody has a little bit of man, woman, and animal in them. Darks and lights in them. Everyone is part of a connected cosmic system. Part earth and sea, wind and fire, with some salt and dust swimming in them. We have a universe within ourselves that mimics the universe outside. None of us are just black or white, or never wrong and always right. No one. No one exists without polarities. Everybody has good and bad forces working with them, against them, and within them."
― Suzy Kassem,



"These mountains that you are carrying,
you were only supposed to climb.."
~Najwa Zebian

 When we see the Beloved in each person, it's like walking through a garden, watching flowers bloom all around us. - Ram Dass ~

 

At any moment, you have a choice, that either leads you closer to your spirit or further away from it. Be free where you are.
— Thich Nhat Hanh



Once you realize that the road is the goal, and that you are always on the road, not to reach a goal but to enjoy its beauty and its wisdom, life ceases to be a task and becomes natural and simple. In itself an ecstasy.
~ Nisargadatta Maharaj ~

“Be as simple as you can be; you will be astonished to see how uncomplicated and happy your life can become.”
~ Paramahansa Yogananda ~