Character Reflections in Children

It is very interesting to note how people 'behave' after some surgery especially when an anesthetic is involved. I read in the news that a certain young lady (after removal of a wisdom tooth) thought she was a witch and the dentist had cast a spell on her. She was determined to go back for revenge. This was probably emanating from the movie of Harry Potter. Of course we could say those are effects of the drugs subjected to her during surgery but doesn't this reveal what is embedded in the little girl's subconscious mind? Doesn't it show how much she has been exposed to the effects of watching Harry Potter? It is not surprising to note that her decision making processes (when not in subjection to these drugs) are very much influenced by Harry Potter.

We can never underestimate the influence of the media on our behavior and especially on children who are still in the formative years. If media was of no big deal then the advertising industry would just be a pass time and a waste of money. But no, the industry is actually booming – we see adverts virtually everywhere, in our inboxes, on blogs, on pathways, billboards, on clothes, just anywhere. Guess what, these ads do get a positive feedback. If advertising is influential what more of the movies or TV programs that our kids watch? Isn’t it all driving them to become violent, disrespectful to parents and authorities, immoral, pleasure loving, loss of love for God?

I really wonder what I will say after recovering from an anesthetics dose. Will I shout the name of God and praise Him, will I offer a prayer of thanksgiving? Will I start cursing and swearing and damaging everything that stands in my way? Whatever it may be – what will come out will be a reflection of what really makes me, me.

I just pray that the character of God may reflect in us all even in our kids. His should be even in times when we are ‘out of control’ of our emotions. Whatever we reveal in these ‘out of control’ experiences should help us diagnose where we stand. If need be, corrective action has to be considered.

Proverbs 22:6     Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

The parable of the bees

A bee has a service and a purpose. It can travel a distance of almost 50km in search of the best flowers with tasting nectar if it comes across bitter flowers it does not give up but continues to search for the better flowers. All of us are flyers, though we get disappointed there is no need to continue feeling sorry for ourselves but there is that need to go forward, for glorious opportunities often emanate from painful experiences. We all run with one vision to be a beacon of excellence in the provision of fiscal services and trade facilitation. Let’s fly with this Vision against all odds.

  

Author: Samuel Sithole

Why Bible Study

”Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” 1 Peter 3:15

We need to be diligent students of the Bible. The Bible is God’s word to us and we need to study it so that we may know what the Lord requires from us.

From Bible study, you are able to relate well with the Father in heaven. By reading what the Lord has done in the past, His plans for us, His expectations, we get a picture of how we are supposed to relate to him. When we read about Uzzah’s story (2 Samuel 6:6,7) for example, we begin to appreciate that when the Lord has spoken something He really means it. The ark was not supposed to be touched anyhow. Uzzah died when he disobeyed in this regard.

Nowadays there are many false prophets, claiming to have healing powers, claiming to be Christ Himself and demanding respect and worship. In order to be safe from such deceptions we need to be anchored in the Word of God. None can deceive us when we are acquainted with the Word. The Lord advises us to test every spirit; whether it is a true spirit from God or it is just a deceiving spirit from the devil. We can try these spirits by the Word - “If they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” (Isaiah 8:20).

At any given point, we should be able to give reason for our faith (1 Peter 3:15). The Bible makes it clear to us. As much as we read the letters written to us by our loved ones, let us read the letters that God has written to us through the Bible and become acquainted with Him. In these letters we find strength to go on in our lives, we find ways to defeat the evil one; and above all we find life.

God bless you in your studies.

Let your light shine

Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

As Christians, we are to shine to the world what we have acquired from God and make it known to the world.

How do I make my light shine:

·        When God says He is my guide, I should believe Him and live a life that has no fear.

·        When He says He will provide, I should not worry about what I will eat, drink or wear for I know He is in control.

·        When God says He is my Savior, I need not live in guilt like a slave but as a princess who knows daddy the king has taken care of my sin.

·        When God says He is my Lord, I have to live in accordance to His wishes expressed in His word.

·        When He says He is my shepherd, I should not aimlessly go about in life but follow His lead.

The reality of the matter is that God says we should ‘let our light shine’ and not ‘strive to let the light shine’. We are not to prove to anyone that we are Christians but as we live the Christian life the light will shine and glory will be given to God. Christ is the source of light so as we live with Him in our hearts, we shine forth a light that is to send glorification of God. Once we start receiving glory that is due to God, then we have a problem. All glory should be directed to God.

The light will shine as we earnestly live with Chris in our hearts and Him directing our paths.

Promises of God

Image: zirconicusso / FreeDigitalPhotos.net caption

Deuteronomy 4:31 “For the LORD thy God is a merciful God; He will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which He sware unto them”

The Lord has always given us a reason to depend on Him. What a wonderful promise He writes to us today – He will never forget the promises that he has promised us from the beginning! What more could we ask for.

I have experienced the mercies of God in my life. When I was still in school, I never really used to study. I was lazy and it did not matter what my grades looked like when it came to end of year results. This particular year, I noticed something needed to change and I couldn’t continue producing mediocre results. I prayed to God, asked for forgiveness for my laziness and was determined to make a right about change. I began to take my studies seriously. I was left with just over a month to my final exams. Exams came and I had to write them under intense pressure. I didn’t think I would pass all ten modules but God did it! The Faithful One came through for me at a time when I needed Him most. The ‘normal’ thing would be to let me fail and realize my mistakes but He took the merciful way and let me pass that I may believe on His word.

Lamentations 3:22, 23 “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. There are new every morning. Great is thy faithfulness.”

Drink Milk? Udder Propaganda

I came across this article on http://www.amazingdiscoveries.org/ and I hope it will be of inspiration to you as it was to me. (Noble Woman)

Author: Katy Chamberlin

Summary: We have turned cows into perpetual milk makers, pushing them well beyond their natural limits. Not only does this harm the cows, but by consuming their milk we put ourselves in harm’s way as well.

 It takes 21.2lbs of milk to make 1lb of butter.

It takes 10 lbs of milk to make 1 lb of hard cheese.

It takes 12 lbs of milk to make 1 lb of ice cream.

It takes 11 lbs of milk to make 1 lb of non-fat dry milk.

It takes 7.4 lbs of milk to make 1 lb of dry whole milk.  i

Humans have made the cow a modern factory—a perpetual milk machine. Three thousand years ago, a cow gave approximately 200 pounds of milk in a year. Today, the modern cow gives more than 15,000 pounds of milk, 75 times as much. And this over-production is causing more diseases in cows (as well as humans). In fact, 89% of cows today have the bovine leukemia virus.

God never intended for a cow to this much milk. Milk is a very delicate substance, related to almost every gland and organ of the cow's body. It was meant as a normal function of the animal in creating life. All of the best elements in its body must be assembled to make milk, so that the calf can have a good start.

Today, we drink unnatural milk. It is produced from a cow unnaturally begotten by selective breeding, by cross-breeding, or by artificial insemination. The milk is taken from diseased cows, from bloated milk bags, or from heavy, chemicalized feedings often loaded with antibiotics and hormones.

If you believe that you are getting antibiotics only when they are prescribed by your doctor, consider this: about half of the nation's entire antibiotic output, or over $70 million worth yearly, goes directly into feed stuff for animals intended for human consumption, to make them gain weight faster and to keep them (supposedly) disease free.

Every sip of milk has 59 different powerful hormones. Do you want your family to consume, estrogen, progesterone, or prolactin?

Other Strange Additives

The dairy industry adds animal products to every carton of milk (in the form of vitamin D3) and may soon be adding processed raw fish organs. Dairy processors are about to get approval to add fish oil to cheese, yogurt, milk, and ice cream.

Cow's milk also contains the following:

·       59 Active Hormones

·       Allergens

·       Fat

·       Cholesterol

  Most of the dairy products we buy have the following in measurable quantities:

·       Herbicides

·       Pesticides

·       Dioxin (up to 2200 times the safe level)

·       Up to 52 powerful antibiotics

·       Blood

·       Pus

·       Bacteria and viruses

 i. Robert Cohen, Milk The Deadly Poison, (Argus Publishing, 1998).

Source : Amazing Discoveries:   www.amazingdiscoveries.org/H-deception-health_cow_milk_antibiotic

What makes a home?

There is a song that we used to sing in kindergarten. It goes:

“Have you ever seen four letters, four little letters?

Have you ever seen four letters, H-O-M-E, Home, home?

H stands for Happiness;

O – Obedience;

M for Mommy;

E – Everybody;

H-O-M-E, home home.”

We also sang another which goes:

“With Jesus in the family, happy, happy home;

Happy, happy, home; happy, happy home.

With Jesus in the family; happy, happy home;

Happy, happy home”

It is so amazing how people define their homes. For some it has to be a mansion, with fine décor, expensive and imported fabric and furniture, not crowded with relatives. With a big garage, a car for everybody, all bedrooms with en suites, a guest house, a gym, and a swimming pool – the list goes on. One observation about such a description is that it is materialistic. This will mean that the financially challenged will never have a home. As for me, I beg to differ. Materials are not what make up a home. I would rather borrow some attributes from the kindergarten songs mentioned above.

The first thing to a happy home is Jesus. He is the solution of every problem in our lives. Moreover, He is the one who is able to direct our paths, to give us inward peace amidst all trials and afflictions, and He is able to save us to the uttermost. He is the one who can lead us to fulfillment in all we do. He says in Matthew 6:33 “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” All these things referred to by the verse are the material possessions necessary for our sustenance. “Except the Lord builds a house, they labor in vain that build it.” (Psalm127:1). Let God be the center of your home.

All the other attributes will then follow if you have Jesus in you. These include but not limited to cheerfulness, kindness, mercy towards each other, love, happiness, being serene, order, smartness, obedience, and also doing unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Each member’s role in the family is very important in order to make a house a happy home. With Jesus, we can turn a house into a home. Pull your fair share and see the working of God in your home.