Tag: bible

Categories
quotes reflection virtues

Four Quotes on Humility

Perfection is impossible without humility. Why should I strive for perfection, if I am already good enough? Leo Tolstoy.

Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose. Bill Gates.

True humility does not know that it is humble. If it did, it would be proud from the contemplation of so fine a virtue. Martin Luther.

I have three precious things which I hold fast and prize. The first is gentleness; the second is frugality; the third is humility, which keeps me from putting myself before others. Be gentle and you can be bold; be frugal and you can be liberal; avoid putting yourself before others and you can become a leader among men. Lao Tzu.

Categories
lifestyle Love and Christianity Nature Pastoral Poetry

Shepherd’s Tales: King David

The day ends with a big stress for David
But to him, this was not any challenge
As he walked thru the hamlet and pass by an inn,
‘Hello David! Come have a drink with men,
Come and have some fun , will you?’
A soldier called as David passed
‘Oh no sire, I will be late for dinner,
My brothers will be visiting tonight
I must be home before night fall…’
The soldiers grunted a good bye,
‘Alright, anyone seen this huge Philistine?
They say he has got two heads…!’
The soldiers discussed amongst themselves
And Davids ears had picked a word… two heads!
What manner of man will this Philistine be?
David shrugged, he wasn’t meant to fear
David called out to his sheep, whistling softly
As they gather, running towards home together
Bleating joyfully over a full stomach of rye
On the door of the caravan…
David could hear his brother’s voices
Happy memories flood fast back to him
And he quickly locked the barn door,
Patting his favourite sheep on the head
‘Halo there! Look at you, all grown!
Aww, is that a moustache, is that?’ Elihu said
‘Come here, little brother… Come have a sit’
The taciturn Abinadai said happily
David bowed before his brothers
And walked in, leaning his shepherd stick
Upon the wall by the window side
‘Tell me about your sheep and everything’
Elihu said, amused at David’s appearance
‘Oh the sheep! They are awesome!
They are cute and absolutely pretty
I like most the feel of their grey tongues
When they lick off the grass from my palms
I have killed a hungry bear and scared off a lion
When I take the sheep grazing, the sun shine
Look brothers, I learnt the harp while on the fields
The smell of grass in the early mornings, ah!
That I can not equally describe,’ David quipped
The look of disgust fills his brothers faces
As they looked at each other over the table
‘Well I must commend your efforts David,
But we missed your absolute nonsense
Hope you become a man soon enough
And here is a toast to our little brother!’
Elihu raised his mug and everyone followed,
To drink to David’s health and pastoral life

Laying on the bed, David clutched his pillow
Looking thru the window towards the barn
Up the dark skies, full moon shone
He thought of his sleeping humble sheep
He dozed off, smiling at his shepherd privilege
Dreaming that one day he will care for his people, Israel
The same way God made him tend to his fathers sheep

Categories
Lessons from Experiences Pastoral Series

Thoughts: Keep your circle small

He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. Proverbs 13:20

Your company can assist or resist you. The people you keep around may destroy your dreams or may help you achieve them.

Consider the story of Joseph and his brothers. The brothers planned to kill him just because he shared his dream with them! (Genesis, 37).

There’s a saying in the Igbo of the chick that watches the mother hen eat. The chick learns from the hen. If you hang around greedy or selfish people, there’s a likelihood you will pick some of their traits. Your company can bring out the best in you or the worst in you.

Some people might be in your boat but may not be traveling to the same destination as you. Don’t let them sink your ship. Assess your company. Remember, an eagle has no business with crows.

Good morning from West Africa.

Categories
Lessons from Experiences Love and Christianity

Thoughts on Love

Love is an intense feeling of affection and cares towards another person. The English dictionary defines it as a deep or abiding liking for something—a profound and caring attraction towards someone. Note the appearance of care and affection in all the definitions.

Let’s read from the Bible to get a clearer picture of what love suggests. 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8, New International Version (NIV)

4 Love is patient; love is kind. It does not envy; it does not boast; it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others; it is not self-seeking; it is not easily angered; it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

Wow. That is self-explained. What I can make of these verses is that love is selflessness. It is forgiveness in the greatest of wrongs (for instance, love from Mandela’s experience) and a gift that can turn situations around. Let’s assume the whole world has this kind of love. How do you think the Earth will look like? When we forgive freely, we love; when we are selfless in service, we love. If you are selfless, then you are humble. A loving person prefers peace because he won’t stand violence, which may destroy what he loves. Love perseveres; love is not proud. Kindness is one of the highest forms of Love. Same with compassion and diligence (lovingly working hard in the things you do). So you can see the connections between great virtues and love. Is it not said that Love is the greatest of all?

Let love flow like a stream. Let it feed, water, cloth, and bless the land around you. Nothing matters more.

Tell someone you love him/her today. Prove it, too, by being kind and showing affection. Let me start with you; I love you!

Good morning from West Africa.

Categories
Uncategorized

What Love can do

1 Corinthians 13 : 4 – 8

1

Taste and see

Love never hurts

If you agree with me

Then love is all we got

2

Love is golden,

So truly yours

Brings joy to one

When you let her soar

3

Love forgives all

It paints different colors

It mildly heals

And turns around sorrows

4

God is love, it is His command

Love one another as you love yourself

Love is a melody in God’s word

Given to guide us back to Himself

Categories
Uncategorized

The Storm is Over

Continue in prayers

-Colossians 4.2

storm

Never lose hope when you see the storm come

Never say never before before the day breaks

For what seems to be the end might just be the start

Of something fresh,  new and beautiful

And after the cold winter comes the warm summer

The clouds might leave the day

The birds nowhere to be found

But don’t give up yet

The nights might be colder than the last

And hopes seeming to fly away like the egret

But do not let go yet

Now the dark  night grow strong

And all may seem wrong

But to faith we run

We listen to her song

We hope, we pray, we long

Bless us Lord, bless us

Let this storm pass

When the raging storm wears out

The dew settle down to her business

The wet Earth grow new seedlings

The trees bear fresher fruits

Fallen tree leaves give the soil nutrients

And life goes back to the normal

Never lose hope when you see the storm come

Never say never before before the day breaks

And if you lift your eyes to the hills

You shall see the golden sun rise again

Image from  African Storm video on Youtube

Categories
Uncategorized

The Shepherds Tale

The day ends with a big stress for David
But to him, this was not any challenge
As he walked thru the hamlet, near an inn,
‘Hello David! Come have a drink with men,
Come and have some fun , will ya?’
A soldier yelled as David passed by
‘Oh no sire, I will be late for dinner.
My brothers just came back
From the ranks for some family time
I better be going for night falls…’
The soldier grunted a good bye,
‘Alright, anyone seen this huge Philistine?
They say he has got two heads…!’
The soldier was talking with his colleagues
And Davids ears picked that up… two heads!
What manner of man will he be?
David shrugged, he wasnt meant to fear
David called out to his sheep, whistling softly
As they gather together, running towards home
Bleating joyfully over a full stomach of rye
On the door of the caravan…
David could hear his brothers voices talk
Happy memories flood fast back to him
And he quickly locked the barn doors
Patting his favorite sheep, as they nod
‘Halo there! Look at you, all grown!
Aww, is that a moustache, is that?’ Elihu said
‘Come here, little brother… Come have a sit’
The taciturn Abinadai said happily
David bowed before his brothers
And walked in, leaning his shepherd stick
Upon the wall by the window side
‘Tell me about your sheep and eh everything’
Elihu said, looking mockingly at David
‘Oh the sheep! They are awesome!
They are cute and absolutely pretty
I like most the feel of their grey tongues
When they lick off the grass from my palms
I have killed a hungry bear and scared off a lion
When I take the sheep grazing, the sun shine
Look brothers, I learnt the harp while at the fields
The smell of the grass in the early mornings, ah!
That I can not equally describe’ David rapped
The look of disgust fills his brothers faces
As they looked at each other over the table
‘Well I must commend your efforts David,
But we missed your absolute nonsense
Hope you become a man soon enough
And here is a toast to our little brother!’
So saying Elihu raised a mug of wine
And the brothers joined to drink to Davids health

Laying on the bed, David clutched his pillow
Looking thru the window towards the barn
Up the dark skies, as the moon shone
To where his humble sheep lay asleep
He dozed off, smiling at the thought of his sheep
Dreaming that one day he will care for his people, Israel
The same way God made him tend to his fathers sheep