Inspirational Therapy

TRICK OR TREAT?
Posted by Deidre on Sunday, October 30, 2011 at 5:12am
Open the door, give generously in the name of Jesus!
Halloween celebration is in the air for many who celebrate this annual festivity. Children and adults alike get dressed up in costumes. Children are even more excited 'trick or treating' where they collect 'goodies' from door to door. However, I can't help but to think about the level of generosity extended to celebrate this secular festivity. I know very little about Halloween and I dont celebrate it but, in thinking about it, the question is, how prepared are we as Christians to give generously when someone knocks on our door? Are we cheerful givers in our everyday life? "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly and under compulsion, for God loves a cheeful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:6-7. At times we are guilty of not giving to the needy who are right at our doorsteps. We fail to fulfill our duties and appear to be tricksters by not treating our neighbour with generosity. What if the needy was to knock on our door and ask "Trick or Treat"? Trick - Are you a wolf in sheep's clothing? "Watch out for false prohpets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves." Matthew 7:15 Treat - Are you the genorous giver? "But just as you excel in everything - in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us - see that you also excel in this grace of giving.' 2 Corinthians 8:7 The gift of giving as emphasized in the Holy Bible, promotes equality and i would add reciprocation. "Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed but that there might be equality. As the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need." 2 Corinthians 13-14. There may be a time in life where you may want to be treated kindly and not bamboozled by tricksters. In sharing my personal testimony, there is a special child who stops by the Cafe, where I am at times, and knocks on the door. Unfortunately, he is unable to speak, and he wanders the streets hoping to get assistance. The first time I opened the door, it was a challenge because he could not express himself in a manner that I could understand. Somehow, I did and provided him with a meal. He sat down ate, smiled and left. I look out for him all the time and he would appear out of nowhere now and then. I know not where he is from but I know who sent him and I make it my point of duty to treat him with generosity and equality. Even though there may be controversy and diverse opinion around the celebration of Halloween in the Christian community, let us use the time not just to reflect but, act on generosity encouraged by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:7 Use this opportunity to allow the light of giving overcome the darkness of trickery. Spread kindness in the name of the Lord. 'OPEN THE DOOR TO YOUR HEART AND GIVE GENEROUSLY!'
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ACCOUNT STATUS
Posted by Deidre on Saturday, October 15, 2011 at 10:36am

Since my devotion earlier this week, I have been seriously pondering on Ephesians 2:13-14 “….Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory.” The Holy Spirit is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance! God has invested in us the assurance of super normal gain. What does that mean to us? Can you imagine making an investment today that guaranteed returns beyond your expectations? What a feeling! I overheard a conversation this week on the things that some people would do if they won the lottery. Of course, the imagination went wild, and on the top of everyone’s list was to quit their job. They believed that this wealth would guarantee them a lifetime of happiness. The point is sometimes we don’t realize how wealthy we are with our invaluable investment of the Holy Spirit. We are our own bank account. How wisely is it being managed? What is the status of your account? Unopened - non believers Closed -Sold out for worldly desires. Dormant – Unaware of the value, untapped. Active- Interest growing in the Holy Spirit, filled with the Holy Spirit, overflowing with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. We all should be accountable for our lives and our walk with Holy Spirit, the Counselor who is active in the lives of believers. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. (Romans 5:5). How many of us are rejoicing and celebrating in such wealth? How many of us would quit our jobs and walk in faith with the Holy Spirit to fulfill our purpose? I know, sometimes it’s hard and we operate like a current account. We sell out to a ‘little sin’ here and a ‘little sin’ there and are forgiven and renewed by the Holy Spirit….the cycle continues. There comes a time when we have to recognize the seriousness and worth of our possession and, the fact that God took the risk because He believes in us, why not trust and obey?. Our decision is risk-free; the price has already been paid. Let's commit today! "Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us." 2 Timothy 1:14 DON’T DISPOSE OF YOUR DEPOSIT!!!
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Strong Heart
Posted by Deidre on Friday, October 7, 2011 at 7:32pm

It is amazing how we can find such beauty and depth in the simple things. Perfect example, this morning when I stepped out of the vehicle, I saw in the parking lot on the asphalt, a heart. It was a bright red thread of wool shaped like a heart. "Wow!" I thought. I was instantly inspired and so I wrote. Strong Heart Discovered you this morning Why did it take so long? I guess you had to go through the trials To prove that you are strong. Strong heart on top of The asphalt of life You have been ran over and stepped on So many times yet you survived You put up a fight! Strong Heart…a warrior of love Without a tribe No weapons yet…never defeated The battle is won with just a smile Your radiance captivates me As you glow from the grey and the gloom The red of your love so eminent To brighten any room So still yet alive You remain true throughout time On unfertile ground you continue to grow The more you are denied The more you shine…Strong heart Such power, such determination Overlooked, misunderstood I realized your beauty Now that strong heart lives in me! "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Proverbs 4:23
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FIT AND READY!
Posted by Deidre on Saturday, October 1, 2011 at 6:50am

It has been a very long time since I shared on my blog. Thank you for consistently checking on the blog for updates and special thanks to those who have written many emails encouraging me to continue. Life is indeed a journey, one that requires us to be 'fit' and 'ready'. How fit and ready are you? Physically Fit - More and more these days people are focused on being physically fit. The gyms are full all day long with people exercising, walkers/joggers are busy in the parks and around their residential blocks, and some are actively playing sports. Interestingly too, there are people who are constantly changing their diets to suit the latest weight loss phenomenon. Mentally Fit - Univesities/Colleges and other learning institutions are crowded with people satisfying their intellectual cravings. The meetings upon meetings in the world of 'work', the debates and dicussions on current affairs that are evident in every corner of society, define the importance of self actualization. Emotionally Fit - Most people struggle every hour of every day to improve their pyschological well being. To improve how they feel about themselves, relationships, and dealing with difficulties. The Information and Communication Technology Industry is at a buzz with people buidling/ discussing/breaking relationships. Marriage Officers, Social workers, Counsellors and Lawyers a like are kept very busy and, not to mention the backlog of court cases relating to the resolution of domestic affairs. Spirtually Fit - Unfortunately, there is a decline in spiritual fitness to an incline in all the other areas. To the people who attend church and/or has formed a relationship with God , what is the level of dedication to spiritual fitness? Are we physicall fit by consuming and exercising the fruit of the spirit? Do we try to walk with the Holy Spirit and according to the will of God? "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Galations 5:22-23. Are we mentally fit by focusing on the word of God?, Are we reading the principles as stated in the Holy Bible to obtain wisdom and understanding? "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" Proverbs 3:5 Are we emotionally fit by putting everything to God in prayer? "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12 Are we seeking without ceasing, perfect love? "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." 1 John 4:18. All four states of fitness are important to wholesome living, however Spiritual fitness is the driving force that will determine the level of success of the others. For the past few months I have been guilty of not leading a balanced life. This week, I came to the realization that I have been working on several projects which require full time dedication. What I did was to create a structure to share the time adequately and this I thought was 'balancing' my life. The mistake was, to equate my spiritual time with the other activities, when my Spiritual life is and should be the anchor. Spiritual fitness is the ultimate level of fitness that I aiming for and this should be the key to balancing the other aspects of life. Spiritual fitness allows us to be ready, ready not just for life but for the coming of our Lord. "Be dressed and ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes." Luke 12:35-37. WHAT'S YOUR CHOICE? BEING FIT TO GAIN THE WORLD AT THE EXPENSE OF YOUR SOUL OR SPIRITUAL FITNESS TO GAIN ABUNDANT BLESSINGS ETERNALLY?
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SHARE THE IDEA-WOULD YOU?
Posted by Deidre on Saturday, May 7, 2011 at 3:42pm

My little five year old niece, Rianna, says the cutest things. On her way from school one afternoon she said to her mother, "Mommy would you spank God?" Her mother looked puzzled and said "No" . Then she asked "So Mommy would you spank Jesus?" Her mother answered "No!" . Rianna then shouted *"SO WHY DO YOU SPANK ME?"* Her mother had to think carefully and deeply in order to respond. So she then asked her, "Rianna would you do rude things to God?" She said "No Mommy", Then she asked, "So Rianna would you do rude things to Jesus?" She said "No way Mommy". Her mother then shouted "SO WHY DO YOU DO RUDE THINGS TO ME?" Rianna laughed and said *"Mommy stop using m*y idea." Her mother shared the joke with me and we shared a hearty laugh together. We both agreed that Rianna says the cutest things. Ofcourse, I gave her 'idea' greater thought. Do we do things unto our neighbour that we would not do unto God? If we love God but not our neighbour, do we really love? At such a young age she understands based on 'her idea' that we should love and treat people in the way God would treat us. Also if we say we love God we should love our brother. He made us in His image! "Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen." 1John 4:20 SHARE THE IDEA ...SPREAD THE LOVE!
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