SANTOSHA

Is there contentment and acceptance in your present circumstances? We are all invited to find the tranquility that exists in every moment and yet in a world of deception, hurt and craziness, inner peace is difficult to attain.

In 2 Thessalonians 3:16, Paul wrote,“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times, in all ways. The Lord be with you all.”

Many people continue to search for meaning in life; for contentment - whether that be through different adventures, various relationships or even numerous thoughts and attempts to connect with self or the spiritual world.

There was once a wise woman who would travel through the mountains. One day she found a precious stone in a stream she was walking near. Shortly after, she met a traveler who was very hungry. When she opened her bag to share her meal, the traveler saw the precious stone and begged the woman to give it to him. Without hesitation, the woman handed it to him. Rejoicing in his good fortune, the traveler left. Holding it in his hand, he realized that the stone was worth a great amount that would provide security for him for the rest of his life.

A few days later, the traveler returned to the woman who was willing to share her food. “I’ve been thinking,” the traveler told her. “I realize that this stone has great value, but I would like to return it to you in exchange for something even more precious. Please give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone.” (“The Wise Woman’s Stone”)

The woman didn’t have her fingers tightly holding the stone, but gave it freely to the traveler and despite the fact that he could have lived out his days in peace and luxury, he wanted to know what she possessed that he didn’t.

What is it in us as humans that has us craving more? Never really satisfied with our present circumstances? has us needing more things, toys, stuff? Will we ever be content? Yes, you can have that contentment by asking Jesus to live in your heart. He gave us the Holy Spirit to guide, direct and keep us in life and peace. Don’t you want to have that peace?

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:3

RUDENEJA

Autumn, fall, summer’s end. Call it what you will, but it is the most spectacular display of colors and beauty in the foothills and in the mountains. It’s that sound of crackling, crispy leaves as one wanders and treks through the forest. It’s the changing colors from green hues to vibrant reds, oranges and yellows. It’s the dancing leaves that float down or race across the grass as they are blown about by the gusts of wind. This is “rudeneja” - the way nature and the weather begin to feel. Cooler evenings and frosty mornings. Winter peeks its head around the corner dazzled by the spectacular display of God’s handiwork.

Peace, tranquility, rest. This is what we long for either at the end of the day or in our world today. With the recent Middle East conflict, there is a display of power and military might. It’s the sound of cracking guns and deadly explosions as people scatter, screaming, running for cover from the mahem. It’s the war we never want to see. This is humanity - history repeating itself over and over. Nations sparring and guns ablazing. Human lives are lost and tear streak faces are seen, mourning cries are heard and death’s smell permeates the air. We are shocked, dismayed and confused by man’s actions.

The bible’s prophets told us that there would be wars and rumours of wars, but this one is affecting the entire world.

A Message of God, the Master: Years ago when I spoke through my servants, the prophets of Israel, wasn’t it you I was talking about? Year after year they prophesied that I would bring you against them. And when the day comes, Gog, you will attack that land of Israel. Decree of God, the Master. My raging anger will erupt. Fueled by blazing jealousy, I tell you that then there will be an earthquake that rocks the land of Israel. Fish and birds and wild animals—even ants and beetles!—and every human being will tremble and shake before me. Mountains will disintegrate, terraces will crumble. I’ll order all-out war against you, Gog—Decree of God, the Master—Gog killing Gog on all the mountains of Israel. I’ll deluge Gog with judgment: disease and massacre, torrential rain and hail, volcanic lava pouring down on you and your mobs of troops and people.

“‘I’ll show you how great I am, how holy I am. I’ll make myself known all over the world. Then you’ll realize that I am God.’” Ezekiel 38

Let us pray for Israel - God’s chosen people - prayer for our enemies and for peace during this time in our history.

AKARN

From Old Norse “akarn” comes the word “acorn.” James Hillman's bestselling book, The Soul's Code: In Search of Character and Calling, outlines what he calls the "acorn theory" of the soul. This theory states that all people already hold the potential for the unique possibilities inside themselves, much as an acorn holds the pattern for an oak tree. He proposed that our calling in life is inborn and that it's our mission in life to realize its imperatives. He called it the "acorn theory" — the idea that our lives are formed by a particular image, just as the oak's destiny is contained in the tiny acorn.

From the book that has survived thousands of years to remain on the bestseller list, is the Bible. There is no theory; but rather truth that God made us, male and female and breathed life into each of us. We are formed in our mother’s womb’s and made in God’s image. Our destinies are in His hands and it is our mission to become more like Jesus Christ each and every day.

Genesis 1:27: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

We all hold the potential, abilities and talents that we have been given. In Matthew 25: 14-30, Jesus tells his disciples the “Parable of the Talents.” A master had several servants and before he left on a journey, he entrusted his property to them. According to the abilities of each of them, he allocated money. One received five talents, another two and the last one only received one talent. The first servant worked to double his master’s investment, as did the second servant, but the third servant dug a hole and buried the master’s money.

When the master returned from his trip, he commended the first two servants and told them, “job well done!” To the third servant, he told him to take his money and give it to the first. He was furious for that “play-it-safe” attitude and told others to throw the servant out into the darkness.

You see, just as the potential for Israel was great, as for the servant and you and I, and the more you fulfil your God-given potential, the more He will entrust you with. God wants us to live a life of abundance. Don’t waste your gifts, money or talents! Use them and God will bless you with so much more. We have much to be thankful for. Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

KOMOREBI

Sunlight leaks through the trees and the beauty of rays of light dapple through overhead tinted leaves, casting dancing shadows on the forest floor. God grasps his paintbrush, dipping it in vats of colors as He paints the fall landscapes across the valleys, fields and countryside.

The hills are alive! The firey reds, shimmering greens, vibrant yellows and pumpkin oranges weave their chorus along the trickling streams and rivers. King David declared in Psalm 34, “Oh taste and see that the Lord is good.”

This is autumn - fall - end of summer heat - shorter days of sunlight. And as we end another season and with the approaching Thanksgiving - we are once again reminded of the blessings of living in a country that shows four seasons.

But of the four - autumn is the flabvoyant flair of nature dancing across the earth’s canvas. Beauty to behold! Praises to be exclaimed! Blessings to besow! and eyes to absorb the masterpiece before us.

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 1 Peter 3: 3-4

And so, as we perhaps enter another season of our lives, as we consider these past number of years or as we recognize that we cannot go back in time; let us linger on the thought that our inner beauty - Christ’s spirit in us - would radiate to others. Look to the author and perfecter of our faith.

I will extol the Lord at all times;
    his praise will always be on my lips.
I will glory in the Lord;
    let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the Lord with me;
    let us exalt his name together.

 I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
    he delivered me from all my fears.

Those who look to him are radiant;
    their faces are never covered with shame. Psalm 34: 1-5

GODFIDENCE

The word “confidence” is feeling certain about the truth of something and knowing that appreciation or ability is to be relied upon. We are confident that the sun will rise in the morning; that we will age with time; that each of us will find our path in life; sooner or later.

This is what the daughters of Zelophehad displayed in Numbers 27. Because of the courage of these women to ask for what they wanted, they not only received it, but they demonstrated the confidence they had for other women who came after them.

The daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. The names of the daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah. They came forward and stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders and the whole assembly at the entrance to the tent of meeting and said, 

“Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among Korah’s followers, who banded together against the Lord, but he died for his own sin and left no sons. Why should our father’s name disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property among our father’s relatives.”

So Moses brought their case before the Lord, and the Lord said to him, “What Zelophehad’s daughters are saying is right. You must certainly give them property as an inheritance among their father’s relatives and give their father’s inheritance to them.

“Say to the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and leaves no son, give his inheritance to his daughter. If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers. If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. If his father had no brothers:he may possess it. This is to have the force of law for the Israelites, as the Lord commanded Moses.’” Numbers 27: 1-11

When we make our requests known to God, we can be confident that God will certainly do something about our situation, circumstances or lives. It may not be what we thought would work, but if we understand that we need to trust in God knowing that I can’t, but He can, then miracles can happen and prayers can be answered. Now that’s Godfidence!

EPHEMERAL

When we were children, we would spend our Saturday mornings cruising down to the Corner Store on our banana bikes. With our 10 cents in our frayed jeans, we would gaze longingly at the rows and jars of assorted colors at the candy counter and thoughtfully select our jaw breakers, sugar straws and the oh so delicious mint green Mo Jo’s.

Recently, friends and I journeyed to a small town corner store in search of the famous Mo Jo candy, but to our dismay, it was now No Jo. The company simply didn’t produce this item anymore. Not only are sugar treats, cereals and certain food items unavailable, but machines, certain technologies and automobiles, simply not made anymore. They are short-lived or ephemeral.

When you take the number of days in a year and multiply that by your age, you will be astonished to discover that the number is very low in terms of eternity. A twenty-year old has only lived 7,300 days. A thirty-five year old merely 12.775 days and even a seventy-five year old has only breathed 27,375 days. Merely a miniscual number in terms of millions and bilions.

And yet, eternity has no number value - it is forever. Then why do we spend our lives worrying, scurrying and burying ourselves with life, consuming and a million different tasks that we deem important now? Our focus should be where our souls will reside.

There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.  At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.  In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

“‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Luke 16: 19-31