Time and the brevity of human life

What is time?

Why must a day be 24 hours? Why not more, why not less?

Is time too long or too short? What is your take?

And can you define time?

Saint Augustine answered it this way a long time ago, “If no one asks me, I know what it is. If I wish to explain it to him who asks, I do not know.”

And Nikita Ivanovich Panin said, “In youth the days are short and the years are long; in old age the years are short and the days long.”

Think of it, there is probably some truth in that.

It has been said that for many of us, we live our lives running behind time, but we only reach it when we die of a heart attack or in a car accident rushing to be on time.

Others are so anxious of living the future that they forget to live the present, which is the only time that truly exists.

We all have equal time throughout the world. No one has more, no one has less. The difference lies in what each one of us does with our time.

We need to live each moment, savouring its content and acknowledging that each additional day we have is a gift from God.

Dale Carnegie had said this a long time ago, “One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon - instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today.”

And Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his “Psalm of Life” wrote:

“Trust no future, howe'er pleasant!
Let the dead past bury its dead!
Act, - act in the living Present!
Heart within and God o'erhead.”

Yes, the advice is to look to this day and live well. Yesterday is already a dream and tomorrow is only a vision but today, well lived, makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and tomorrow a vision of hope.

So help yourself to a truly well-lived day, today!

Cheers!

Let's listen to this lovely gospel song entitled "Whispering Hope" by the Chuck Wagon Gang (CWG)courtesy of "erastusbean". Hope you like it.

The Book of Your Life

Apparently, there are 2 books in Heaven which God keeps and which we should be concerned about. No kidding. Just be warned.

One is the Big Book, which is “The Book Of Life” and the other a little book which is “The Book of Your Life”. Each one of us has his/her own little book, a book of records of some sorts which God keeps.

What is this little book which God keeps and calls it “The Book of Your Life”?

Did you know that each day life offers you a blank page in the book of your existence?

Your past is already written and you can’t change that; in its pages you can find your history, some pages have soft colors, others darker shades…

Beautiful remembrances of happy times or pages you wish you could tear out forever…

Today, you have the opportunity to write another page.

It’s up to you to choose the colors it will have, for even in adversity, you can add soft pastels of serenity to turn it into a beautiful experience.

Today…How will you write your day?

It all depends on your will and optimism to transform today’s page in The Book of Your Life into a page that you will treasure as a beautiful remembrance in the future.

If you knew you had only one more day to live, what would you do?

No doubt you would make peace with God and with those around you.

You’d enjoy the golden sun rays, the gentle breeze, the love and affection of that special person, and the many blessings the Lord has given that we sometimes take for granted.

Enjoy this new day!

Take mental inventory of all the good things in your life and live each hour with cheer, giving it your best.

Do not harm others and be happy to be alive and able to give a smile and offer others a helping hand.

It’s never too late to change course, start anew and write fresh pages of happiness and peace in The Book of Your Life!

Thank God for His gift of Today and the opportunity to turn this day into a beautiful new page in the book of your existence.

Remember that in spite of adversities, problems and difficulties, it’s up to you how you live today…as if it were your first day, as if it were your last…the ONLY day in The Book of Your Life!

How you live your life matters not only to you but also to God because He loves you.

Is your name written in “The Book of Life”? Wouldn’t you want to know? Think on it.

Shall we listen to Fernando Ortega sing this beautiful hymn “How Deep The Father’s Love For Us” courtesy of “ffhurray” while we ponder over our destiny.

Que Sera Sera

The tags say it all, don’t they?

Life is what you make of it, always has been, always will be. And there is a song that says, “Whatever will be, will be and the future’s not ours to see, Que Sera Sera.”

Someone did advise, “If God gives you lemons, make lemonade.”

Yes, along life’s path, we’ve made some mistakes; and regrets, indeed we do have a few. But who doesn’t?

You tell me which man is perfect or is without sin? There is none, I guess.

In the end, the Bible tells us that only 3 things will remain and they are faith, hope and love. And the greatest of these is love.

So the way to go is to love and be loved. Love always. For something, from someone. It’s never done.

For without love, what are we worth?

Robert Browning said this a long time ago, “Take away love and our earth is a tomb.” Sobering thought, isn't it?

Wise men say, "You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving." Think on it.

Love as we have heard, means never ever having to say you’re sorry. Indeed, as someone puts it, “Love is an act of endless forgiveness.” And isn’t it so?

In conclusion, I shall leave you with this thought to ponder:

You really shouldn't say "I love you" unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget. These remarks are actually attributed to an 8-year-old named Jessica but we can learn a lot from it.

Anyway, don’t worry, be happy.

The thing to do is be what you are, do what you can, and “can” what you can’t.

And in our lives, my prayer is this: may we experience the True and Amazing Love of God.

Cheers!

This music video is from "Zennmann" with thanks. Enjoy.

The Lord is my Shepherd

The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, sent by God the Father some 2,000 years ago, on a mission to Earth to save our souls.

He came impersonated as a humble Son of Man and lived amongst men for about 33 years.

Although his time on earth was rather short but one can say, it was in all quite tumultuous and eventful.

What he said and did became well known and was valued in Christendom for centuries and his legacy (his life's work) continues to touch the minds and hearts of modern man.

He established a faith unlike any other which continued to this day with a commanding lead of more than 2 billion believers living today.

But the numbers are not exactly what he came to seek. As I understand it, he wanted to seek the lost, to make good of all the believers and eventually to bring them home to be with God the Father in a Paradise called Heaven.

One may ask how a faith so simple and humble as this could have survived this long, and yet with a following that’s ever increasing with each passing day, and not diminishing mind you, if that faith had no truth, nor depth nor substance to sustain it?

His appeal alone is universal and stunning, to say the least.

To Christians, the Lord Jesus Christ is known by many names. He is first of all called Immanuel, the Messiah.

He is The Deliverer, The Way, The Truth, and The Life.

He is also their Redeemer, Savior and Friend, all rolled up in one.

He is depicted as The Good Shepherd, The Bridegroom, The Lamb of God, and The Mighty One.

He is also the Lord of All, King of Kings, the Lion of Judah and The Prince of Peace.

He is of course The Holy One, The Everlasting Father, The Creator of Everything, and I would say our bridge to eternal life if only we will believe in Him.

If we believe, and what they say of Him is true, we have everything to gain. But if we believe and let’s say what they say of Him turns out untrue, we really have nothing to loose.

However, if we don’t believe at all, but if it turns out to be true, we have everything to loose. Hope you've got it.

Indeed, we shouldn’t be playing a game of chance with our present life where eternal life is concerned.

Remembering that we have only one life on this earth and how we choose to live it will broadly determine where we will go from here, after our brief life on earth is over.

Yes, because we are endowed with “freewill,” God actually gives us the freedom to make that choice. So choose wisely my friend.

If indeed you want to know more on why God allows that freedom of choice, go read that book by C S Lewis, the famed English critic and novelist, entitled “Mere Christianity” where he has explained it quite explicitly.

Indeed, the Bible tells us: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” ~ 1 Corinthians 2:9

If you want peace, remember this adage, “Peace is not the absence of affliction, but the presence of God.”

May God bless you and teach us all how to choose.

I shall leave you with this beautiful Hymn made by "citrail", words adapted from that famous Psalm 23. Thanks to "citrail for sharing.

Epitaphs

I enjoy reading epitaphs.

Epitaphs are words written on the gravestone that try to tell something about the dead person.

But do they?

The dictionary defines epitaph as an inscription on a tombstone in memory of the one buried there; a brief literary piece commemorating a deceased person.

As a matter of fact, some epitaphs are quite interesting and thought provoking.

Take for example some of these famous lines (epitaphs) that I’ve found. I hope we can learn a thing or two from them. They speak from beyond the grave!

Elvis Presley (1935-1977)
“I hope I haven’t bored you”

Bing Crosby (1903-1977)
“That was a great game of golf, fellers”

Groucho Marx (1890 -1977) in his own words:
“Excuse me, I can’t stand up”

Dean Martin (1917 - 1995)
“Everybody loves somebody sometime”

Frank Sinatra (1915 – 1998)
“The best is yet to come”

Epitaph on an Unknown Grave:
“Here lies an atheist,
all dressed up
and nowhere to go”

Epitaph found on a gravestone in Chittanooga, Tennessee:
”Here lies Ned.
There is nothing more to be said -
Because we like to speak well of the dead.
I came into this world
Without my consent
And left in the same manner.”

This one is found in Charleston, South Carolina:
“Reader, I’ve left this world,
in which I had a world to do,
Sweating and fretting to get rich:
Just such a fool as you.”

Moore’s epitaph:
“Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.”

Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
“I am ready to meet my Maker.
Whether my Maker is prepared
for the great ordeal of meeting me
is another matter”

Thomas Stagg’s epitaph:
“That is all.”

One day I guess that I will also have to go; wonder what my epitaph will say?

My question is, “How would you like to be remembered for who you are or for what you have done?”

Think about it for our time will surely come.

Be happy...God loves you!

Thanks to "rbrandonvideo" for sharing this lovely piece of soothing music (an old Irish hymn) entitled, "Be Thou My Vision". Relax, listen and enjoy.

The Power of Love

This article on "What love means to a 4-8 year old" came through the Net from a friend. I thought it's interesting enough to post it here.

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, 'What does love mean?'

The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think.

'When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.' Rebecca- age 8'

When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.' Billy - age 4'

Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.' Karl - age 5

Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.' Chrissy - age 6'

Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.' Terri - age 4

Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.' Danny - age 7

Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss' Emily - age 8

Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.' Bobby - age 7

(Wow!)'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,' Nikka - age 6 (we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)

'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.' Noelle - age 7

'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.' Tommy - age 6

'During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.' Cindy - age 8

'My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.' Clare - age 6

'Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.' Elaine - age 5

'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford. 'Chris - age 7

'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.'
Mary Ann - age 4

'I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones. ' Lauren - age 4

'When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.' (what an image) Karen - age 7

'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross.'
Mark - age 6

'You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget. ' Jessica - age 8

And the final one; the winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said,' Nothing, I just helped him cry' When there is nothing left but God, that is when you find out that God is all you need.

Indeed, love is so powerful, even kids know what it is!

Here's Celine Dion with "The Power of Love" (live) courtesy of "Tried16". Enjoy.