Quotes from my current readings! How they apply for me

From Cheryl Strayed- Brave enough

"Allow your acceptance of the universality of suffering to be a transformative experience. You do that by simply looking at what pains you squarely in the face and then moving on. You don't have to move fast or far. You can go just an inch. You can mark your progress breath by breath."

- Having lost my mother in a shocking, sudden, unbelievable accident about 8 months ago, this hit me squarely. I am moving on because I believe I will see her again someday in heaven, does not reduce the pain but I look it squarely daily and I take a step forward. I lost someone dear, she did not lose because she is with the LORD, But I lost so much, we lost so much, our world lost! But we will move on and remember her for who she was, who she served, who she touched and we will keep moving on.

Happy Thanksgiving

Yesterday was thanksgiving and  I did feel the need to give thanks.
A whole day set aside by a whole country to give Thanks
No wonder we hear all around and within, God's own country
America the beautiful, the brave the great.
Let this truly be One of God's own countries
Or indeed are they not all??
In God we Trust.
Happy thanksgiving, God's own Country!!

Great to be back

Just feeling happy to be back to blogspot. For everyone who comes to these pages please keep coming back, I am back for real. As always I know this is the right time and He makes all things beautiful in his time. Amen

What I Learnt from Reading "Developing the Leader Within You" by John C Maxwell- Part I

This book is a must read for anyone who wants to develop or improve leadership qualities. It is a book you do not want to rush at all. The nuggets of wisdom ring true and are doable, if one wants to truly excel at leadership. In most cases  I will use his words and sometimes mine.

First John Maxwell says that Leadership can be taught; it is not an exclusive club for born leaders. This is encouraging as some people feel like they can never be leaders. He goes on to categorize those desiring leadership into four levels;

• The leading Leader
• The Learned Leader
• The Latent Leader
• The Limited Leader

For all of these levels most of the characteristic qualities can be acquired.

Leadership is the ability to influence others, and everyone can influence others to the level where they become followers of some sort. So a Leader can be defined as someone who has followers.
He shares that sociologists tell us that even the most introverted person influences about ten thousand people in a life time. This influence too is a skill that can be learned.

There are Five Levels of Leadership

1. Position
2. Permission
3. Production
4. Personnel development
5. Personhood

In climbing through these levels of leadership, it gets considerably longer to get higher and your level of committment also progressively increases.
John Maxwell calls the key to leadership, "Priorities" and the most important ingredient, "Integrity". I found these interesting.
A funny anecdote I got from reading the part on integrity building compared to image building was, "Two old ladies were walking in a somewhat overcrowded English country churchyard and came upon a tombstone. The inscription said: "Here lies John Smith, a politician and an honest man." "Good heavens!" said one woman to the other. "Isn't it awful that they had to put two people in the same grave!"

I found these questions which he posed for self assessment on whether you are an image builder or an integrity builder very helpful, and I hope others will:
Consistency:   "Are you the same person no matter who you are with? Yes or no."

Choices:   "Do you make decisions that are best for others when another choice would benefit you? Yes or no."

Credit:   "Are  you quick to recognize others for their efforts and contributions to your success? Yes or no."

Terror At Boston

His Name was Martin, and he was eight
He stood on the steps of his church
In His First Communion Suit
Holding in His hand His First Communion Banner
You see that picture haunts me now
Because right now I am working on the same Banner
Thinking of a First Communion Suit and maybe a Brunch too
My son and I are planning how best to make the Banner
Our Ideas blending together, our arguments loud
Creating Our very Own Master piece
 I am sure Martin and His Family Did too
They argued on where to place the Name, the Chalice, the Dove
And they came up with their special Banner
Which Martin held that day for all the World to see
Little did they Know.....Little did they see
He was eight, but wait, for now he is late
I feel it so much as I watched the morning news
Yes because Adults are Bullies too
They Bombed the Boston Marathon and Killed a little Boy
Just as they killed little children in Newtown and in other tragic events
Hacking down defenseless people especially children too
I weep for Martin, I did not know him
But now I know him and I will never forget
That Little Boy who stood on the Steps for all the World To see
I will never forget His Happy face, His victory Smile
He shames the world and its wickedness
Because you see, they meant to Hurt him
But they failed, for he rode high upon Angels' Wings
He lives with his Father above who loves him so much
He smiles down at Us, forgiveness in His Heart
Now I know Martin and I pray for His family
For the families who Hurt in Boston and all over the world
From the pain caused by Bullies, who walk upon the earth

The White Smoke Rises

I await, holding my breath
Who will it be
Who has He chosen
He who knows the heart of all men
He has chosen through His People
For Vox Populi Vox Dei
He knows, he has spoken
Who is our Pope
Who will lead us now
In these days of Disbelief and many transgressions
God guide us through this Pope
Let your spirit fill him up
And be his shinning light
We await his name a confirmation of Your choice
Thank God for the rising white smoke
In this lenten season God we give you thanks
Thanks, Praise and all the Glory

The Power of Praise

There is a lot to be grateful for but sometimes we forget because we look at the challenges we face and they overwhelm us. They also prevent us from counting our blessings as that beautiful hymn suggests. Again Praise is something we give because God deserves it; he has given us the gift of life, talents, family, friends, grace and the greatest of all His Son, to save us from our sins.
In short we need to praise God at all times because he lives within the praises of his people, the bible says he  inhabits the praises of his people. God is also moved by praise to do things far greater than we expect. In the bible we see the effect of praise when Paul and Silas sang and the Holy Ghost came down. David was another Praise singer and God loved him so much. David wrote so many Psalms of Praise, I have written down two that I love amongst so many.
This lent I have purposed in my heart to Praise and Pray.

“But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” (Psalm 22:3)


“Sacrifice thank offerings to God,
    fulfill your vows to the Most High,
 and call on me in the day of trouble;
    I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”