Let your Christmas light shine on others

 

http://m.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11563280

The first candle lit is the light of hope. Hope is a word we often use. “I hope that the weather is fine on Christmas Day”, “I hope that I win the lottery” or a common sentence in many homes this week “I hope that Santa brings … “!

Christian hope is more than wishful thinking. It is the confident faith that God is in control, that God is merciful.

In Christian faith the expression of hope is a belief that in Jesus Christ we know the gift of life and a way of living that is hope-giving for each of us and for the world.

There will be thousands of people this Christmas who will be hope-bringers to people and communities all over the world, offering food, shelter, companionship and a helping hand.

Jesus empowered the poor and the most marginalised. He treated women and men with equal respect. He challenged unjust leaders and cared for children. Jesus demonstrated a better way of life and wants to impart that way of life into our hearts and to our world.

Hope is not, therefore, a punt or a risk but rather, as Jesus showed us, it is our choice to be hope-bringers and agents of change for those in our families and communities, our workplaces and city, and those we may never meet who need our help.

The second candle is the light of peace. As this year draws to a close, we are conscious of so many people who need peace in the nations of the world, in our communities, among our colleagues and friends, and perhaps even in our own hearts and minds.

This light of peace is not a pipe dream, nor a feigned peace which pretends that everything is okay when really it is not.

The final Advent candle lit before Christmas is the light of love. Christians believe that in Jesus Christ the world is given the offer of salvation, and the chance to see what divine love really means; divine love found in the experiences of caring for friend and stranger, seeking justice, feeding the hungry, healing the broken-hearted, caring for the earth and working for peace. That is the kind of love that this light calls us to share this Christmas.

As the clock strikes midnight on Christmas morning, the central candle of the Advent wreath is lit, celebrating that the light of Christ has come into the world and will come again. As it shines into the darkness it invites all those who see it to let the gifts of which the wreath speaks inform how they live their lives, for when we each bring hope, make peace, gift joy and live love, then the world is transformed.

Our world needs that transformation, a transformation we are all invited to be part of bringing.

 

from

http://m.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11563280

PPS

“When (or if ever) you arrive in heaven, let faith, hope and love be the wings that carried you there.”

– as adapted from the inspiring words of Jonathan Edwards, former minister in New England, Massachusetts

“The Greatest Race: Living by (with) faith, hope and love is the highest podium any person can reach, God’s podium that anyone stand on.”
– c

from

http://www.racetothechequeredflag.wordpress.com

and

http://www.craigsquotes.wordpress.com

 

TOGETHER, one mind, one heart, one soul, one small step at a time, we can make some difference towards a better world, a brighter tomorrow

“SHARE, ENCOURAGE and SPREAD, HOPE, LOVE and LIGHT”

“A writer’s dreams“

Picture (great) by my good friends, Jenny (and John), whose photographic talents I definitely do NOT possess!

http://www.johnsphotopics.wordpress.com

http://www.capetownmypictures.wordpress.com

http://www.jennysphotographicjourney.wordpress.com

and

www.awritersdreams.wordpress.com

“Someday, after we have mastered the winds, the waves, the tide and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love. Then, for the second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire.”

“Someday, after we have mastered the winds, the waves, the tide and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love. Then, for the second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire.”
– Teilhard De Chardin

from

https://sharefaith.wordpress.com/category/neale-donald-walsch-conversations-with-god/

and

“Together, one mind, one life (one small step at a time), let’s see how many people (and lives) we can encourage, impact, empower, enrich, uplift and perhaps even inspire to reach their fullest potentials…and strive for and perhaps one sunny day even achieve their wildest dreams.”

“Together, one mind, one heart, one life, one small step at a time, let’s link hands and march into a new tomorrow, a better and brighter future. TOGETHER we can do it”

– c from http://www.craigsquotes.wordpress.com

TOGETHER, one mind, one heart, one soul, one small step at a time, we can make some difference towards a better world, a brighter tomorrow

“SHARE, ENCOURAGE and SPREAD, HOPE, LOVE and LIGHT”

“For faith, hope and love make all dreams come true.”

“For faith, hope and love make all dreams come true.”

“Someday, after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love, and then, for a second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire.”

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
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. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13 (NIV)

“There is only one thing that has power completely, and that is love. Because when a man loves, he seeks no power, and therefore he has power. Only strive for power, if it is not at the cost of other people. Power corrupts. You first have to be pure and righteous, before one can attain power. I believe that love is a greater force than power.”
– Alan Paton, great South African humanitarian and author of the classic ‘Cry the Beloved Country“

“When the world is filled with love, people’s hearts are overflowing
with hope.”
– craig

“Someday, after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love, and then, for a second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire.”
– Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

“YOU can be a CHANNEL of God’s (the Ultimate Source’s) justice, peace and love. The world needs a deep change, a ‘transformation of heart’: to one of forgiveness and generosity of spirit through masses of ‘ordinary’ people. And that is the real evidence of God’s (‘Divine Presence’s’) return to planet earth”.

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“YOU can be a CHANNEL of God’s (the Ultimate Source’s) justice, peace and love. The world needs a deep change, a ‘transformation of heart’: to one of forgiveness and generosity of spirit through masses of ‘ordinary’ people. And that is the real evidence of God’s (‘Divine Presence’s’) return to planet earth”.

“Those whom you seek to change you must first love.”

 

“Those whom you seek to change you must first love.”

“When (or perhaps if ever) you arrive in heaven, let hope, faith and especially love be the wings that carried you there.”

“When (or perhaps if ever) you arrive in heaven, let hope, faith and especially love be the wings that carried you there.”

– as adapted from the inspiring words of Jonathan Edwards, former minister in New England, Massachusetts

“The Greatest Race: Living by (with) faith, hope and love is the highest podium any person can reach, God’s podium that anyone stand on.”

– craig

The Story of the Four Candles

 

The Story of the Four Candles

The Four Candles burned slowly.
Their ambiance was so soft you could hear them speak…

The first candle said, “I Am Peace, but these days, nobody wants to keep me lit.”
Then Peace‘s flame slowly diminished and went out completely.

The second candle said, “I Am Faith, but these days, I am no longer indispensable.”
Then Faith‘s flame slowly diminished and went out completely.

Sadly the third candle spoke, “I Am Love and I haven’t the strength to stay lit any longer.”
“People put me aside and don’t understand my importance.

They even forget to love those who are nearest to them.”
And waiting no longer, Love went out completely.

Suddenly…

A child entered the room and saw the three candles no longer burning.

The child began to cry,

“Why are you not burning? You are supposed to stay lit until the end.”

Then the Fourth Candle spoke gently to the little boy,

“Don’t be afraid, for I Am Hope, and while I still burn,

we can re-light the other candles.”

With shining eyes, the child took the Candle of Hope

and lit the other three candles.

Never let the Flame of Hope go out.

With Hope in your life, no matter how bad things may be,

Peace, Faith and Love may shine brightly once again.

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace…”

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
when there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand,
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying [to ourselves] that we are born to eternal life.”

– Peace Prayer of St Francis

thanks dearest mom, for sharing those wise words with me, when I was too young (or perhaps “immature”) to understand, yet they must have made some impression on me many many years later!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Picture: Stunning seascape by Anton Gorlin (from www.cuded.com and www.inspirefirst.com)

Sharing some Thoughts (and Quotations) on the Power of Love to Make a Difference (through Helping Make a Shift in Global Consciousness)

Article Title: Sharing some Thoughts (and Quotations) on the Power of Love to Make a Difference (through Helping Make a Shift in Global Consciousness)
Author Name: Craig Lock
Key Words: Love, power of love, inspiration, inspirational thoughts, spirituality, spiritual thoughts, love, power of life, empowerment, words of empowerment, transformation

Web sites: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005GGMAW4 andhttp://www.creativekiwis.com/amazon.html

The submitter’s blogs (with extracts from his various writings: articles, books and new manuscripts) are at http://peacepursuit.wordpress.com/

http://breakdownwalls.wordpress.com/

www.buildbridgesofunderstanding.wordpress.com

www.sharefaith.wordpress.com and craigs various blogs are at http://craigsblogs.wordpress.com

Other Articles are available at:
http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/user/15565 andhttp://www.ideamarketers.com/library/profile.cfm?writerid=981
(Personal growth, self help, writing, internet marketing, spiritual, ‘spiritual writings’ (how ‘airey-fairey’), words of inspiration and money management, how boring now, craig)

Publishing Guidelines:

These writings (as with all my articles) may be freely published, electronically or in print. Enjoy (hopefully)…

“We share what we know, so that we all may grow.”

*

Sharing some Thoughts (and Quotations) on the Power of Love to Make a Difference (through Helping Make a Shift in Global Consciousness)

… which I believe is the only way the world will move towards a more peaceful planet.

“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.
– Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

“Love is the only force that can erase the difference between people or bridge the chasms of bitterness. In a changing world, it is a constant. It is the security of the home. It is a beacon of hope in a world of distress.” *
– Wayne R. Bills, MA

“Faith is the pillar of strength that allows man to achieve the impossible, reach the unattainable and solve the unfathomable.”

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
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. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13 (NIV)

“There is only one thing that has power completely, and that is love. Because when a man loves, he seeks no power, and therefore he has power. Only strive for power, if it is not at the cost of other people. Power corrupts. You first have to be pure and righteous, before one can attain power. I believe that love is a greater force than power.”
– Alan Paton, great South African humanitarian and author of the classic ‘Cry the Beloved Country“

Great inspiring words of wisdom!
Through violence you may murder a murderer, but you can’t murder
murder. Through violence you may murder a liar, but you can’t establish
truth. Through violence you may murder a hater, but you can’t murder
hate. Darkness cannot put out darkness. Only light can do that…

“Difficult and painful as it is, we must walk on in the days ahead with
an audacious faith in the future. When our days become dreary with
low-hovering clouds of despair, and when our nights become darker than a
thousand midnights, let us remember that there is a creative force in
this universe, working to pull down the gigantic mountains of evil, a
power that is able to make a way out of no way and transform dark
yesterdays into bright tomorrows. Let us realize the arc of the moral
universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
– Dr Martin Luther King, Jr.

“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. That is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.”
– Martin Luther King, Jr

I love the following quote which guides and inspires me daily, so am sharing…

“The moment you have in your heart this extraordinary thing called love and feel the depth, the delight, the ecstasy of it, you will discover that for you the world is transformed.”
– J. Krishnamurti (thanks dearest mom)

“There is no difficulty that enough love will not conquer. There is no disease that enough love will not heal. No door that enough love will not open. No gulf that enough love will not bridge. No wall that enough love will not throw down. And no sin that enough love will not redeem. It makes no difference how deeply seated may be the trouble. How hopeless the outlook. How muddled the tangle. How great the mistake. A sufficient realisation of love will dissolve it all. And if you could love enough, you would be the happiest and most powerful person in the world.”
– Emmett Fox

“When the power of love overcomes (or conquers) the love of power, man and the world will at long last know peace.”
– adapted slightly from American musician, Jimi Hendrix

I see only one hope for our very troubled world, and that is when all peoples, black, brown and white desiring neither power, money nor especially a sense of self importance, come together to work hard for it with the creative spirit, that is in every one of us. With economic growth and the creation of jobs, people feel secure with a sense of well-being…and are happy.

When people act in a spirit of goodness, concern for humanity and especially utmost integrity, desiring only the good of their countries and so the world, the world be a far more prosperous and peaceful place – a world perhaps one day even at peace with itself.
– craig

LOVE is the greatest and most powerful force in the world (as was the simple message of Jesus Christ);
so shine your own unique bright light on an often darkened world …in a spirit of living at the highest level of humanity.

“When the world is filled with love, people’s hearts are overflowing
with hope.”
– craig

About the submitter:

Craig is passionate about a more peaceful world; so in his various writings Craig strives in some small way to break down social, cultural, religious and economic barriers through “planting, then sowing ideas as ‘seeds of hope’”. He believes that whilst we should celebrate our differences, what we share is way more important than what divides us. Craig’s new work ‘A New Dawn’ is set in the Middle East: To attempt to find ‘common ground’/principles between different religions and cultures and to try to make some difference in building bridges in an ever more dangerous, turbulent and uncertain world. “A passionate story of inspiration: hope, faith, peace and especially love.”

The various books* that Craig “felt inspired to write” are available at http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=la_B005GGMAW4_sr?rh=i%3Abooks&field-author=Craig+Lock
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005GGMAW4http://www.creativekiwis.com/index.php/books and http://goo.gl/vTpjk

All proceeds go to needy and underprivileged children –
MINE!

The submitter’s blogs (with extracts from his various writings: articles, books and new manuscripts) are
http://www.peacepursuit.wordpress.com
http://www.breakdownwalls.wordpress.com
http://www.buildbridgesofunderstanding.wordpress.com
http://www.buildbridgesofunity.wordpress.com
http://www.sharefaith.wordpress.com
and his various other blogs are at http://www.craigsblogs.wordpress.com and http://www.craiglock.wordpress.com
Obsessive or WHAT*!

“The world’s smallest and most exclusive bookstore”

* “Don’t bend; don’t water it down; don’t try to make it logical; don’t edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly.”

~ Franz Kafka

“Someday, after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love, and then, for a second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire.”
– Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

“Be the very best person you can be. Become the person you are CAPABLE of being … and ALL the person God,
the Ultimate Source, the Essence of Existence intended and CALLED us to become….and most importantly, have ‘loads’ of FUN along the journey.”
– craig

Together, one mind, one heart, one life at a time, today let’s plant the seeds, the hope of a better future … a brighter tomorrow

THESE THOUGHTS MAY BE FREELY PUBLISHED

PPS

“Love is the medicine for the sickness of the world.”

– Karl Menninger writing in his famous book ‘ Love against Hate’