Out of dark times spring light and life

How many of us experience those moments of lost hope, destroyed vision and broken dreams, both in our personal lives and our communities?

Christianity declares that Jesus, the one who died on the cross, was God dwelling among us; God in the flesh. 

This means that in his experience of the cross, we had the creator of the universe 

experiencing our humanity.

 

Through Jesus we see God,who has climbed into the dark pit with us. God seen in the Easter story is the one who knows and experiences our dark moments; and takes them on as His own.

When others let us down the hope present in the Easter story still stands. It’s a hope that stands for eternity.  It’s a hope that stands for eternity no mattewhat happens in our city or the world around us.

 We live with the belief that hope is always present, even when the darkness seems overwhelming. We may not always live up to the ideal, but every Easter we’re called back to that hope and reminded about what God is up to as seen in the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ.

 

 

for the full article  (with far better lay-out/appearance  in formatted text?) see

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11611789

“When others let us down the hope present in the Easter story still stands. It’s a hope that stands for eternity.”

“The light shines in the darkness… and the darkness can never put it out.”

 

picture from

http://www.itsalwaysdarkestbeforethedawn.wordpress.com

 

 

Best wishes from the First City to see the Light

PPS

Don’t worry about the world ending today…
as it’s already tomorrow in scenic and tranquil ‘little’ New Zealand

 

 

“A writer’s dreams“

Picture (great) by my friend, Jenny, whose photographic talents I definitely do NOT possess!

from 

www.jennysphotographicjourney.wordpress.com

www.onetaleoftwocities.wordpress.com

www.itsalwaysdarkestbeforethedawn.wordpress.com

http://www.shatteredbrokendreams.wordpress.com

www.lifeisgodsnovel.wordpress.com

and 

www.awritersdreams.wordpress.com

“Your life (‘little’) is the only Bible (and/or Gospel) many people will read.”

“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.”

“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 https://godandformula1.wordpress.com/2013/07/08/on-the-podium-after-the-greatest-race/

“Having pursued the goals, the dreams set before us and run the race with persistence and endurance, after giving it all. Then one day standing on the summit of life, breathing in the pure sweet oxygen of achievement, totally satisfied in running the greatest race, the race of life one that ANYONE can run and win.”

from http://racetothechequeredflag.wordpress.com/ and http://www.godandformula1.wordpress.com

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming ‘Wow! What a Ride!’”

GOD AND FORMULA ONE: 'BEYOND THE ZONE'

http://beyondthezonespirit.wordpress.com/2014/03/25/life-should-not-be-a-journey-to-the-grave-with-the-intention-of-arriving-safely-in-a-pretty-and-well-preserved-body-but-rather-to-skid-in-broadside-in-a-cloud-of-smoke-thoroughly-used-up-t-2/

from  http://nzwriter.wordpress.com/

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

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

How to Make Your Wildest Dreams Come True – Fifteen Principles to Realise Them

How to Make Your Wildest Dreams Come True – Fifteen Principles to Realise Them

A Review of the Book ‘God Has A Dream’ by Desmond Tutu

Article Title: A Review of the Book ‘God Has A Dream’ by Desmond Tutu

Shared by: Craig Lock

Category (Key words/Tags): Inspiration, hope, faith, love, dreams, believe, peace, pursuit of peace, Desmond Tutu

Web site: http://www.flipkart.com/god-has-dream-desmond-tutu/1844135675-6zx3f7dxqc

Submitter’s web sites:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=la_B005GGMAW4_sr?rh=i%3Abooks&field-author=Craig+Lock

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005GGMAW4 and http://goo.gl/vTpjk

Craig’s blogs (with extracts from his various writings: articles, books and new manuscripts) are at www.sharefaith.wordpress.com and http://craigsblogs.wordpress.com

Other Articles are available at: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/user/15565 and http://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: This piece (as with all my articles) may be freely published, electronically or in print, provided the sources are acknowledged, thanks.

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

#

A REVIEW OF THE BOOK ‘GOD HAS A DREAM’ by Desmond Tutu and Douglas Abrams

A Vision of Hope for Our Time

Tags: Religion, faith, South Africa, Desmond Tutu, hope, politics, Christian life, Christian theology Book Title: God Has a Dream , a Vision of Hope for Our Time Authors: Desmond Tutu, Douglas Abrams

Book overview Sourced from: http://www.google.com/books

Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu has long been admired throughout the world for the heroism and grace he exhibited while encouraging countless South Africans in their struggle for human rights. In ‘God Has a Dream’, his most soul-searching book, he shares the spiritual message that guided him through those troubled times. Drawing on personal and historical examples, Archbishop Tutu reaches out to readers of all religious backgrounds, showing how individual and global suffering can be transformed into joy and redemption. With his characteristic humour, Tutu offers an extremely personal and liberating message. He helps us to “see with the eyes of the heart” and to cultivate the qualities of love, forgiveness, humility, generosity, and courage that we need to change ourselves and our world.

Echoing the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., he writes, “God says to you, ‘I have a dream. Please help me to realize it. It is a dream of a world whose ugliness and squalor and poverty, its war and hostility, its greed and harsh competitiveness, its alienation and disharmony are changed into their glorious counterparts. When there will be more laughter, joy, and peace, where there will be justice and goodness and compassion and love and caring and sharing. I have a dream that my children will know that they are members of one family, the human family, God’s family, my family.'”

Addressing the timeless and universal concerns all people share, God Has a Dream envisions a world transformed through hope and compassion, humility and kindness, understanding and forgiveness.

Source: http://www.google.com/books

Editorial Review – Reed Business Information (c) 2003 Reading this book is like having a long, and somewhat homiletical, afternoon tea with former Archbishop of Cape Town and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Tutu. Four years after No Future Without Forgiveness, Tutu’s reflection on his role as Chairman of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, comes this deeply personal book that Tutu calls “a cumulative expression of my life’s work.” Each chapter begins “Dear Child of God,” and goes on to reflect on vulnerability, transfiguration and the human condition with winding anecdotes from Tutu’s personal and public life, stories he delivers with his trademark humour and a deceptive simplicity. For example, when Tutu says we are all one family, what emerges is not some churchy optimism, but a highly developed theology of relationship, what Tutu has earlier called ubuntu (“a person is a person through other people”), with political as well as interpersonal implications. This book is highly readable, perhaps because, like other Tutu books, it is culled in large part from lectures and sermons delivered in Tutu’s very public life. That this book aims for more than an afternoon tea becomes clear at its close: we are God’s partners, Tutu exhorts. We are humanized or dehumanized in and through our actions toward others. Tutu grounds this appeal most concretely, ending with a list of Web sites from organizations that need more partners for their outreach. (Mar. 23)

Sourced from http://www.flipkart.com/god-has-dream-desmond-tutu/1844135675-6zx3f7dxqc

Desmond Tutu’s best-selling inspirational book for a general audience, now available in paperback ‘God Has A Dream’ is an extremely personal and liberating message of hope and light in dark times. In it, the Archbishop shows how important it is that, even as we face the harsh realities of our individual lives and global conditions, we remember the importance of hope and dreams – for it is on hope and dreams that a better future will be built, and that God’s dream for us will be fulfilled. And Tutu also demonstrates how to bring these dreams to fruition in very practical terms, for example in learning how to love, ridding ourselves of our prejudices, opposing injustice, promoting the qualities of forgiveness, humility and generosity in ourselves, taking time to be still and quiet and in being patient. Meant not only for a Christian audience, but also for those of all faiths – and none – who are drawn to a life of more inspiration and integrity, ‘God Has A Dream’ is highly readable and very relevant to the times we live in. Instead of being a political document (as was his previous book No Future Without Forgiveness) this is a major work of contemporary spirituality from a Church leader known for his charisma, robust approach and humour.

http://www.flipkart.com/god-has-dream-desmond-tutu/1844135675-6zx3f7dxqc

Live YOUR dream and be happy along the amazing journey that is life

Shared by Craig Lock (“Information and Inspiration Distributor, Incorrigible Encourager and People-builder”)

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

“When you come to the edge of all the light you know, and are able to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: There will be something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly.”

– Barbara J Winter

“God creates us with different gifts. Each one of us comes into the world with a different collection of life circumstances that often severely challenge us, things that give us joy and in expressing our talents allow us to bless the people, the world around us.”

“The task ahead of you can always be overcome by the power within you…and the seemingly difficult path ahead of you is never as steep with the great spirit that lies within you.” – craig

“When I let go of what (and who) I think I am, I become all that I can be… and am capable of being.”

– craig (as adapted and inspired from Lao Tzu)

About the submitter:

Craig believes in (and loves) sharing information and insights to make a difference in this world: to help and especially encourage people along life’s magical journey … and that brings him the greatest joy. Craig has a ‘passion’ for writing books that tell stories about people doing positive things in this often so hard, sometimes unkind world, occasionally cruel, yet always amazing world – true stories that leave the reader feeling uplifted, empowered and hopefully even inspired.

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/B005GGMAW4 and http://goo.gl/vTpjk

 

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

“The world’s smallest and most exclusive bookstores”

“You can cut down the flower, but nothing can stop the coming of the spring.”

“Together, one mind, one heart, one life at a time, let’s see how many people we can impact, empower, uplift, encourage … and perhaps even inspire to reach their fullest potentials.”

“Together, one mind, one soul, one life at a time, let’s march together towards a better future…and plant the seeds of a far brighter tomorrow”

“What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world, is and remains immortal.”

“What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world, is and remains immortal.”

― Albert Pine

Put Your Dream to the Test (by Dr John Maxwell)

Article Title: Put Your Dream to the Test by Dr John Maxwell (from “Motivational and Inspirational Self Help Books“)
Submitted by: Craig Lock
Category/Key words: Dreams, dream information, self help books, motivational and inspirational books, John Maxwell, success, success principles, achievement, self help, personal growth, motivation, inspiration, empowerment, life purpose (enough there for now, craig)

Web Sites: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005GGMAW4 http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=la_B005GGMAW4_sr?rh=i%3Abooks&field-author=Craig+Lock&sort=relevance&ie=UTF8&qid and http://goo.gl/vTpjk

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

Other Articles are available at: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/user/15565 and http://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:

This article (as with all my articles) may be freely published, electronically or in print.

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

*

INTRODUCTION

Submitter’s Note:

Craig has been studying the amazing powers of the human mind for the past two decades (now his “life-long hobby”). These are some notes I took from an uplifting and inspiring address by Dr John Maxwell from the ‘Hour of Power’ television programme (he has written a new book), so (even if you are not “religiously-minded”) I am sharing the contents of this author’s work in the spirit of encouraging and hopefully even inspiring those people to just GO FOR IT with all you’ve got. Nothing is impossible, if you earnestly desire it and work hard at achieving your dreams. Thank you sincerely, Dr Maxwell for sharing your most uplifting words of wisdom in encouraging me to follow my passion and reach for my personal dreams down the “un-trodden path of self fulfilment”. I in turn am passing them on through the amazing power of the ‘net’. Enjoy…

*

PUT YOUR DREAM TO THE TEST AND HOW TO SURVIVE THE SURPRIZE by Dr John Maxwell

“It took me twenty long years of blood, sweat and floods of tears to become an overnight success.”

– an anymoose writer”

In his new book, ‘Put Your Dream to the Test’), John Maxwell is talking about the dream journey of the bible-character, Joseph. And there are parallels that each one of us can learn from Joseph in following the path of our own dreams. A first lesson: Each great journey has a great price. The questions to ask yourself to make your wildest dreams come true:

1. Am I willing to pay the price for my dream? Don’t be limited by your thinking (eg fleas in a bottle learnt not to jump high). There is always a cost to reaching your dreams. Family and friends often react negatively to your dream. Always remember, along the journey, you will have more “downs” than “ups”.

2. Do I have enough passion? Does my passion impel me to keep the dream alive? Passion is the great energizer, which pushes us on, when all appears lost.

3. Always remember, God is with you in the tough times, the “dark ” days and hours in the valleys. Along the journey we become closely attached to God, our “closest companion” through our “ups and downs”… to guide, strengthen and comfort us. God is ALWAYS faithful “If God is with us, everybody else might as well be too!” – John Maxwell

* Attitude is a CHOICE The attitude I have today is a choice. It’s my responsibility… TODAY! Invest in others. Put others first. Help them achieve THEIR dreams. Add value to them (and their lives) There are four ways to do that:

1. Value people, first

2. Add value to what others value.

3. By making ourselves more valuable

4. By doing things God values – that have an eternal nature.

NB: Be forgiving – no matter what someone has done to you. Have a forgiving spirit.

*

Part Four: In his address (based on his new book, ‘Put Your Dream to the Test’), John Maxwell is talking about the dream journey of Joseph. Joseph went from being a “believer” into a “buyer of the dream”, he really “bought into” his dream and “survived the surprise”. He fully trusted God (though “bad things can still happen to good people”).

* *

NOW THAT YOU HAVE ACHIEVED YOUR WILDEST DREAM(S)… WHAT NEXT?

Once we achieve, receive our dream, how to make the most of it? My dream is HERE. Often we can impact others more through sharing our failures more than our successes (a failure is just a person, who hasn’t succeeded …YET!). Now that you have achieved your dream…

* Be GENEROUS

* HELP others.. through adding value to them…. through your success (and what you’ve learnt along the way). Remember: ” God will not give to us, what will not flow through us” So share the benefits of your dream with others. Ask yourself: “Does my success, achieving my dream, benefit others in some way?” “Will other people be blessed with the God-given dream inside me?” .

*

SUMMARY:

1. Be GENEROUS

2 Be HUMBLE. “If the Lord makes you successful… one day, I’ll keep you humble.”

– a wife (I won’t say whose!)

Remember: “divine promotion is better than self promotion”) God raised me up. God helps those who can’t help themselves, when we are in over our heads and God makes the difference in achieving our dreams. Keeps us humble. CHOOSE to give God the glory, pass it on . Say, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” – Philippians 4:3)

3 Have an attitude TO WIN Say “I CAN…one sunny day!

4. Live with an ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE Always remember… God has already equipped you with all that you need to achieve your goals and even your wildest dreams . It usually takes a long time for your dream to lift off (the bigger the dream, the longer it takes). So be PATIENT. Wait on your dream. Trials and tribulations bring patience. Dreams are conceived in the mind long before they are realised. Dreams are like a large aircraft, a Jumbo jet on the runway. It takes a lot of energy for them to lift off, but then you soar freely. You can, if you THINK you can. Just believe in your dream…and yourself!

5. Use the great power of the human imagination to the fullest.

“Whatever the mind can conceive, can be achieved”.

Do all this in following YOUR dream and you WILL soar high and allow you to be all God intended you to be and become. You CAN do it … and in doing so you’ll surprize yourself at what is “humanly” possible!

Makes your dreams BIG enough for God, the Ultimate Source to fit in!

BELIEVE it (first) …then SEE your dreams come true

Shared by Craig Lock (“Information and Inspiration Distributer, Incorrigible Encourager and People-builder”)

“Believing is seeing”

“I believe that God creates us with different gifts; so that in life’s journey each one of us, experiences challenges, things that give us joy and using our gifts allow us to bless the world around us.”

“Look within and you will find and receive from Without.”

“We have it all within, but we get all from without, the Ultimate Source.” – craig

“You are as great as your thoughts, as big as your heart and as vast as your imagination.” – my good friend, Dr Andy Eastcott, Gisborne, New Zealand

“Life is about finding, then following the dream…
and one’s dream/vision comes to reality through believing in
yourself, making the commitment and then creating it.”

– me

from http://www.craiglockbooks.com
About the submitter:

Craig has been following his dream for many years. He likes (rather loves) to share knowledge and insights from his life experiences with dashes of humour to try and help others in ‘every little way’ he can… without being too much of a “Mr goody-goody boring two shoes” (although they may be different colours and he’s lost the other one) . Craig believes the spiritual dimension is something we can all “tap into”… like ‘a sixth sense’, which gives each person ‘superior wisdom’ (“Infinite Wisdom from the Ultimate Source”) in making decisions and choosing one’s path in life.

He loves encouraging people to find, then follow their dreams in life… truly believing that with hard work, dedication, faith, and patience absolutely ANYTHING is possible to achieve (accomplish) in life

The various books* that Craig “felt inspired to write” are available at:

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005GGMAW4 http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=la_B005GGMAW4_sr?rh=i%3Abooks&field-author=Craig+Lock&sort=relevance&ie=UTF8&qid and http://goo.gl/vTpjk

He is presently “working” on his latest novels ‘The Awakened Spirit’ and ‘From Seeds of Hate to the Bonds of Love’, based on some true and inspiring stories
of the unquenchable, the indomitable human spirit, that lies within each one of us. Stories of ‘Endless Possibilities, Far and Unlimited (Grand) Horizons’. These ebooks are already available at http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005GGMAW4

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

“The world’s smallest and most exclusive bookstore”

“Together, one mind, one heart, one life at a time, lets see how many people we can impact, encourage, empower and perhaps even inspire to reach their fullest potentials.”

THESE THOUGHTS MAY BE FREELY PUBLISHED

PS: I love these words of inspiration, so am sharing. Enjoy…

“I wish you well on a rainy day I wish you rainbows to brighten your day

To feel your quiet moments with a special kind of warmth to remind you that happiness can happen when you least expect it.

I wish you rainbows to make you laugh and smile to show you the simple beauty of life and to give you the magic of dreams come true.

I wish you rainbows I wish you well.”

– Larry S. Chenges

PPS

Click on John Maxwell’s great Youtube videos at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcKbfmukP9U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGeV606QJ4o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmbmZz5JHW8

and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJzA0JcKwvo

“IF: “If a man is called to be a street-sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted…”

“If a man is called to be a street-sweeper,

he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted,

or Beethoven composed music, or

Shakespeare wrote poetry.

He should sweep streets so well

that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say,

here lived a great street sweeper

who did his job well.”

– Dr Martin Luther King, Jr.

from “Quote, Unquote” available in paperback at

http://www.amazon.com/Quote-Unquote-Quotes-Sharing-favourite/dp/1490357327

and the Kindle Edition is available at http://www.amazon.com/Quote-Unquote-Craig-Lock-ebook/dp/B005GS6X8O

 

“Together, one mind, one life at a time, let’s see how many people we can impact, encourage, empower, uplift and perhaps even inspire to reach their fullest potentials.”