Posts Tagged: mediation

Dave (personal) — 1 Comment
12
Jan 10

Be Not Defeated By The Rain

I stumbled upon this poem, translated from the original Japanese writing of Kenji Miyazawa. I share it in the hopes that it helps you find something inside of you that aids in cultivating a quiet joy:

    Be not defeated by the rain, Nor let the wind prove your better.
    Succumb not to the snows of winter. Nor be bested by the heat of summer.Be strong in body. Unfettered by desire. Not enticed to anger. Cultivate a quiet joy.
    Count yourself last in everything. Put others before you.
    Watch well and listen closely. Hold the learned lessons dear.

    A thatch-roof house, in a meadow, nestled in a pine grove’s shade.

    A handful of rice, some miso, and a few vegetables to suffice for the day.

    If, to the East, a child lies sick: Go forth and nurse him to health.
    If, to the West, an old lady stands exhausted: Go forth, and relieve her of burden.
    If, to the South, a man lies dying: Go forth with words of courage to dispel his fear.
    If, to the North, an argument or fight ensues:
    Go forth and beg them stop such a waste of effort and of spirit.

    In times of drought, shed tears of sympathy.
    In summers cold, walk in concern and empathy.

    Stand aloof of the unknowing masses:
    Better dismissed as useless than flattered as a “Great Man”.

Kenji Miyazawa -- Born: August 27, 1896; Died September 21, 1933 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenji_Miyazawa

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31
Jul 08

Daily Devotion: Proverbs 31

This is probably one of the most beautiful and relevant scriptures for our daily lives because it stands the test of time and offers wisdom that cannot be denied. Christian or not, these words will help empower women and cause husbands to lift up their wives as precious and lovely and serving equally within the household. There is a certain independence that comes from reading and truly understanding this chapter of Proverbs.

I am going to cite the entire chapter and ask you to find those words that God has for you today and call upon you to pray and meditate on those words. I am sharing with you the Amplified Bible version which expounds upon the definition of the original language using brackets where appropriate. Follow the footnotes that are explained at biblegateway.com though this link: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=pro%2031;&version=45;
and get an in-depth perspective on some of these verses which have been taken out of context.

May you come to know the full beauty of knowing Christ within you as God reveals to you the ways of the Lord for your home and family. May this time with God bring your family closer together in understanding how each member of the house should help unite the other so that God’s glory may be revealed and that your family be leave a legacy of the kingdom of heaven for all to see. May you truly come to know and live the life of being a Proverbs 31 woman:

Proverbs 31 AMP-

1THE WORDS of Lemuel king of Massa, which his mother taught him:

2What, my [a]son? What, son of my womb? What [shall I advise you], son of my vows and dedication to God?

3Give not your strength to [loose] women, nor your ways to those who and that which ruin and destroy kings.

4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to desire strong drink,(A)

5Lest they drink and forget the law and what it decrees, and pervert the justice due any of the afflicted.

6Give strong drink [as medicine] to him who is ready to pass away, and wine to him in bitter distress of heart.

7Let him drink and forget his poverty and [seriously] remember his want and misery no more.

8Open your mouth for the dumb [those unable to speak for themselves], for the rights of all who are left desolate and defenseless;(B)

9Open your mouth, judge righteously, and administer justice for the poor and needy.(C)

10A capable, intelligent, and [b]virtuous woman--who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.(D)

11The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of [honest] gain or need of [dishonest] spoil.

12She comforts, encourages, and does him only good as long as there is life within her.

13She seeks out wool and flax and works with willing hands [to develop it].

14She is like the merchant ships loaded with foodstuffs; she brings her household’s food from a far [country].

15She rises while it is yet night and gets [spiritual] food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks.(E)

16She considers a [new] field before she buys or accepts it [expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties]; with her savings [of time and strength] she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard. [S. of Sol. 8:12.]

17She girds herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task] and makes her arms strong and firm.

18She tastes and sees that her gain from work [with and for God] is good; her lamp goes not out, but it burns on continually through the night [of trouble, privation, or sorrow, warning away fear, doubt, and distrust].

19She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

20She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy [whether in body, mind, or spirit].

21She fears not the snow for her family, for all her household are doubly clothed in scarlet.(F)

22She makes for herself coverlets, cushions, and rugs of tapestry. Her clothing is of linen, pure and fine, and of purple [such as that of which the clothing of the priests and the hallowed cloths of the temple were made].(G)

23Her husband is known in the [city's] gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.(H)

24She makes fine linen garments and leads others to buy them; she delivers to the merchants girdles [or sashes that free one up for service].

25Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; she rejoices over the future [the latter day or time to come, knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it]!

26She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction].

27She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat.(I)

28Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied); and her husband boasts of and praises her, [saying],

29[c]Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all.

30Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain [because it is not lasting], but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised!

31Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates [of the city]!(J)

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5
Jul 08

Daily Devotion: Proverbs 5

This is a proverb that focuses specifically on keeping the covenant of marriage as pure and between a husband and wife. We are commanded to love our spouses continually as on the day we were first married. We must resist temptation and not associate with those that may try to cause us to stray from our partners. While the context of this is on marriage, I’d like to use it as an illustration of how we tend to pervert the gospel and seek other faiths and teachings that speak to our selfish needs and cause us to stray away from God, whom we have a covenant with as well.

There are so many people out there evangelizing through tv and radio and doing so in a way that seems to serve themselves more than it serves God. There are people at your workplace, your school, your neighborhood, even in your churches that may try to do the same thing. Monitor what you hear and always put it up against the test of the scriptures. Be careful not to try and listen to those things that tickle your ears and make you feel good inside when they only serve to feed your ego and your desires and take you outside of your rightful place with God. Jesus was sacrificed to pay the penalty of our sinfulness. It is through that act that we can be saved from death and offered eternal life through God. We must know Jesus in our hearts and believe that he died for us and rose again and is seated next to God at this very moment loving us and instructing us to live in his ways and follow his teachings.

It is written in Proverbs 5:21-23:

21 For the Lord sees clearly what a man does,
examining every path he takes.
22 An evil man is held captive by his own sins;
they are ropes that catch and hold him.
23 He will die for lack of self-control;
he will be lost because of his great foolishness.

We will be given rope (freedom) to go follow false teachings and allowed to let sin consume us. However, in the end it is that rope that will be our death. When we choose to follow things that satisfy our selfish desires and disregard those things that serve a greater purpose and honor God, we may not feel God’s warning or instruction against us, but that doesn’t make it right. We may choose to do things and believe that God isn’t watching or that he doesn’t care. Our lack of self control can cause us to get lost in the moment and seek things of darkness believing we can correct it on our own when the time comes. Don’t be fooled! Trust in God to show you the right path and believe in the sacrifice of Jesus to make you clean and give you new life. Only he can do that for you.

Just as we know we are called to be married to one person and that marriage should be forever, we live in a society that not only allows divorce, but divorce has become so commonplace that we use it as a way to solve problems in our marriages instead of working towards to reconciling those differences. Don’t give up on your marriage because you feel you’re not in love. Don’t open the door to temptation by not letting your marriage partner know you love them through your words and actions. They are not entrusted to us so that we may take them for granted or use them as our servants. We are to be one with our mate just as we are to be one with Christ. Let’s not allow the idea of divorce come into other areas of life and cause us to give up and run away from other problems. Let us not take our relationship with God for granted and stray away from one place to another in search of what we are looking for, when even we don’t know what it is we are looking for. Stay home and celebrate what you have in your wife/husband and celebrate what you have in Christ Jesus that filled your heart and made you whole!

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