It's almost the end of the first month of this year and I do wonder how you have been faring since the year began.I am sure if you have written resolutions, by now you would have an idea if you have been keeping them!
Well,as for me I did write some goals for the year and one of them is I will be starting another blog which has been in my womb for a while now.
I will let you know the link to it.
So many things have been said about this year but I believe the year will be what you call it.So keep speaking what you want to see because very soon what you have been speaking will be your reality.It's also a good time to say what you see today is the fruit of what you said yesterday.I read recently about an author who said everytime he heard of something being said about him,he asked himself "am I reaping or is this person sowing".That really got me thinking!
This year for me is the best I have ever seen,I am breaking new grounds and each day of it ushers new favour and grace.
Happy New Year,
Grace
Wednesday, 26 January 2011
Saturday, 11 September 2010
Happy New Year
It is the first time I am writing on this blog this year and so I welcome all who are just checking this page this year. I have mentally written on this blog severally but physically getting to do it has been such a struggle.....there has always been a thousand and one reasons not to sit down by this computer and type, talk of the force of inertia!
I will not say there have not been almost near instances when I nearly did it. I remember watching the auditions for Britain’s got talent this year when great granny Janey Cutler sang her heart out, she got a standing ovation and one of the judges then asked where she had been all this while and she said something in these lines … “I am glad I am here today ”.I sincerely liked those lines and thought I would use that to start writing on this blog this year but I did not then….that was about 3 months ago.
But I am glad I am finally doing this today and I do intend to continue more regularly most likely sticking to everyday life issues. I do apologize for not having kept up with this in the past 16 months as I realize that not using our talents also deprive others of the benefit we would all have enjoyed.
Let me challenge you to look closely at something you have been planning to do for sometime ,maybe even this year like joining the gym, writing that report/examination, cutting your hair, ringing your old friend and apologizing and perhaps brushing your teeth before bed….yes you know why I am particular about that(my profile would give you a clue) ,lets just get up and do it…now .It is never too late to start now, take a clue from me ,I am finally doing what I have always wanted to do.
Happy new beginnings.
Grace Tom-lawyer
I will not say there have not been almost near instances when I nearly did it. I remember watching the auditions for Britain’s got talent this year when great granny Janey Cutler sang her heart out, she got a standing ovation and one of the judges then asked where she had been all this while and she said something in these lines … “I am glad I am here today ”.I sincerely liked those lines and thought I would use that to start writing on this blog this year but I did not then….that was about 3 months ago.
But I am glad I am finally doing this today and I do intend to continue more regularly most likely sticking to everyday life issues. I do apologize for not having kept up with this in the past 16 months as I realize that not using our talents also deprive others of the benefit we would all have enjoyed.
Let me challenge you to look closely at something you have been planning to do for sometime ,maybe even this year like joining the gym, writing that report/examination, cutting your hair, ringing your old friend and apologizing and perhaps brushing your teeth before bed….yes you know why I am particular about that(my profile would give you a clue) ,lets just get up and do it…now .It is never too late to start now, take a clue from me ,I am finally doing what I have always wanted to do.
Happy new beginnings.
Grace Tom-lawyer
Monday, 13 April 2009
Morning by Morning(ii)
I will be the first to admit that this theme has not been a very easy one.It seems to me that after the decision to make sure that every morning,I consciously listen to what God says,all hell broke loose.
This has brought feelings that range from guilt,sobriety,the not quite hitting the mark feeling to to sometimes sheer indifference.But recently as I continued to study the Word( I have learned over the years,just keep at it no matter how slow the pace may seem -have a plan and keep at it),I came across a verse that blew my mind!Remember last time ,the emphasis was on what we can do morning by morning.But this verse talked of what God does for us morning by morning and we will look at it in some translations.
"God's loyal love couldn't have run out,his merciful love couldn't have dried up.They are created new every morning.How great is your faithfulness"-Lam 3 v22-3 The Message
"Because of Lord's great love we are not consumed,for his compassions never fail.They are new every morning,great is your faithfulness".-Lam 3v22-3-NIV
"That the Eternal 's love is lasting and will never fail.Fresh every morning is thy kindness,great is thy faithfulness!".-Lam 3 v22-3-Moffatt.
"His compassion never ends.It is only the Lord's mercies that have kept us from complete destruction.Great is his faithfulness;his lovingkindness begins afresh each day"-Lam 3 v22-3-Living Bible
"His love.His incredible love has protected us-we're still alive ,aren't w?His passion for us doesn't go hot and cold.It is pumped daily ;with every sunrise we get a new brand-new dose of your loyalty and love "-Lam 3 v22-3 The Word on the street
These to me is a great reminder that in God's factory,there is a daily manufacture of love for me.This love is constant and independent of my actions[which I am sometimes ashamed of].This love is one I can count on at all times and this season ,I will like us to remember that the love that took his son to the cross is very much ours still today.I like the translation that says it is fresh.Hmm,that means it will never expire.Every morning and I mean every morning,there is a new production of his merciful love over our lives.
No wonder the Psalmist encourages us to say "Thank you" in chapter 92 v.2 -
"Every morning tell him"Thank you for your kindness" and every evening,rejoice in all his faithfulness."-Living Bible
This has changed my approach to morning by morning,I do not only come looking for God's voice but know that He is doing his bit even when I fail .His love you and I is constant,made new morning by morning.No wonder He sent his son to die for us.Let's celebrate this love as we remember the cross ( what a symbol of his great love!)this season.
Happy Easter.
Continue to Flourish,
Grace Tom-lawyer
This has brought feelings that range from guilt,sobriety,the not quite hitting the mark feeling to to sometimes sheer indifference.But recently as I continued to study the Word( I have learned over the years,just keep at it no matter how slow the pace may seem -have a plan and keep at it),I came across a verse that blew my mind!Remember last time ,the emphasis was on what we can do morning by morning.But this verse talked of what God does for us morning by morning and we will look at it in some translations.
"God's loyal love couldn't have run out,his merciful love couldn't have dried up.They are created new every morning.How great is your faithfulness"-Lam 3 v22-3 The Message
"Because of Lord's great love we are not consumed,for his compassions never fail.They are new every morning,great is your faithfulness".-Lam 3v22-3-NIV
"That the Eternal 's love is lasting and will never fail.Fresh every morning is thy kindness,great is thy faithfulness!".-Lam 3 v22-3-Moffatt.
"His compassion never ends.It is only the Lord's mercies that have kept us from complete destruction.Great is his faithfulness;his lovingkindness begins afresh each day"-Lam 3 v22-3-Living Bible
"His love.His incredible love has protected us-we're still alive ,aren't w?His passion for us doesn't go hot and cold.It is pumped daily ;with every sunrise we get a new brand-new dose of your loyalty and love "-Lam 3 v22-3 The Word on the street
These to me is a great reminder that in God's factory,there is a daily manufacture of love for me.This love is constant and independent of my actions[which I am sometimes ashamed of].This love is one I can count on at all times and this season ,I will like us to remember that the love that took his son to the cross is very much ours still today.I like the translation that says it is fresh.Hmm,that means it will never expire.Every morning and I mean every morning,there is a new production of his merciful love over our lives.
No wonder the Psalmist encourages us to say "Thank you" in chapter 92 v.2 -
"Every morning tell him"Thank you for your kindness" and every evening,rejoice in all his faithfulness."-Living Bible
This has changed my approach to morning by morning,I do not only come looking for God's voice but know that He is doing his bit even when I fail .His love you and I is constant,made new morning by morning.No wonder He sent his son to die for us.Let's celebrate this love as we remember the cross ( what a symbol of his great love!)this season.
Happy Easter.
Continue to Flourish,
Grace Tom-lawyer
Thursday, 1 January 2009
Morning by Morning.
During the last week of November last year,we had a fast in my church and waited on God for direction for this year.During that period ,there were several passages we had to read daily and during that time,I received direction for this year which I would like to share with you.It came from one passage,Isaiah 50 v.4 and I will like us to see it in some translations of the Bible.
The Servant of God says"The Lord God has given me the tongue of a disciple and of one who is taught ,that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary.He wakens me morning by morning.He wakens my ear to hear as a disciple(as one who is taught)-[Amp]
The Lord God has given me his words of wisdom so that I may know what to say to all these weary ones ,morning by morning ,he wakens me and opens his understanding to his will.-[NLT]
The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue ,to know the word that sustains the weary.He wakens me morning by morning ,wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.-[NIV]
The Master God has given me a well taught tongue,so I know how to encourage tired people.He wakes me up in the morning.Wakes me up,opens my ears ,to listen as one ready to take orders.-[MSG]
I strongly believe that this year if we are going to be involved in ministry (which is essentially the transfer of life),we must listen to God.Listen to his way He wants things done,and make hearing Him this year on a daily basis making our priority.
As we listen to Him,light will be shed on our paths and our flight will be great.One step by revelation will take us where a hundred steps by our imagination will not take us.
As we listen and know Him more ,we will flourish and be fruitful.
Happy New Year.
Grace Tom-lawyer
The Servant of God says"The Lord God has given me the tongue of a disciple and of one who is taught ,that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary.He wakens me morning by morning.He wakens my ear to hear as a disciple(as one who is taught)-[Amp]
The Lord God has given me his words of wisdom so that I may know what to say to all these weary ones ,morning by morning ,he wakens me and opens his understanding to his will.-[NLT]
The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue ,to know the word that sustains the weary.He wakens me morning by morning ,wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.-[NIV]
The Master God has given me a well taught tongue,so I know how to encourage tired people.He wakes me up in the morning.Wakes me up,opens my ears ,to listen as one ready to take orders.-[MSG]
I strongly believe that this year if we are going to be involved in ministry (which is essentially the transfer of life),we must listen to God.Listen to his way He wants things done,and make hearing Him this year on a daily basis making our priority.
As we listen to Him,light will be shed on our paths and our flight will be great.One step by revelation will take us where a hundred steps by our imagination will not take us.
As we listen and know Him more ,we will flourish and be fruitful.
Happy New Year.
Grace Tom-lawyer
Thursday, 13 November 2008
Not afraid to wait?
Last month,I was on my way to a new assignment.
I had been to the place once and so was not so familiar with the area and so I had a list of buses I could enter with me.As I waited for my bus at the City Center,it seemed like it took forever for it to come.Meanwhile there was a particular bus number that ran frequently.
I thought I had put two and two together as I asked the driver[God bless him] if he was going my way.He replied in the affirmative and I paid the fare.
To my dismay it was not along the path I had gone previously.I asked the driver again and he said it was the next stop.I came down and he pointed that where I was going was just 2 minutes away.I am sad to say that was far from the truth because I had to enter another bus eventually which took me about 8 stops away and after waiting trying to get on another connecting bus,I decided to return back to the City center.This time I waited patiently and got on the right bus with the number I had been given.It took me about 12minutes to get to my desired destination.Meanwhile I had wasted one hour in the merry go round because I became impatient.I am sure you have had a similar experience at one time or the other.
As I reflect back,I think about how similar this is to when we are waiting for something and believing God.How there are so many other alternatives which in the long run actually lead to nowhere near the best that God is preparing for us[it might lead somewhere].
Lord,teach us to be patient and not to give birth to Ishmeals as we wait for our Isaacs.
Amen.
The test of our strength and faith sometimes can be measured by how much we can wait.
Continue to flourish,
Grace Tom-lawyer
I had been to the place once and so was not so familiar with the area and so I had a list of buses I could enter with me.As I waited for my bus at the City Center,it seemed like it took forever for it to come.Meanwhile there was a particular bus number that ran frequently.
I thought I had put two and two together as I asked the driver[God bless him] if he was going my way.He replied in the affirmative and I paid the fare.
To my dismay it was not along the path I had gone previously.I asked the driver again and he said it was the next stop.I came down and he pointed that where I was going was just 2 minutes away.I am sad to say that was far from the truth because I had to enter another bus eventually which took me about 8 stops away and after waiting trying to get on another connecting bus,I decided to return back to the City center.This time I waited patiently and got on the right bus with the number I had been given.It took me about 12minutes to get to my desired destination.Meanwhile I had wasted one hour in the merry go round because I became impatient.I am sure you have had a similar experience at one time or the other.
As I reflect back,I think about how similar this is to when we are waiting for something and believing God.How there are so many other alternatives which in the long run actually lead to nowhere near the best that God is preparing for us[it might lead somewhere].
Lord,teach us to be patient and not to give birth to Ishmeals as we wait for our Isaacs.
Amen.
The test of our strength and faith sometimes can be measured by how much we can wait.
Continue to flourish,
Grace Tom-lawyer
Thursday, 6 November 2008
Live your dream!
Congratulations to all Americans and especially to the President elect Mr Barack Obama.
I salute your courage .It is so beautiful to see an African American elected as President of the United States. May God give you the strength to lead the nation in the right path.
As I watched the news of the results and the different reactions of people, I am particularly drawn to the tears streaming from the eyes of Jesse Jackson. I am sure he was weeping as he saw a dream come true.
What struck me most was this is a dream a man had.
He took steps towards it and today he has made history.
Live the dream-write the dream, talk the dream, walk the dream.
Write it down. It is so important to write it down.
In the next 10 years what and where do you want to be?
This is the time to write it down and begin to take steps towards it now. Enough of the self pity and regrets! Time for action.
If it is not written down, then we cannot really tell at any point in time if progress has been made. The trouble is most times we think it is too enormous and laborious and so we procrastinate the writing down of our dreams.
If Mr Barack Obama did not write his dream, take steps towards it by getting involved in politics, he would not have made history yesterday. Let this encourage us that nothing is impossible if you believe and are ready to face whatever hurdles.
Write your dream.
Talk your dream.
Walk your dream
Live your dream.
To live without a dream is just to merely exist!
Continue to flourish,
Grace Tom-lawyer
I salute your courage .It is so beautiful to see an African American elected as President of the United States. May God give you the strength to lead the nation in the right path.
As I watched the news of the results and the different reactions of people, I am particularly drawn to the tears streaming from the eyes of Jesse Jackson. I am sure he was weeping as he saw a dream come true.
What struck me most was this is a dream a man had.
He took steps towards it and today he has made history.
Live the dream-write the dream, talk the dream, walk the dream.
Write it down. It is so important to write it down.
In the next 10 years what and where do you want to be?
This is the time to write it down and begin to take steps towards it now. Enough of the self pity and regrets! Time for action.
If it is not written down, then we cannot really tell at any point in time if progress has been made. The trouble is most times we think it is too enormous and laborious and so we procrastinate the writing down of our dreams.
If Mr Barack Obama did not write his dream, take steps towards it by getting involved in politics, he would not have made history yesterday. Let this encourage us that nothing is impossible if you believe and are ready to face whatever hurdles.
Write your dream.
Talk your dream.
Walk your dream
Live your dream.
To live without a dream is just to merely exist!
Continue to flourish,
Grace Tom-lawyer
Thursday, 23 October 2008
Why pray when you can worry?
"Take it to the Lord in prayer"
I was just thinking about a present challenge some minutes ago and just as it seemed to be looming over my head and tears wanted to start trickling down ,I just heard whispered "take it to the Lord in prayer".I have heard those words somewhere before,hmm,from a hymn.So I decided to check on the internet for the lyrics as I could not remember the first line of the song.I checked for the verses and want to share some with you.
It is a familiar hymn song and though it has been on for centuries(written as a poem in 1855 by Joseph Scriven and composed as music by Charles Converse),the truths in it are timeless.
"What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged; Take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; Take it to the Lord in prayer."
You know it is one thing to think about a challenge and allow it to overwhelm you,it is another thing to believe the Lord as you wait for his promises in your life to come true.Most times the problem is not receiving the promises ,but being able to wait for it like Habakkuk says till it comes to pass.(Hab 2 v.2).I am always intrigued and need to remind myself that God has my best interests in mind.He is thinking about me constantly and He knows all I go through.
As I write this piece,I remind myself that God wants to be trusted by all of us his children.I should trust Him enough and not give in to worry.Trust Him enough to carry everything to Him in prayer because He cares.Why do I pray if I can worry.Only one can be properly done at a time successfully.Worry will get me nowhere just as much as a rocking chair will do.It will be a lot of activity,analysing,draining me of my strength to carry on having robbed me of my joy.
No .I am not going to go down that path!
It is always unprofitable(that's a lesson I have learnt over the years).Rather I choose to pray about this and trust God.After all,that was why Abraham was counted as righteous.
God wants to be trusted.
Trusted enough to believed and to be obeyed because the central issue in our walk with Him is a matter of trust.Every relationship is built and grows on trust.That is why the hymn writer,John Sammis in 1887 said "trust and obey".If we do not trust God,we cannot obey him.(obey him not to worry for a start!)
Take it to the Lord in prayer,He is able.
Continue to flourish,
Grace Tom-Lawyer.
I was just thinking about a present challenge some minutes ago and just as it seemed to be looming over my head and tears wanted to start trickling down ,I just heard whispered "take it to the Lord in prayer".I have heard those words somewhere before,hmm,from a hymn.So I decided to check on the internet for the lyrics as I could not remember the first line of the song.I checked for the verses and want to share some with you.
It is a familiar hymn song and though it has been on for centuries(written as a poem in 1855 by Joseph Scriven and composed as music by Charles Converse),the truths in it are timeless.
"What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged; Take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; Take it to the Lord in prayer."
You know it is one thing to think about a challenge and allow it to overwhelm you,it is another thing to believe the Lord as you wait for his promises in your life to come true.Most times the problem is not receiving the promises ,but being able to wait for it like Habakkuk says till it comes to pass.(Hab 2 v.2).I am always intrigued and need to remind myself that God has my best interests in mind.He is thinking about me constantly and He knows all I go through.
As I write this piece,I remind myself that God wants to be trusted by all of us his children.I should trust Him enough and not give in to worry.Trust Him enough to carry everything to Him in prayer because He cares.Why do I pray if I can worry.Only one can be properly done at a time successfully.Worry will get me nowhere just as much as a rocking chair will do.It will be a lot of activity,analysing,draining me of my strength to carry on having robbed me of my joy.
No .I am not going to go down that path!
It is always unprofitable(that's a lesson I have learnt over the years).Rather I choose to pray about this and trust God.After all,that was why Abraham was counted as righteous.
God wants to be trusted.
Trusted enough to believed and to be obeyed because the central issue in our walk with Him is a matter of trust.Every relationship is built and grows on trust.That is why the hymn writer,John Sammis in 1887 said "trust and obey".If we do not trust God,we cannot obey him.(obey him not to worry for a start!)
Take it to the Lord in prayer,He is able.
Continue to flourish,
Grace Tom-Lawyer.
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