THANKS GOD FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY

CRYING IS ESSENTIAL PHENOMENON IN OUR LIFE

It is true that Crying is a more complicated process than one would at first imagine;

Is crying accepted in our society?

There are many culturally acceptable reasons to cry in society .The first accepted reason to cry is probably death. Grieving includes crying and often times it was believed that if someone did not cry is such event is looked as a witch; and at the same time women are visualized crying more than men traditionally, this implies that some culture defines where and when it is acceptable to cry and even determine the length of crying and mourning in the event of death of a love one;.

On the other hand crying is the outcome of our normal life style when someone is embarrassed or threatened, laughter can defuse the situation by deflecting the anger and accepting humiliation.  

All in all we need both laughter and tears to help us function in society. Crying relieves stress, reduces hormone and chemical levels in the body, and helps us return to a calm state. Laughter relieves stress, stimulates healing, exercises certain parts of the body, and helps in human bonding. That is why crying and laughing is beneficial to us both emotionally and physically.

CRYING AND BIBLE TEACHINGS?

The Bible through John 16:20-22: reminds us that “Verily, I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.”

Jesus, speaking here to his disciples, leaves them with a beautiful promise. He tells them He is going away, but He is not going to leave them comfortless as He plans to send the Holy Spirit. They later will cry at His departure, yet when they experience the new birth and the infilling of the Holy Spirit, they will rejoice.

The bible here teaches us that when we have a burden for others and become sorrowful over them, it is usually the Holy Spirit crying through us over the situation.

When we read 2 Corinthians 7:10, “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

What we can learn here is that if we cry in self-pity it brings depression and fear; but crying in the Spirit brings life and joy after it is finished. Just as a woman cries to bring forth a child during labor, yet she is rejoicing as soon as the child is born.

Also Psalm 126:5-6, tells us that “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” "In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me." Psalm 120:1,

The Bible helps us to understand that no matter a road you will take in looking in this matter  crying is the first step towards salvation, Jesus cried before our salvation, (his death) therefore ''Crying is a natural emotional response to certain feelings, usually sadness and hurt. BUT it opens deep inside ourselves and we think positively about creating a bridge of humiliation and Grace."

LENT RESOLUTIONS 2012

Do not do to others what angers you if done to you by others- Socrates

St Paul reminds us that through Roman 2:1: "Therefore you are inexcusable, O man. Whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things." We can often see our own faults more clearly in other people.

Our 2012 Lent resolutions we need to:

• ·        Be careful in when we  make our  judgment of others

•    Be Persevere in looking to God for help in making proper discernment

• ·   Be thoughtful when we treat others, treat them like we want to be  treated

The main focus here is that all these reflect what is true with most people; they know the rule, but don't live by it; we need to continue reading the Bible which teaches and forces us to live by it; Jesus was the only one who showed us an example of living by it and I conclude by saying that Jesus is truly our Lord, who wants us to live by the “golden rule" and he taught that the Golden Rule will govern   our life!

What about Doctrine of other Great philosophers looks the issue:

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•  In The Doctrine of the Mean 13, written about 500 BCE,Confucius says, "What you do not want others to do to you, do not do to others." 

•  Isocrates (c. 375 BCE) said, "Do not do to others what would anger you if done to you by others."

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• The Hindu Mahabharata, written around 150 BCE, teaches, "This is the sum of all true righteousness: deal with others as thou wouldst thyself be dealt by."

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•   I treat those who are good with goodness. And I also treat those who are not good with goodness. Thus goodness is attained. I am honest with those who are honest. And I am also honest with those who are dishonest. Thus honesty is attained. (Taoism. Tao Te Ching 49)

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•  Conquer anger by love. Conquer evil by good. Conquer the stingy by giving. Conquer the liar by truth. (Buddhism. Dhammapada 223)

The other different way to talk about “Do not do to others what angers you if done to you by others”

•     Think about this, if there is a certain type of behavior that you find especially irritating in others, you may have that same problem yourself. It's just that you can't see it when you do it.

•   What kind of behavior in others angers you most?  Is it greed? Selfishness? Aloofness? Or maybe laziness, prejudice, stubbornness or gossip? Think carefully, for in your answer may well be a clue to your own blind spot "for you who judge practice the same things."

How God can help us to walk with me in walking in a perfect way in judging others and feeling good about myself?

• ·  Jesus said. "With what judgment you judge, you will be judged: and with the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you" (Matt. 7:2). In other words, God will often see to it that you are treated the way you treat other people.

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•  Jacob was a young man of great talent and ability, but he had a serious fault: He would lie, connive and scheme to get his own way, without a thought for other people's feelings.

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•    Jacob deceived his father Isaac into blessing him, instead of his brother Esau, with the birthright. That incident split up the family and caused much suffering and ill will (Gen. 27).

Therefore God can also reveal your blind spot to you through circumstances.

FRIDAY THOUGHT

You never find yourself until you face the truth

You never find yourself until you face the truth; as Psalm verse 6 says "behold, you desire truth in the inner being, make me therefore to know wisdom in my innermost heart" this is a really powerful scripture because he is actually asking God to show him the truth about himself; as we know that the Creator is so powerful that He creates what cannot be understood by the mind. No one can evaluate God's power.

The truth is such a powerful thing John 1; 5 reminds that “In him was Life, and the life was the light of men.
And the light shines on in darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it” this teaches us that   darkness has never overpowered the light, the only truth about ourself will set us free

What we need is to ask God to reveal to us what we need to improve on because we love the darkness. If we come into the light our wickedness will be exposed. We feel like we're standing naked in front of everyone. We prefer to remain ignorant to our own sin.

In other words we are helpless.' May God send the light of understanding and knowledge into our hearts.

Good thing God is never far away therefore   'Whoever knows himself, will know his Lord.' if you do not see your Lord, it means that you still do not know yourself. If you reach a level where you know your Lord, it means that you have come to know yourself. But if you do not even know the self that is within you how are you going to know the God?

You have to know this nothing can move if God does not want it to move. No one can speak if God does not want him to speak. No one can do anything if God does not make him do it. The truth is that everything is from Him. You never find yourself until you face the truth, and when you accepted and affected a complete surrender to God's Will, and then you will face the truth and be blessed.