When I was a teenager I was looking forward to when I will grow up and be independent, taking full charge of my affairs. Then the issue of marriage came and I was quite excited about it, thinking of the much fun I was going to have, sharing all my moments with the one I love. I couldn’t wait for the it, I already had all worked out. The size of my family, the kind of family lifestyle we were going to live (modest but unique in all ways). My children were going to have the best of education.
All has gone on well, at least not too far from what I had on the drawing board, but not without challenges, which we were able to surmount. Thanks to the grace of God.
Yes, thanks to the grace of God. The saying that the higher you go the hotter it becomes is an undisputable fact of life. Life after Forty (40) could be very challenging not only from the financial angle, as one used to think that was the most important issue on man’s mind, but from challenges based on family issues, realities of life, responsibility towards others, maintaining the standard you have set in life (conflicts between your spiritual belief and life situations you face daily). Keeping your children on track and preparing them for their great opportunities in life, maintaining good relations both in your business or employment, and your larger family, to ensure you have a secured future.
At times handling these issues requires more than your intelligence, will, or charisma, you need something greater, something you may not ordinarily possess, but only when given to you by the Almighty Omnipotent God. You need the Holy Spirit, for divine wisdom to understand the issues before you, to help you accept things you cannot change and change situations you can really change by the grace of God. To help you deal with issues and people fairly and justly without been unfair to yourself.
We need the partnership of the Holy Spirit in this business of “Living” or else we will always be overwhelmed by the situations we come to meet daily, be it at our place of work, or within our immediate family, our parents and the larger family, in our neighbourhood or even in the House of God. Keeping in touch with God’s word, that is, reading The Holy Bible, attending mass every Sunday and every time you are opportune to and keeping good relationships are some of the ways you can maintain your relationship with Christ to enjoy the partnership of the Holy Spirit in your life.
So next time you are faced with any situation bigger than you or anyone (as the case may be) remember to call on your partner, the Holy Spirit, before you respond to the situation, remark, or even take a decision.
Doing this, you will be a conqueror! A winner in the Lord.
I have been thinking a great deal about my experience at Reconciliation this past Saturday. I felt an intense and unexplainable urge to go and confess my sins when I woke up that morning. I try to go every six weeks or so, but this was no routine visit to the priest for me. I needed to unburden myself of the numerous venial sins I had committed since I last participated in this Sacrament.
Purest Gold: God's Refining Fire in our Lives »
After salvation, many young Christians wonder if there's anything more to their newfound faith than just the security blanket of "being a Christian." Time and time again, God shows himself as a "refiner," and our lives are as gold. God started leading me in this study to understand what He was doing in my life, as well as in the lives of others.
Picking up my pen to write this column, I couldn’t imagine how time flies. Since the last publication of this column I have gone through a lot, especially the loss of my dear mother to whom I dedicate this article. Not only her, but seems I lost a whole generation of my close family.
How to Achieve Business Excellence »
“Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before Kings; He will not stand before unknown men.” Proverbs 22:29
Spiritual Development for our Youth »
Most of us youth in today's fast moving world are easily thrown off by difficulties and worries.
The theme of conversion is a thread that runs all through Lent, but conversion takes on different aspects throughout the phases of Lent. The first two and a half weeks focused on the interior turning of hearts; the liturgy urges the faithful to reflect and examine consciences thoroughly.
Saint Josephine Bakhita »
Feast Day: February 8
Patron Saint Of: Sudan
Saint Josephine Margaret Bakhita was born around 1869 in the village of Olgossa in the Darfur region of Sudan. She was a member of the Daju people and her uncle was a tribal chief. Due to her family lineage, she grew up happy and relatively prosperous, saying that as a child, she did not know suffering.
Catholics Must Fast More Intensely This Lent»
The Norbertine Canons of St. Michael's Abbey have created this digital Lenten retreat so that you can journey through this holy season alongside them. If you want to have one of your best Lenten seasons yet, join us in our Lenten Program "The Great Fast" - https://theabbotscircle.com/the-great-fast-join
When Your Faith Is Put to the Test - Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon»
Friends, we come now to the Second Sunday of Lent, and we’re on both dangerous and very holy ground with the first reading from the twenty-second chapter of Genesis. The ancient Israelites referred to it as the “Akedah,” which means the “binding”: Abraham binds and is ready to sacrifice Isaac at God’s command.
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