The three 'R' of our Relationship

A time to Remember, Rejoice and Renew

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.  They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.  “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,

“Therefore I hope in Him!” - Lamentations 3:22-24

I have been married for more than three decades and in that time, although I think I know my spouse better than any other human being on planet Earth, there are still moments when I exclaim, "Why, I didn't know that about you!"

I am a hopeless romantic.  It was our 32nd wedding anniversary today.  It is a very good reason to celebrate.  For when we rejoice, it's not about the food and revelry, but in thanksgiving for a relationship that has withstood many trials and tribulations, and the test of time.  I marveled at this woman who has stood by me for 32 years.

I believe every journey is different.  We have been nice to each other and been a good friend - we make each other laugh most of the time, and wept together some time.

Our love for each other have been precious and has grown in time, especially when things were tough.  It was in those times, when love came through In laughing, in crying, our love stands true, our love still grows and deepens even more with hope in our hearts and trust in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Dr Karl Menninger - "One does not fall in love: one grows into love and love grows in him."

To the woman who has been my helpmate, my best friend and confidante, my rock of support, and of so many other good things that have come our way because of you, I just want to say I appreciate you, not only on this special day but all the other days of the year as well.

We’ve gain and lost some hair and pounds but it doesn’t matter really.  You’re still the same kind, gentle and wonderful person I’ve known from the time I first set my eyes on you.

So, I would like to say to you this day, my dear darling, ‘Happy 32nd Anniversary!

And may the good Lord continue to bless your life and our marriage abundantly and may we have many, many, many more Anniversaries to come! Amen.

SALT vs RICE

If you were to cook 3 cups of rice, would you add 3 cups of salt to it?  I certainly hope not!
So, in every preparation of rice, the rice always outnumbers the salt, yet a little salt makes a huge difference/impact in the overall outcome.

In the room in which you currently are, look up at the ceiling...  Yes, I said look up!  What is the size of the bulb compared to the size of the room?  In the room from which I typed this, my guesstimate is probably a ratio of 1:5000.  Yet, darkness flees the entire space once the small bulb is flipped on.

If I am the salt of the earth, and the light of the world, then "little me" has the ability to make big things happen.

Sometimes, because we feel outnumbered or overwhelmed at the sheer magnitude of evil or wrong-doers, we then choose powerlessness, and decide to go with the flow, not standing up for what we believe is right.

Stop it!  Little doesn't mean insignificant.  You are significant.  Your presence should make a BIG difference.  Stop waiting to be on the side of the majority.  They may be the majority, but they are the trivial majority, and you are the impactful minority.  They are the rice of the world, and you are the salt of the world.  They are the room, and you are the light.  Make your influence felt!

"You are the world's seasoning, to make it tolerable."

[Extract from : Archana Shastry

PoSH Consultant, NLP practitioner , Behavioural, Soft Skill]

True salt, which comes from the sea and dried under the sun and commonly called rock salt, has 72 natural minerals including natural sodium, chloride, and iodine.
Why salt? Because without salt the body cannot retain water no matter how much water is drunk. You will still be dehydrated because you will just keep urinating and sweating the water out.

Praise God for the furnace

Testing is difficult, but the result is often a deeper relationship with God.  Those who endure the testing of their faith will experience God's great rewards in the end.

Despair or misfortune is a great opportunity to test whether your faith is genuine or not. 

"The water is hot - put in the tea bag - "did this tea lose its taste because it went inside the hot water?  no, it probably revealed its true taste by being in the hot water. "

"Do not try to be strong in the midst of temptation."    Know your weakness.  The reason you are tempted is because you are weak.   In Scripture, it does not say to fight temptation, but to flee from or get out of it.

Christians mistakenly believe that when things go well, they are in God's will, but when things do not go well, they are not.  Remember, for every testimony of victory, transformed lives, and deliverances, there are ten more about martyrdom, anguish, and loss.

Just because God does not answer our prayers the way we think He should does not mean He is any less compassionate, loving, or sovereign.  Ultimately, it is not primarily about victory over your particular situation, but about His glory over the earth.

A.W. Tower once said, "Whom God would use greatly, He will hurt deeply."

God does not send trials to take away our joy but to increase our joy.

Just as fire purifies silver in the smelting process, trials refines our character.   They bring us a new and deeper wisdom, helping us discern truth from falsehood and giving us the discipline to do what we know is right.

Trials help us realize that life is a gift from God to be cherished not a right to be taken for granted. - Psalm 66:10-12