Dr. Ben Carson

The 1 guy you need to listen to: Dr. Ben Carson
World Net Daily Commentary by Star Parker.
Posted: December 29, 20071:00 a.m. Eastern

In the midst of year-end craziness – taking care of my organization's year-closing business and doing Christmas shopping – I didn't anticipate that I'd find time to read a new book. But when I saw Dr. Ben Carson's, "Take the Risk: Learning to Identify, Choose, and Live with Acceptable Risk," I couldn't resist.

I spotted the slim volume while gift shopping in a bookstore. But it wasn't the catchy title that caused me to pick it up. It was the author. I already knew Ben Carson's remarkable story. I read his first book "Gifted Hands" 10 years ago. After I read it, I gave it to my kids and insisted that they read it.

As a young kid, as Carson tells the story, he was a failing student and earned the name "Dummy" from his classmates.
His mother saw what was happening, and out of fear that her two sons would lead the way into yet another generation in poverty, she took action. She told her boys that she would pray for the wisdom for what to do.

Her prayers were answered, but the boys weren't particularly thrilled to hear their Mom's new-found guidance. They were told that the extent of their television watching each week would be three shows of their choice. And, that each would read two books a week and give her a written report on both.

This was the beginning of a change that set young Ben's life on a new course.
One thing Ben and his brother didn't know: When his Mom looked over and checked off their weekly book reports, she wasn't actually reading them. Ben's Mom's education stopped at the third grade, and she couldn't read.

Carson went on to become one of the world's most sought-after pediatric neurosurgeons, known for his boldness and creativity.

He has written a number of books in which he shares both his story and philosophy. He is a man of deep faith who believes in both individual responsibility and individual uniqueness. As he sees it, these elements are crucial for individual success, but also to maintain the greatness of our country.

I believe that Carson's message is particularly powerful and relevant to the challenges facing Americans today, poor and rich, white and black.
Here are a few snippets I've extracted from a lengthy interview done with Carson by the Academy of Achievement, in which he was inducted a number of years ago:

Growing up poor and "at risk": "Once I recognized that I had the ability to pretty much map out my own future based on the choices that I made and the degree of energy that I put into it, life was wonderful at that point. I used to hate my life up until that point because I hated being poor."

Priorities: "The most important thing to me is taking your God-given talents and developing them to the utmost, so that you can be useful to your fellow man."
God and America: "(God) has become an essential part of my life and my being. ... When we created this nation, we believed in God. ... I believe that's one of the reasons ... we got to be so great, so quickly."

In his new book, Carson discusses his approach to dealing with risk, a core issue for exercising personal responsibility. He has a simple but effective approach that amounts to examining the best and worst outcomes that can result from a given course of action.
Carson's story and message lays bare what makes Americans and America great and makes

clear what we need to focus on to stay this way. It's worth checking out.
Happy New Year.
 

Personal responsibility: "My mother was a person who would never accept an excuse from my brother or myself. It didn't matter what the situation was. If you came with an excuse, she would also say, 'Do you have a
brain?' After a while it became clear to us that no excuse was acceptable, so we became pretty creative."

Family: "The more solid the family foundation, the more likely you are to be able to resist peer pressure. Human beings are social creatures. We all want to belong, we all have that desire. If the family doesn't provide that, the peers will, or the gang will."

Carson is director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions and a professor of neurosurgery, plastic surgery, oncology and pediatrics. He also sits on the boards of several major corporations and is a noted philanthropist. He is also one of a handful of black pediatric neurosurgeons in the world.

He grew up penniless in the slums of Detroit and Boston, raised by a single mother who worked as a domestic, often working three jobs at a time.

Christmas, the eternal spring of God's heart

Almond tree blossom

As people celebrate Christmas with all the symbols regardless of the exact time and year of God's divine condescension among us, this is what this season represents to me as a reality.

As I was reflecting upon the incarnation of our Savior Christ Jesus as the supreme gift of our Heavenly Father to mankind, I could not help but thinking of the limited perspective that we sometimes have of the infinite measure of all of God’s attributes and works in the vast universe He created but also in each of our lives.

The first thing I consider when I ponder the miracle of the supernatural birth of Christ is that God chose to manifest His presence in the flesh as a seed of the Holy Spirit in the chosen womb of Mary.

Imagine a little! The creator and sustainer of the endless universe becoming a frail human being Himself subject to the natural law of human birth.

What is amazing is that as we follow the course of His birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension and His coming back to take His own faithful ones to reign with Him, the same characteristic stages apply to us who have experienced the second spiritual birth and have passed from death to life, from the kingdom of darkness into His marvelous light. As the mature tree is essentially contained in the seed just waiting to develop through the different stages of growth, so was the life of the Lord Jesus and so is everyone of our lives.

An illustration from the sharing of presents on Christmas day comes to my mind. Imagine one of the present being a huge box with someone’s name on it. The person feverishly tears off the paper hoping to discover a big present that will provide a level of satisfaction commensurate to his perceived size. But as the box reveals another smaller box hidden under the packing peanuts, he suspects someone is playing a joke on him as he realizes from the sheer weight of the box. As he keeps on opening another box, then another one, he finally opens the last tiny box and no matter what the value of the present, it leaves him or her with a sense of unfulfilled expectation and diminished satisfaction. Here in brief is how the acquiring and enjoying of material things which are supposed to fulfill our lives from the cradle to the grave end up being a great disappointment and a snare in the end. Not so with the present from our God, the free gift of salvation available to any one willing to accept it. To the contrary,imagine that you received the gift of God in a small box. After receiving and opening the gift,once your life is changed by that spiritual tiny seed, you realize that as you grow, the gift keeps on growing as you learn and mature into eternal everlasting life, the box of our life, so to speak, getting bigger and bigger.

Now considering another angle to giving and sharing presents.
Jesus talking about greed said that life doesn’t consist in the abundance of things. Luke 12:15.And He told the people to not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21.

Jesus is not only talking about treasures, but incorruptible treasures! What is He talking about? He is talking about treasures that have their beginning as an intangible seed beginning here on the earth and continuing in Heaven and/or enjoying all the stages of the growth of the seed in two dimensions simultaneously, in the physical body while at the same time in the invisible realm of the spirit.

In the Bible we can find several mentions of this manifestation of life as encapsulated in the title of Our Lord who is the Alpha, the beginning and Omega, the end and of course everything in between.
We can find the image of the seed in I Peter 1:23. “For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is through the living and abiding word of God.”Isaiah 9:6-7 promise of the coming Messiah follows this development: "for a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us, and the government will rest upon His shoulders…there will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace."

To give another perspective to our modern misguided interpretation of authority, let’s look at the test of authority as it applies to governing a people. To resolve the problem of questioning of Aaron the high priest's leadership by the other leaders of Israel, God caused Aaron’s rod, sign of his authority to instantly sprout, put forth buds and bear ripe almonds, Numbers 17:8. And the best of it is that it started from a piece of dead wood. Here in a nut shell, we have a transformation (resurrection), new birth and growth, a flowering branch and a mature nut ready for nourishment. Now real and good authority consists in extracting the nut out the shell without crushing the nut. Why would God choose an almond branch out of all the possibilities? I have my own thoughts on the questions. As an aside, it is a good lesson in the discipline of children. If we want almond paste mixed with hard bits and pieces of shell mixed together, then we can crush the entire almond with brute force. If we want to raise emotionally and spiritually healthy children we need to apply discipline with the wise and loving, but firm instruction provided by God, breaking the strong will, but not crushing the spirit. Thus the seed will grow into maturity and produce a good fruit or a good nut in this case!

An example of this kind of authority in the New Testament is found in the person of Paul so many times misunderstood by many detractors in our time. In II Corinthians 13:10, Paul who loved and cared for his spiritual children writes to them: "For this reason I am writing these things while absent in order that when present I may not use severity in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me, for building up and not for tearing down."

This love and wisdom are part of the incorruptible treasures that Christ talks about in Matthew.
Talking about Christ, Isaiah 33:6 declares: “He will be a sure foundation for our times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge: The fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.” This love which starts as a spiritual seed planted by the Holy Spirit Himself in the hearts of men who have received Him on His terms is ever expanding and revealing the loving heart of our Heavenly Father at this time of the year and all year long.

Paul prays for the Ephesians in Ephesians 3:14-17 that: "He would grant you according to the riches of His glory to be strengthened with power through His spirit in the inner man so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith and that you being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God." This is also my prayer for all of us today and for the coming year.

Contrary to the philosophy of this passing and dying world, the present of eternal life in Christ Jesus starts as a tiny seed that contains all that is necessary to fulfill the purpose for which our Father and Creator put us on this earth.

I invite you to remember this season with grateful and humble hearts, that the tiniest and most humble manifestation of life, a human seed, a tiny baby in his or her mother's womb is infinitely precious and worthy of protection and nurturing because it was made in God’s image. Psalm 139.

So this Christmas season until the beginning of 2008 and beyond, I invite you also to reflect not only on the baby Jesus in the arms of Mary, but to let our hearts and minds expand our panorama onto other amazing dimensions of life and their meaning and consider all the stages of the life of the Savior in His birth, His death, His resurrection, His going back into the glory of Heaven and His coming back to give us glorified bodies, for we have already been resurrected if we have been born again, starting as a tiny seed wrapped up in a small and fragile package that we all are, as pilgrims on this earth.

Jean-Louis.

Cântico Novo no Deserto

JA QUE NOS SABEMOS
Original em espanhol dezembro 2004.

Dedicado a todos meus irmãos cristãos

Já que nós sabemos que Nosso Deus é um fogo consumidor
Que a palavra dEle é como um martelo e uma flama
Aceitemos o quebrantamento e o fogo da aflição da Sua mão,
Não resistamos a obra de purificação do Espírito Santo
Ele deseja que removemos os ídolos do nosso coração
Para nós exaltarmos Ele no trono do nosso ser interior.
Já que nós sabemos que Ele mandou Seu profeta Ezequías
O qual infundiu o soplo de vida dentro dos ossos mortos e secos
Duvidáremos que Ele possui o poder de juntar
Os que Ele tem dispersados?

Já que nós sabemos que Ele não fala conosco só individualmente
Mas primeiramente para edificar o Seu corpo inteiro
Duvidáremos que Ele tem nos reunidos neste tempo
Para adorar Ele em espírito e em verdade
E servir Ele com a alegria que nos concede?

Já que nós sabemos que Ele olha e ouve nosso sufrimento e aflição
E que Ele mora dentro dos louvores do seu povo
Enquanto nós estamos reunidos em Nome dEle
Permitindo que o Espírito Santo nos purifique
Quando nós entregarmos e nos rendermos
Por meio da adoracão devida à Sua majestade
Não nós enviará a Sua palavra para nos refrescar,
A Sua palavra poderosa para sarar nossas feridas
E restaurar dentro de nos o gozo da Sua salvação?
 
Já que nós sabemos que Ele vim para liberar os encadeados
E que onde está presente o Espírito dEle, há libertade
Ele não quebrará as cadeias que nos impede de experimentar
A plenitude da Sua bendita presença?

Já que nós sabemos que abundam a Sua graça e Sua misericordia
Não nos devolverá nosso primeiro amor por Ele
Pondo nossos pés sobre um caminho seguro?
Já que nós sabemos que Ele nos chama:
“Vem, agora é o tempo da minha salvação”
Não responderemos com fé, confiança e obediencia
Seguindo o Espírito e entrando na agua que flui do Seu trono
Não só até os tornozelos, nem até os joelhos
Mas sumergindo nos sem reticência
No rio do Seu Espírito
Pare Ele nos tornar saudáveis e inteiros?

Já que sabemos que só os que bebem da água da vida
Poderão partilhar Sua vida com outros ,
Recordemos da mulher samaritana na fonte de Sicar
Estamos com sede? Então, nos acerquemos e bebemos livremente
Da água que não custa nada
E Ele satisfará nossa sede até transbordar
Sempre abençoando todos os demais
Para Sua honra e gloria.

YA QUE SABEMOS

Ya que sabemos que nuestro Dios es un fuego consumidor,
Que Su Palabra es como un martillo y una llama,
Aceptamos el quebrantamiento y el fuego de la aflicción de su mano,
No resistamos a la obra de purificación del Espíritu Santo.
El desea que saquemos los ídolos de nuestro corazón,
Para exaltarle a Él en el trono interior de nuestro ser.

¿Ya que sabemos que Él mandó Su profeta Ezequiel,
Que infundió la vida dentro de los huesos secos,
Dudaremos que pueda reunir
Los que ha dispersado?

¿Ya que sabemos que Él no nos habla sólo individualmente,
Pero también como a Su cuerpo entero,
Dudaremos que Él nos ha reunido en este tiempo,
Para adorarlo en espíritu y en verdad,
Y servirle con alegría?

¿Ya que sabemos que Él ve y oye nuestra pena y aflicción,
Y que vive en la alabanza de su pueblo,
Mientras que nos reunimos en Su nombre,
Permitiendo que Su Espíritu nos purifique,
Cuando nos entregamos y nos rendimos,
Mediante la alabanza y adoración hacia su majestad,
No nos enviará su Palabra para refrescarnos,
Para vendar nuestras heridas,
Y restaurarnos con el gozo de Su salvación?

¿Ya que sabemos que Él vino para liberar los encadenados,
Y que donde está el Espíritu, hay libertad,
No romperá la esclavitud que nos impide experimentar
La plenitud de su bendita presencia?

¿Ya que sabemos que abundan Su gracia y misericordia,
No nos devolverá nuestro primer amor por El,
Poniendo nuestro pies en un sendero seguro?

Ya que sabemos que Él nos llama:
“Venid, ahora es el tiempo de la salvación”,
no responderemos con fe, confianza y obediencia,
siguiéndolo y entrando en el agua que fluye de Su trono,
no solamente hasta los tobillos, ni hasta las rodillas,
Pero sumergiéndonos sin reserva,
En el río de Su Espíritu,
Para que Él nos haga sanos y enteros?

Ya que sabemos que solamente los que toman del agua de la vida
Podrán compartir Su vida con otros,
Recordémonos de la mujer samaritana en el pozo de Sicar.
¿Tenemos sed? Entonces, acerquémonos y tomemos libremente
el agua que no cuesta nada
y Él satisfará nuestra sed hasta que rebosemos,
bendiciendo a todos los demás.
Para su honra y gloria.

Meu lápis na mão de Deus

Lessons from the Threshing Floor

Julho 2004

Dedicado a  minha fiel companheira de viagem 

Mirian Raquel.

Meu lápis tem duas pontas,
Uma para escrever, a outra para apagar.

Lá, em frente de mim, me olha uma página,

Em branco, ainda sem letras.

Tomando meu tempo, tenho que refletir

Qual dos caminhos vou seguir?

Ambas pontas do meu lápis são usadas.

A que escreve pode contar muitas histórias.

A que apaga não se lembra delas.

São opostas, mas boas amigas.

A que apaga o passado,

Depende da outra para seu destino.

Portanto, a de trás aconselha a da frente:

“Tenha cuidado, minha amiga daqui por diante,

Porque a minha vida é mais curta que a sua.

Que fará com seu passado, com a sua confusão,

Quando os meus dias vencerão?

Quando chegar minha hora, terá que viver com ela”.

Ah, meu Deus, a minha borracha é temporal,

Mas a tua é eterna, meu Pai Celestial,

Agradeço-te porque com tua piedade, me perdoa,

Com teu amor e tua verdade, tu manténs minha vida.

Ensina-me a bem contar os meus dias,

para alcançar um coração sábio,

Um coração suave como o teu.

Guia o que sobra do meu lápis com tua mão divina,

Escrevendo nesta página branca

O que ja tens escrito desde há muito tempo,

Segundo teu plano eterno e tua vontade perfeita,

Para que não tinha que servir-me mais

Da outra parte do meu lápis

Para apagar os momentos doloridos

Da minha memória tenaz.

De agora em diante,

Desejo usar o resto do meu lápis para escrever

O que vais à cumprir sobre esta página branca:

Maravilhas reais e esplêndidas.

Meus sonhos vazios nunca mais seguirei,

Nem me forjar castelos de areia tentarei,

Senão a realidade do presente vivirei,

Na esperança que traz um futuro

Passado em tua presença e em teu serviço.

Jean-Louis

Salmo 27 de David.

O amanhecer visto de minha janela

Confiança inteira em Deus


O SENHOR é a minha luz e a minha salvação; de quem terei temor?
O SENHOR é o meu forte refúgio; de quem terei medo? ....

Uma coisa pedi ao SENHOR; é o que procuro:
que eu possa viver na casa do SENHOR
todos os dias da minha vida,
para contemplar a bondade do SENHOR
e buscar sua orientação no seu templo.

Pois no dia da adversidade
ele me guardará protegido em sua habitação;

no seu tabernáculo me esconderá
e me porá em segurança sobre um rochedo.

Então triunfarei sobre os inimigos que me cercam.
Em seu tabernáculo oferecerei sacrifícios com aclamações;
cantarei e louvarei ao SENHOR.

Ouve a minha voz quando clamo, ó SENHOR;
tem misericórdia de mim e responde-me.
A teu respeito diz o meu coração: Busque a minha face!
A tua face, SENHOR, buscarei...

Ensina-me o teu caminho, SENHOR;
conduze-me por uma vereda segura
por causa dos meus inimigos...

Apesar disso, esta certeza eu tenho:
viverei até ver a bondade do SENHOR na terra.

Espere no SENHOR. Seja forte!

Coragem! Espere no SENHOR.

Amem?!

Let your light shine before men

Written and posted by Jean-Louis.

Lift up your heads O gates
And be lifted up, O ancient doors
That the King of Glory may come in
Who is the King of Glory?
The LORD strong and mighty
The LORD mighty in battle.
The LORD of hosts
He is the King of glory. Psalm 24:7,8.

Christ Jesus our Lord is the light of the world.

In His ministry that He has given us to one another and to the world, He has chosen, called and gifted some in the body of believers (Pastors, Elders, Deacons) to be strong, high, stationary light houses and harbor lights at the entrance and in the harbor, (green and red traffic warning lights) visible to all who come into the range of their beams of light. They scatter the light in broad patterns so that when we come in and go out we may see the goal, direction, relative positions of our boats and what is directly in our path.

He has also gifted others to be more focused, flexible, pin pointed beams of light such as the fiber optic endoscope equipped with light that a surgeon uses to examine the inside of the human body.

The purpose of this instrument is to diagnose the nature, the condition, and the position of the weak or sick part that needs attention in order for the whole body to be strong and to function as He intended it to function.

In contrast to the highly visible ministry of the lighthouses and the harbor lights, the ministry of the intensely focused beams of light is hidden, although important and absolutely necessary. 

When somehow, the devil has wanted to sift you and you have gone through trials and tribulations, and temporary failings of your faith under the weight of relentless spiritual attacks, then you understand the heavy burden of being an intercessor for lost people and other believers in the family of Christ. 

In Psalm 51:7-13. King David declares: 

Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have broken rejoice. 9Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities. 10Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right^b spirit within me. 11Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. 13Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.

 

Lord Jesus teaching His disciples:“…and you are those who have stood by Me in my trials
…Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers". Luke 22:28-33.

One of the reasons He has raised us as a lighthouse to show the way of Salvation to people drowning in the ocean without a chance of surviving the storms and a house of prayer,  individually and corporately is that:

as we lift up to the Father the affected areas that the Holy Spirit reveals to us, He will cleanse us “by the washing of the water with His Word”. He will remove them (spiritual surgery) and heal them to allow His light to shine more brightly and more intensely in us and cause His glory to be manifested through us.

Let us pray fervently that His light may increase in brilliance in our Pastors, other leaders, and in every believer so that their sphere of influence may reach farther into the areas of darkness that the enemy has in our communities, and "in such a way that men may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven". Matthew 5:16.

Jean-Louis. I995.

Willing Heart

Once I stumbled in the darkness
doing only as I pleased,
But, I wasn't really happy
And, my heart was not at ease,
I just didn't have the willingness
to follow His commands
'Til I layed my heart completely in His hands.
If you don't have a willing heart,
Ask Him to give you one...
If you can't seem to make a start,
Trust in His power…For the Lord of Love is watching you,
He sees what you're going through,
And, He can make a way,
If you want Him to...
Oh, do you want Him to?
... Then, tell Him so.
Kelly Willard/Willing Heart Music/copyright 1980 http://www.kellywillard.com/musicclips/hrt-willing_heart-demo.mp3

Viens dans mon jardin

(La Fleur du Bien)
Written and posted by Jean-Louis. 2007.

Dédié à ma meilleure amie et merveilleuse fiancée Mírian Raquel, la grande inspiration de ma vie.

A l’aube d’un jour nouveau,
Alors qu’encore je rêvais,

Contemplant l'aube vermeille
Mon Père, le Maître Jardinier,
me tira de mon sommeil
en me priant de l’accompagner.

Descendons dans mon jardin, me dit-il,
Nous nous y promènerons là, où l’air
Exhale son parfum subtil
Éclaboussant de lumière,
Les sentiers en tons éphémères.

Ensemble nous nous réjouirons
sur cette terre, ta demeure
ma belle et bonne création.

Là, je te montrerais la fleur la plus belle,
Celle qui croît au soleil
D’un amour sans pareil,
Celui de mon bien-aimé
Jésus notre Seigneur.

La douce chaleur des rayons
Emanant de ses yeux si bons,
Appelle les humbles de cœur,
Et guérit même les plus meurtris.

Sa fragile beauté jamais ne se flétrit,
Car la source qui la nourrit,
Jamais ne se tarit. 

Jean-Louis. Original Circa 1976.

REFLECCION PARA EL 2008

- Un dia un maestro preguntó a sus alumnos: ¿Porqué la gente se grita cuando estan enfadados? - Todos pensaron unos momentos: - Porque perdemos la calma - dijo uno - por eso gritamos.- - Pero ¿Porqué gritar cuando la otra persona está junto a ti?. - No es posible hablarle en voz baja? ¿porqué gritar cuando estás enfadado?. - Cada uno dió una respuesta que no satisfacía al maestro. - Finalmente él explicó: - Cuando dos personas están enfadadas, sus corazones se alejan mucho. Para cubrir esa distancia deben gritar para poder escucharse. Mientras más enfadados están, más fuerte tendrán que gritar para escucharse el uno al otro, a través de esa gran distancia. - ¿Que sucede cuando dos personas se enamoran? No gritan sino que se hablan suavemente, ¿por qué?... Sus corazones estan muy cerca. - La distancia entre ellos es muy pequeña. - Cuando se enamoran más aún, que sucede? No hablan, sólo susurran y se vuelven aún más cerca en su amor. Finalmente no necesitan ni susurrar, sólo se miran y eso es todo. Asi es, cuan cerca están dos personas cuando se aman. - Cuando discutan, no dejen que sus corazones se alejen, no digan palabras que los distancien más, llegará un día en que la distancia será tan grande que no encontrarán más el camino de regreso. Autor no conocido.

Saudades e Lembranças - Autor Desconhecido

Ano de publição 2007

 

Podem parecer sinônimos. Idéia igual, mas diferente no sentir.

 

Lembrança é da memória, saudade é da alma.

Muitas lembranças, poucas saudades.

 

Lembranças surgem com um cheiro,uma música, uma palavra.

 

Saudade surge sozinha, emerge do fundo do peito onde é guardada com carinho.

 

Lembrança pode ser boa, mas quando não é, pode-se afastá-la convocando outra lembrança ou convocando outro pensamento para o lugar, ligando a TV ou lendo o jornal.

 

Saudade é sempre boa, mesmo quando dói, e não se apaga mesmo que outra pessoa tente ocupar o lugar vazio.Ela pode coexistir com um novo amor, sem machucá-lo. 

 

Lembrança é de algo real, de um lugar, uma época, uma pessoa.

 

Saudade pode ser do que não houve, de uma possibilidade,de lábios jamais tocados.

 

Lembrança pode ser contada, medida, localizada, e com algum esforço,

pode até ser calculada com uma fórmula matemática,ao gosto dos engenheiros

.

Saudade é dos poetas, é pautada em rimas e melodias;vontade de ver outra pessoa, segundo os poetas, teria outro nome, seria uma saudade com tempero, eu acho,

 

Lembrança pode ser sem som, pode não doer.

 

Saudade jamais é sem som.Se ela não vier com música de fundo, a gente coloca, só para ficar mais bonita, mais gostosa de sentir,para preencher mais a alma vazia.

 

Lembrança vence a morte, mas conforma-se com a ausência, respeita convenções.

 

Saudade ignora a morte, vence distâncias, barreiras e preconceitos.

Lembrança aceita nosso comando, vai e volta quando queremos.

 

Saudade é irreverente, independente e auto suficiente. 

 

Gosto mais da saudade! E você? 

 

Autor desconhecido

La petite agnelle égarée

Leçons de l’aire de battage.

"Si vous gardez mes commandements, vous demeurerez dans mon amour, de même que j’ai gardé les commandements de mon Père, et que je demeure dans son amour.11 Je vous ai dit ces choses, afin que ma joie soit en vous, et que votre joie soit parfaite.12 C’est ici mon commandement : Aimez–vous les uns les autres, comme je vous ai aimés.13 Il n’y a pas de plus grand amour que de donner sa vie pour ses amis." Jean 15:10-13

"Je suis la porte. Si quelqu’un entre par moi, il sera sauvé ; il entrera et il sortira, et il trouvera des pâturages. 10 Le voleur ne vient que pour dérober, égorger et détruire ; moi, je suis venu afin que les brebis aient la vie, et qu’elles soient dans l’abondance.11 Je suis le bon berger. Le bon berger donne sa vie pour ses brebis. 12 Mais le mercenaire, qui n’est pas le berger, et à qui n’appartiennent pas les brebis, voit venir le loup, abandonne les brebis, et prend la fuite ; et le loup les ravit et les disperse. 13 Le mercenaire s’enfuit, parce qu’il est mercenaire, et qu’il ne se met point en peine des brebis. 14 Je suis le bon berger. Je connais mes brebis, et elles me connaissent 27. Mes brebis entendent ma voix ; je les connais, et elles me suivent. 28 Je leur donne la vie éternelle ; et elles ne périront jamais, et personne ne les ravira de ma main".Jean 10:9-28

 

"Quel homme d’entre vous, s’il a cent brebis, et qu’il en perde une, ne laisse les quatre–vingt–dix–neuf autres dans le désert pour aller après celle qui est perdue, jusqu’à ce qu’il la retrouve ?5 Lorsqu’il l’a retrouvée, il la met avec joie sur ses épaules,6 et, de retour à la maison, il appelle ses amis et ses voisins, et leur dit : Réjouissez–vous avec moi, car j’ai retrouvé ma brebis qui était perdue". Luc 15:4-6.

 

Cher lecteur, si tu ne connais pas encore le Seigneur Jesus voici son invitation pour toi personnellement . Si tu cherches ton chemin, si tu te sens accable et a bout de forces a force de lutter en vain, ecoute la voix de Dieu qui t'appelle pour te donner la vie eternelle. Simplement, demande-lui de t'aider et il te repondra.

"Venez à moi, vous tous qui êtes fatigués et chargés, et je vous donnerai du repos. 29 Prenez mon joug sur vous et recevez mes instructions, car je suis doux et humble de cœur ; et vous trouverez du repos pour vos âmes.30 Car mon joug est doux, et mon fardeau léger". Matthieu 11:28-30

"Jésus leur répondit : Ma doctrine n’est pas de moi, mais de celui qui m’a envoyé.17 Si quelqu’un veut faire sa volonté, il connaîtra si ma doctrine est de Dieu, ou si je parle de mon chef.18 Celui qui parle de son chef cherche sa propre gloire ; mais celui qui cherche la gloire de celui qui l’a envoyé, celui–là est vrai, et il n’y a point d’injustice en lui". Jean 7:16-18.

 
Bê…bê…bê! Ce bêlement à déchirer le cœur fit sursauter le jeune berger à moitié assoupi sur l’herbe du talus d’où il avait l'habitude de garder l’œil sur les chèvres et les moutons à la ferme de son frère ainé. Encore plongé dans ses rêveries coutumières, il se redressa et jeta un regard inquiet jusqu’au bas des pâturages clôturés pour séparer les chèvres des moutons. Le troupeau de moutons formait de petits groupes, certains reposant paisiblement sur l’herbe, d’autres avalant encore une dernière bouchée avant de joindre les autres pour ruminer. Il n’arrivait pas à localiser exactement l’endroit d’où le bêlement d’agneau venait, mais il pouvait percevoir que le signal de détresse provenait du bocage à la lisière de la forêt.

Alors qu’il se dirigeait en courant vers les cris incessants, d’une intensité poignante, ses pensées retournèrent à l’aube de ce matin d’été quand l’automne précédent, vers les six heures du matin, il avait été réveillé en sursaut par un concert effroyable d’appels au secours qui ne pouvaient signifier qu’une chose. Les chèvres qui passaient les nuits chaudes dehors se trouvaient dans un danger dont il ne connaissait ni l’origine, ni la gravité. Une fois la barrière levée, il avait découvert plusieurs chèvres avec la gorge ensanglantée non loin de la protection de l’étable qu’elles avaient essayé d’atteindre, trébuchant à cause de leur faiblesse, sur le sentier rempli de mares de sang éparpillées.

 Il n’en croyait pas ses yeux, ses chèvres favorites, bien qu’ils les connaissaient toutes par leur nom et leur personnalité, remontaient la pente hors d’haleine, apparemment essayant d’échapper à un sinistre encore inconnu. Il conclut qu’il ne pouvait s’agir que d’une chose, à en voir les blessures à la gorge de ses doux animaux. C’était la signature incontestable d’un loup ou d’un chien sauvage qui avait sauté la clôture et qui avait semé la panique dans le troupeau. Celles qui ne présentaient aucune blessure avaient de fortes cornes dont elles s’étaient servies pour se défendre.

Hélas, comme il s’approchait de la barrière entrouverte par la pression du troupeau effrayé, il avait eu beaucoup de peine à refouler les larmes lorsqu’il comprit la raison de ce carnage. Trois chiens dont l’un était son propre berger allemand mixte courraient encore après les pauvres chèvres qui tournaient à l’intérieur du périmètre de la clôture sans pouvoir trouver la sortie. Effrayées, épuisées, elles tombaient l’une après l’autre sous les dents acérées des gros chiens tout en laissant échapper de leur cou déchiré et éparpillant sur la prairie des flots de sang giclant dans toute les directions, dans l’air frais du petit matin.

Une colère soudaine s’était emparée de lui et sans même réfléchir, il avait commencé à ramasser toutes les pierres qu’il pouvait trouver et comme il était bon tireur, entrainé dans son pays natal à viser des boites de conserves, il atteint les chiens qui commencèrent à se retourner contre lui d’un air menaçant. Il décidait alors de repousser les prédateurs avec le bâton qu’il avait emmené avec lui. Finalement voyant que les survivantes s’étaient enfuies, les deux chiens méchants avaient de nouveau sauté la clôture et avaient disparu. En tout, sept chèvres étaient mortes et de nombreuses autres blessées.

Plus tard, dans la journée il avait posé des pièges à loup avec de la viande fraiche pour attirer et capturer les rottweilers qui s’étaient échappés de la maison de leur propriétaire et qui courraient la campagne depuis trois jours en quête de nourriture.

La réalité de cet horrible incident était encore bien présente dans son esprit, mais heureusement, il se calma immédiatement car le troupeau ne présentait aucun signe de danger imminent. Sa seule inquiétude venait des bêlements désespérés de la petite agnelle qu’il aperçut dans un coin de la clôture. Jetant un regard autour de lui, il ne put discerner aucun danger visible. Et pourtant, au lieu d’être rassuré par sa présence, la pauvre petite agnelle continuait à pousser des cris de détresse. Il raisonna alors qu’elle était en train d’appeler sa maman. Mais, fait bizarre, rien ni personne ne l’empêchait de rejoindre le troupeau. Elle aurait pu être guidée par les bêlements émis par le reste des moutons, en écho répondant aux siens.

Quand le berger s’approcha d’elle, elle se mit à sauter et à se sauver dans la direction contraire. Ce qui l’entraina dans une chasse totalement futile car à chaque fois qu’il essayait de lui courir après pour l’attraper, la petite agnelle bondissait et lui échappait. Comme il n’avait pas grand-chose d’autre à faire, il essaya plusieurs fois dans l’après midi de la poursuivre et de la capturer, mais en vain. La nuit venue, les chèvres et les moutons rentrèrent à la bergerie, mais la petite agnelle têtue comme une mule refusait toujours de rejoindre le gros du troupeau et passa la nuit dehors à bêler de toutes ses forces pour appeler à l’aide.

Ce manège dura trois jours entiers. De temps en temps, le jeune berger essayait de parler gentiment et doucement à sa petite agnelle pour gagner sa confiance, mais celle-ci, opiniâtre, refusait l’aide dont elle avait tant besoin. Et pourtant, il aimait tous ses animaux et il avait décidé qu’il la ramènerait au bercail quoi qu’il lui en coûte. La seule chose qu’il ne parvenait pas à comprendre, c’était que son frère ainé lui avait délégué la responsabilité de ramener l’agnelle sans demander de l’aide aux voisins ou aux enfants. Peut-être raisonnait-il que puisqu’elle allait être vendue ou mise au congélateur dans quelques semaines, elle se lasserait après quelques jours et trouverait le chemin du retour par elle-même. Pourquoi perdre son temps et se fatiguer pour un bête si obstinée ?

Le jeune berger qui aimait trouver une solution à tous ses problèmes décida qu’il ne serait satisfait qu’avec le retour de l’agnelle auprès de sa mère.
L’après-midi du troisième jour, il eut une idée qui lui parut géniale. Il puisa dans le stock de souvenirs de sa jeunesse plusieurs épisodes de dessins animés dans lesquels le héro ou le vilain essayent de s’échapper lors d’une poursuite Vous devez bien connaître ce dont je parle. Alors qu’ils sont en pleine chute libre après s’être jetés du haut d’une haute falaise, ils continuent à courir les jambes dans le vide comme s’ils avaient un point d’appui sur la terre ferme. Evidemment, dans ce temps-là, la scène était très comique, mais ce simple retour en enfance lui fournit une idée sérieuse. Il commença à élaborer un plan de sauvetage qui mettrait fin à cette interruption de sa vie monotone.

Profitant de ce que l’agnelle était coincée dans un coin marécageux au bas du pâturage, il décida que c’était le moment propice pour mettre son plan en action. Lui faisant face et agitant ses bras pour qu’elle commence à courir dans sa direction, il se rapprochait pas à pas dans la boue qui lui montait jusqu'au bas su mollet. La petite agnelle figée de peur, se préparait à faire un bond et juste au moment où elle se lançait dans l’air, le petit berger se laissa tomber, le dos dans la boue tout en recevant dans ses bras l’agnelle qui, au même moment, essayait de courir en battant l’air de ses courtes pattes sans aucun appui ferme, comme dans les dessins animés de sa jeunesse. Elle, toute éberluée se trouvait prise au piège dans les bras protecteurs du berger qui éclatait d’un rire interminable et poussait des cris de joie et de victoire, alertant le reste de la famille qui se demandaient ce qui avait bien pu arriver.

Il va sans dire qu’il était rempli de boue malodorante du haut en bas, mais cela ne semblait pas du tout le déranger car il avait mené à bien le travail qui lui avait été confié par son grand frère. Ne lâchant pas prise, il se releva, prit l’agnelle pas les pattes et la reposa sur ses épaules autour de son cou en lui parlant tendrement et en la tançant gentiment. Finalement, un crépuscule glorieux marqua les joyeuses retrouvailles de la petite agnelle et de sa mère contente de voir que sa progéniture n’avait pas oublié pendant ces trois jours de fugue comment s’alimenter à la mamelle maternelle.

 
"Tu es un asile pour moi, tu me garantis de la détresse, Tu m’entoures de chants de délivrance. Je t’instruirai et te montrerai la voie que tu dois suivre ; Je te conseillerai, j’aurai le regard sur toi.9 Ne soyez pas comme un cheval ou un mulet sans intelligence ; On les bride avec un frein et un mors, dont on les pare, Afin qu’ils ne s’approchent point de toi.10 Beaucoup de douleurs sont la part du méchant, Mais celui qui se confie en l’Eternel est environné de sa grâce". Psaulme 32:7-10

Godly Planning versus wordly planning

Written and posted by Jean-Louis

Excerpt from personal journal 2/3/88

II Cor 1:2-22.

For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved ourselves in the world, in holiness and sincerity of God, not in worldly wisdom but in the grace of God, and more abundantly towards you. 13 For we write no other things to you, than what you can read or even acknowledge, and I hope you will acknowledge to the end: 14 as also you did acknowledge us in part, that we are your glorying, even as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.
15 Because I was confident of this, I had in mind to come to you first, that you might benefit twice; 16 and by you to pass into Macedonia , and again from Macedonia to come to you, and to have you send me on my journey to Judaea . 17 When I planned this, did I show fickleness (did I do it lightly)? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner? So that in the same breath I say: “Yes, Yes and No, No”
18 But as surely as God is faithful, our word toward you is not yea and nay. 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, [even] by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yes and no, but in him is always yes. 20 For no matter how many promises God has made, in him, they are: yes in Christ. And so through him we speak the Amen unto the glory of God. 21 Now it is God that who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us and 22 put His Spirit in our hearts.

Why do we sometimes make some decisions in a worldly manner?
Isn’t it wise to weigh the pros and the cons?
Is there a better, wiser and godlier way?

Sometimes, like the people in the world, we waver and vacillate in our planning based on fears and changing outward circumstances and other people’s (counselors, friends?) limited understanding of our situation.
On the other hand, godly planning is based on the rock solid promises of our eternal, unchanging, loving and caring heavenly Father and Lord Jesus-Christ.

In our apprehensions, doubts and hesitations, we waver between the “yes or Pros” which could be a self-centered response to the positive gain we project, but we can have an equally self-centered response when we consider the “No or Cons”.
We think that somehow if the “yeses” outweigh the “nos”, we can go ahead, make our move and feel secure in having made a balanced, rational and wise decision.
But what actually happened is that we have kept our eyes on ourselves, on the “yeses” that represent what would benefit us and the “nos” or what would be our loss in the decision making process. This decision is based on our very limited knowledge of as many factors involved as we know would affect our lives.
We haven’t considered and cannot foresee that farther down the road a seemingly positive circumstance or situation might turn negative or vice-versa, and then what?

But God has a better way of planning for His obedient children who trust Him and follow Him by faith. He already knows the future, what is ahead and the end result.
With Him it is always “Yes” because by His mighty power and through His perfect will and grace the No’s can be turned into “Yeses”. (Consider the stories of Joseph, David and Daniel and if I may humbly add, mine).
No matter what, His ways are perfect and once we have found out what His will is for our lives in any given situation, we can move in the knowledge of His will with the confidence that no matter what the circumstances, He will guide, direct, protect and sustain us on the way.

Our part is to ask, inquire of Him, be attentive and listen, be receptive, wait patiently for Him to open the door and lead the way step by step. Once we have heard and know His direction, instructions and command, we can move on with His plan slowly, cautiously and prayerfully, but confidently. He will let us know if we are deviating if we are in tune with and sensitive to His Shepherd’s voice.
Notice that the promises are always “Yes” in Christ.
Who is it that gives the promises, who makes us stand up? God the Father, and our Lord Jesus.

How are they realized? Through the Holy Spirit sealing and anointing.
Here we see the three persons of the Triune Godhead harmoniously working together to bring about their will and purpose in the lives of His believing children according to the perfect, eternal unchanging Word and sure promises of our gracious, merciful, wise, loving and caring God.

So the solution to our seeking to make the best decisions possible in our lives is that through Christ, the promises of God believed and acted upon by faith, under the anointing and guidance of the Word and Holy Spirit, will be answered by our Amen, so be it Lord, may your will be done to the glory of the Father.

To summarize:
I. God gives the promise.
II. The promise comes through Jesus who puts His stamp of approval on it. The Holy Spirit earnest is the guarantee of the realization of the promises of God in our lives. II Corinthiens
1:21,22; 5:5 
III. We can say “yes and Amen” to the promise and accept it in faith or say “No” and never know what God’s will and purpose were. The choice is ours.
IV. God is glorified when we believe and trust Him in faith.

Jean-Louis. 10/23/04