Adapt, Learn, Become _Stop If only

If Only

If only I was born in a rich family, my life would have been better……. If only I had better education things would be different……If only I had better opportunities, then I would do something great with my life….

If only…..if only….. What is the “If only” that is holding you back from becoming the great man or woman that God has called you to be? What excuses are you always pulling out of your bag?

The truth is I have no control or say in how my story begins, but how it ends is up to me. I don’t choose what family or economic condition I am born in.

I have no say about which race or tribe I will be born in or when I will be born for that matter. But once I am here then I sure do have something to say about my destination.

We are introduced to Daniel, his circumstances are not that encouraging. Israel has just been conquered by its enemies and they have been taken in as slaves. This is bad……very bad, but in the midst of all this, there are opportunities.

Daniel is among a group picked to be trained in the language, ways and writings of the Babylonians. Can you imagine being forced to learn new ways? Most of which I would assume are contrary to the ways of God that Israel has been observing?

Well that was the opportunity…doesn't seem like much, but there it was. What was Daniel going to do with it? If only I was not a slave, my life would be better.

If only I was back in Israel.. If only I was in a God fearing environment then I would serve God better… If only I was not furnished with the kings delicacies then I would not defile myself……

Never once do I read of Daniel playing the if only card. Instead he adapts and learns the ways and systems of his captors so much so that he becomes the very best. That tells me he was a hard worker, a scholar, he understood things.

Despite the negative situation he found himself in, a situation in which he had no say, he had a big say in his destination. He was able to adapt learn and become.

He changed his situation and in the midst of all this he kept his faith so much so that he was willing to die for it and God blessed him.

You may not have a say in how or where you begin, but you have a say in where you end up so get rid of all excuses and ask God to show you the opportunities that lie waiting in the midst of the harsh circumstances you find yourself in Today.

Daniel 1:18
“(18) At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. (19) The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service.”

Becoming Greater In God

Becoming Greater In God

The person who turns to God does not become smaller but greater, for through God and with God he becomes great, he becomes divine, he becomes truly himself. The person who puts himself in God's hands does not distance himself from others, withdrawing into his private salvation; on the contrary, it is only then that his heart truly awakens and he becomes a sensitive, hence, benevolent and open person. This is a lesson to learn from the Divine assignment given to Mary.
The closer a person is to God; the closer he is to people. We see this in Mary. The fact that she is totally with God is the reason why she is so close to human beings. In her, God has impressed his own image, the image of the One who follows the lost sheep even up into the mountains and among the briars and thorn bushes of the sins of this world, letting himself be spiked by the crown of thorns of these sins in order to take the sheep on his shoulders and bring it home.
Mary thus stands before us as a sign of comfort, encouragement and hope. She turns to us, saying: "Have the courage to dare with God! Try it! Do not be afraid of him! Have the courage to risk with faith! Have the courage to risk with goodness! Have the courage to risk with a pure heart! Commit yourselves to God, then you will see that it is precisely by doing so that your life will become broad and light, not boring but filled with infinite surprises, for God's infinite goodness is never depleted!".

On this Feast Day, let us thank the Lord for the great sign of his goodness which he has given us in Mary, his Mother and the Mother of the Church. Let us pray to him to put Mary on our path like a light that also helps us to become a light and to carry this light into the nights of history.

Compiled by Jacqueline kamau

Jacquelinewords.wordpress.com