Thought for the Week
After hearing a discussion on various translations of the Bible, one man said: 'I prefer my mother's translation, because she translated it into everyday life.' Are you doing that?
Newsletter Signup
Please wait...Random Photo
Written by COC Webmaster | 
| 
| Hits: 350
| | Hits: 350
Over the last month or so, when looking for some answers to situations that I have encountered, I find myself drawn to biographies & autobiographies of people who have overcome great difficulties in their lives, e.g. "The Book of David" by Beverley Eley, the intriguing story of David Helfgott, the subject of the film ‘Shine’.
Another book I’m still working through is by Sylvia Nasar, "A Beautiful Mind". The story of John Nash, a brilliant & eccentric mathematician who, at 31yrs of age suffered a breakdown. He re-emerged miraculously to win a Nobel Prize and world acclaim. A movie of the same name was made on his life.
But the book that really caught my attention was by a 23yr old young man who, at the age of 19, heard the audible voice of God, recognising that ‘when you hear truth, you hear God’. Matthew Kelly writes in his book "A Call to Joy" (Living in the presence of God),
"In my early encounters with the Father, He began to instruct me about the inner life, the life of the spirit. I saw Him challenging me to be a better person. The words He spoke struck me deeply. Their simplicity yet profundity was disarming. It was a testament to the fact that it is not only what is said but the love with which it is said that touches the hearts. His gentleness tore down my personal biases while His warmth and firmness slowly began to erode my imperfections. The barriers I had built to block out His way were slowly dismantled, and I found myself submitting my whole being to the message.
"There were of course some things that He said that had a greater effect on me than others. There is one short excerpt that lives with me every day. This line echoes in my head like music. "Smile, say less & listen more, pray & trust in Me, your Heavenly Father."
"This is one of the many things the Father has
spoken that has had an ever-recurring and increasing effect on my life. It has been a constant struggle each day just to live this one sentence. This line alone expresses the most about how I wanted my life to change and how I continue to struggle to let it be so."
So I realised man has his struggles just like David Helfgott or John Nash, but answers - real answers come when a man takes time to listen to his Heavenly Father.
God speaks. Are we listening or only hearing?
Another book I’m still working through is by Sylvia Nasar, "A Beautiful Mind". The story of John Nash, a brilliant & eccentric mathematician who, at 31yrs of age suffered a breakdown. He re-emerged miraculously to win a Nobel Prize and world acclaim. A movie of the same name was made on his life.
But the book that really caught my attention was by a 23yr old young man who, at the age of 19, heard the audible voice of God, recognising that ‘when you hear truth, you hear God’. Matthew Kelly writes in his book "A Call to Joy" (Living in the presence of God),
"In my early encounters with the Father, He began to instruct me about the inner life, the life of the spirit. I saw Him challenging me to be a better person. The words He spoke struck me deeply. Their simplicity yet profundity was disarming. It was a testament to the fact that it is not only what is said but the love with which it is said that touches the hearts. His gentleness tore down my personal biases while His warmth and firmness slowly began to erode my imperfections. The barriers I had built to block out His way were slowly dismantled, and I found myself submitting my whole being to the message.
"There were of course some things that He said that had a greater effect on me than others. There is one short excerpt that lives with me every day. This line echoes in my head like music. "Smile, say less & listen more, pray & trust in Me, your Heavenly Father."
"This is one of the many things the Father has
spoken that has had an ever-recurring and increasing effect on my life. It has been a constant struggle each day just to live this one sentence. This line alone expresses the most about how I wanted my life to change and how I continue to struggle to let it be so."
So I realised man has his struggles just like David Helfgott or John Nash, but answers - real answers come when a man takes time to listen to his Heavenly Father.
God speaks. Are we listening or only hearing?