Why students fail?

I know you would have liked for me to tell you the single most important reason why students fail.

But failure isn’t something you bumped into or it just happened; it is a process. In a similar way winning and being successful can become a habit, so too is failing.

Understanding where you have gone wrong is one of the first steps in moving from a state of failing to being successful. I have outlined six main areas that I believe will help you better prepare for your upcoming exams. Just how well you apply the tools below could actually determine which side of the fence you end up on.

 Lack of adequate planning

I have always heard the saying, if you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.Planning for your exams include from preparing your pen, ruler and geometry set days before the exam, to planning your answers while in the examination room.

Failing to plan properly will make you more anxious and doubtful of your ability.
Don’t just rush into things.

Stop! Take a deep breath and spend a little time to plan your study and revision schedule.This could go a long way in helping you to manage your time efficiently.
Planning to read over your notes each day is a good habit to develop.

Tip: Always do the most important things first. Plan before you start, and don’t leave the more important things at the mercy of the less important stuff.

 Poor time management

Students often times postpone learning. This is often done especially when the topic is either difficult or we just don’t seem to grasp it immediately. This will have the effect of students using their study time to learn something that should have already been covered.
If this is you, don’t panic.

Just as you would plan your study and revision times, you must also set aside time for learning new materials that you either did not previously cover or wasn’t grasping too well.

Some subjects require more attention than others and it is usually good to split subjects into weak and strong areas. If you do fairly well at Chemistry and poor at Mathematics, then you would want to spend a little more time practicing math.

Practice, Practice, Practice
Do a lot of past papers and practice often. I found that sometimes questions are repeated in future exams with just minor changes.

Study guides and books with worked answers in the back are great, but only if you use them for help and not as an easy way to get your assignment done. Don't let a book or classmates do your work for you. Do not copy someone else’s work either. They won't be available during the tests, which usually count for a big portion of your grade.

Notice I said practice, not cram.
Caution! Don’t fall into the trap of devoting all your time to a subject you love and enjoy doing.
Share your time based on where the need is greater.

Focus – Put your heart and mind into it
A part of managing your time properly is to ensure that your heart and mind is into what you are doing.
Find the right place and time that will make you be at your best. Here are a few simple and effective steps you can take to better manage your study time:

 Turn off the TV.
 Tell your friends you are studying and that you will not be accessible during certain hours.
 Get rid of all possible distractions.

As a teenager I have always found it difficult to switch off the TV while studying. But, I later on told myself that the Movie Makers already knew just how they were going to earn their living. Therefore I needed to take a conscious decision to pass my CXC. This I knew would have given me a head start in life. Find something to motivate you.

Tip: Be discipline, get use to it, you will need it throughout your entire life.

 Procrastinating

You should never do today what you can put off until tomorrow, right? Wrong!
“I will look at this tomorrow”, is always the easy thing to say.
Remember we said earlier that failing is a process? Get into the habit of passing exams and studying properly. I need not say anymore.

Tip: Stop procrastinating – Yesterday you said you would have done it tomorrow and tomorrow you wish you had done it yesterday.

 Poor eating and sleeping habits

Develop good eating and sleeping habits. You will do yourself more harm than good trying to study when you are tired and exhausted. Know your body and how it responds to certain foods. An empty stomach in the exam room may be just as bad as having too much to eat.

Doing regular physical exercises helps with the flow of blood in the body and mind.

Tip: Always have a good meal, not too heavy and not too light. Also taking sweets to chew on during the exam is a good way of replenishing your energy.

 Quitting too quickly

Never give up while the exam is in progress. If you keep worrying over what you cannot do, you might end up doing poorly on areas that you thought you could have done well.
Things to always do in an exam:

 Write clear and easily understood answers.
 Review your answers.
 Make sure your handwriting is legible for written papers.
 Corrections should be neat.

Tip: There are many times I believed I failed an exam only to get the results showing that I not only passed but got a good grade too. Don’t fail yourself, keep going, you can do it.

 Fear of exams
The sixth and final reason why students fail is due to the crippling effect of fear on the mind.
If you are like me, then you never really get to like exams. In high school I was always afraid of exams and this was evident in my many trips to the bathroom. I have since changed my attitude.

I have now adapted the “I can approach”.
Your attitude towards your exam could determine if you have a mind block during the exam.
RELAX!
Things are never as bad as we imagine them to be. I have always found that praying help me to focus and relax, especially just before I begin writing my exam paper, you can try it.

Tip: Be calm, be cool and always do something to relax your mind before and during the exam.

This very minute

This very minute a woman is giving birth...
This very minute another soul is departing the earth...

This very minute a girl is finding love...
This very minute someone is angry at love...

This very minute, an achievement someone is proud of...
This very minute, some action someone is disappointed of...

This very minute there’s a man giving up...
This very minute there’s a child wising up...

This very minute someone is grieving...
This very minute someone is believing...

This very minute a girl is feeling lonely...
This very minute someone special is thinking of you, their one and only...

This very minute a family is having a fight...
This very minute a couple is getting it right...

This very minute may not count much to you...
But this is all the time someone has left to make it through...

This very minute may be your final and only chance...
To share hope, to love or even to dance...

This very minute wont last...
It will soon become your precious past...

Make this very minute count...
This very minute may seem like forever...

Let your memories be pleasing to remember...
Be thankful for this very minute, before it is over...

Girl # 2 - The way men look at me

A stranger standing pose
At me dared to lift up his nose
A penetrating stare
On my neck I felt his exhaled air

From the distance he zoomed in on my skirt
With eyes so fixed
What could he possible missed
Was he lusting, flirting
Swearing, wishing or dreaming

Like the shining sun upon the skin
His stare sunk deep, deep within
I then took a gaze
And my, my I was amazed
This stranger choosing to look at a woman
Was not quite a boy and not quite a man

With one glance
I quickly calculated his chance
His hands seemed rough
Hair twisted and curled
Face looked good enough

In my mind lingered random thoughts
My attention he caught
Though not my type
It doesn’t hurt to be nice
So before my meal I buy
I ventured over and said,” Hello” and he said, “Hi”

Who is affecting you?

Sometimes our lives can become absorbed with those who are affecting us negatively.
Quite often this is the case and is usually someone we resent and wish would go away.

Today, take time to acknowledge that your life would be much different if certain persons were not in it. The people who make living more worthwhile and getting out of bed so much easier are the ones you should allow to affect you the most.

Take a little time to really reflect on who is affecting you and how.
Answer these little questions, who cause you to do it most?

1. Become upset
2. Cry
3. Become discouraged
4. Worry
5. Feel bad

a) Laugh
b) Smile
c) Be hopeful
d) Think
e) Feel inspired

If you had jot down your answers on a small sheet of paper then you might have noticed how some persons name appeared more than once on your list. If not, that’s ok too. But having the same person appearing more than once is a good indicator of who is affecting you mostly.

Now, the area you are most affected in will depend on you. If it was easier to answer questions 1 to 5 than a) to e) then you know the negative influences are weighing down more on you.

Our lives are touched by the people we meet, our family and friends or even a total stranger in the street. I always crave the touching, heartwarming moments than I do the disturbing ones. I do not make room for the negative energy.
I do not make myself a magnet for negative and disturbing influences.

Having completed this exercise myself, I did two other exercises you may also want to consider.

Firstly, I rid myself of the disturbing encounters and persons who are magnets for attracting unpleasant encounters. Soon I was happier and I felt more fulfilled. I also had more energy to help and empower those who really wanted to be helped.

Secondly I took five minutes to let those who have touched my life in one way or another know how much they mean to me. Five minutes of gratitude, five minutes of thank you and appreciation, five minutes of, “I love you’.
I was strengthened and they too were strengthened from receiving those wonderful compliments.

If you are being affected by others and you dislike the person you are becoming, then it is time for you to take back the reins. I talk more about this in my upcoming book, “DISCOVERING THE GOLD IN YOU”.

You must remain in control of your life, it is then and only then you will be able to give it to your Creator. Walk well!

~~~~~

MY BOOK

WHEN I AM...YOU ARE

When I am alone at nights and have no one on whom I can call…
You are the only one I can depend on, when on my knees I fall…
When I am confused, no peace, and no sleep…
You are the only who can restore me, you’re my shepherd, and I’m your sheep…
When I am worried even though it never brings me what I need…
Your word is all I have, you’ve promised to meet my every need…
Whenever I am afraid for the world is such a scary place and sometimes unkind…
Your word reminds me I have power, love and a sound mind…
When I get too comfortable here on earth…
A better home has been prepared for me, this hope of my new birth…
Whenever I place all my hope in this land…
You remind me of your better plan…
When I am alone…
You remind me I’m not my own…
When I am sad…
You are that best friend I’ve always had…
When I am depress…
You are my fortress…
When man fail…
You prevail…
Yes! Lord, I need not fret…
You have never failed me yet…
When I am lonely, you are never far
When I am…You are

You deserve it…No need to be apologetic

You have been in the same job for so many years and you feel as though it is time you move on, but the thoughts of leaving only make you feel guilty….Don’t be apologetic about it, you need to move on. You deserve it.

You have been wishing all your life for a partner who would love you and cherish you, making your life so much more worthwhile. It has started to happen. Now you are so happy and daily you are experiencing joy like you have never experienced before. Don’t fight it, let it happen. You deserve it.

You have wanted to make a change for the better for some time now.
You have been through a lot and cried many times too. God heard your prayers and is now ready to give you your heart’s desire. You are at the brink of a great change, a great time. All the stuffs you’ve detested are removing them selves from you and the type of people you love and admire are coming into your life.
This is your time to live and be free, your time to be happy.
Don’t be apologetic about it. You deserve it.

I watched my eight-month old son scream for stuff he wants, then upon receiving it he instantly become confused and not sure what to do with it. In the same minute he wanted it, he has refused it. As grown ups, we are not much different sometimes, we wish and long for that which when it arrives we are not sure what to do, we become confused, fearful and even resistant. If what you’ve always wanted starts to blossom and bloom, then it is time to sit and enjoy the beauty of it all. Don’t fight it, after all you wanted it. No need to be apologetic. You deserve it. God knew it and that is why he did it.

Is it love at first sight?

I looked at her, saw love in her eyes
So I made a loud sigh
Asked myself why
Then went over and said, “Hi”

She told me her name
Her face questioned my aim
I seemed just too tame
But oh! She was enjoying my game

They say love doesn’t show up at first sight
So I guess this must be ‘like’
Oh my friend can you tell
When you look in another’s eyes

Can you tell they like you
Do you know you like them too
We chat a while
Then we exchanged numbers and parted with a smile

~*~*~*~*

I Gave You Everything - Quiet Assurance

There’s nothing I can give that I have not already given.

There’s nothing I can do that I have not already done,

So what would it take to ensure you knew I have given you me?

What would it take for you to know I love you?

I gave my life for you

I made plans for you

The things you need I have already provided.

The sicknesses to come, healing has already been done.

I am never too far to feel you

I will never hesitate to meet you where you are

I will always remember a thought so tender…Cast all your cares upon me for I care for you

This is my quiet assurance

"I love you so much," says the Lord

I know the cost of love, it cost me the life of my son

A Musical Idea

Promoting my free music website:

http://www.amusicalidea.com/index_2.php

A day of forgiveness

Why don’t we declare a Day of Forgiveness where we all can forgive everyone for what they said or did to us?
Let us call it International Day of Forgiveness - a day focused on each of us flushing our system of the waste, the baggage and just start over afresh.

It sounds like a great idea to me.
What do you think?

Let me see, I could forgive Marlon for what he did to me in grade three, over thirty-five years ago on that Tuesday morning while I was doing my class work.

I could also forgive my teen crush, the girl from next door who broke my heart. Though she was twenty-two and I was only thirteen, I could finally forgive her for what she did and how she handled me. Wow, that would certainly make me free.

Then again I could also forgive my parents, my former boss, my ex, my gardener, my plumber, my older brother.
Oh my! It seems like I need more than one day. At the rate I hate, I need more than one date.

Perhaps we should celebrate an International Forgiveness Week instead. You know, I am thinking that by the time the following year comes around I would have had so many people who would have upset me, hurt me, and cause me to curse and swear. If I were to wait another year, I could go crazy walking around with all that in my head and in my heart.

Wow! It never really bothered me before now, I could just hate people. I actually believed I have the gift of hating. The smallest wrong you did to me I would just hate you for it and wished the worse sometimes.

I am now thinking that I have wasted so much of my life hating and resenting people that I really do need more than a week; maybe an International Day of Forgiveness is not sufficient, but it’s a start. I could really use that, after all I have so many people to heal my heart of and so many stuff to get rid of. I need to forgive everyday, but I could start with this one day, today.

Luke 17:4
“Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive."

Sleep wrestling match

Sleep call me by name
Singing me a lullaby
A yawn tears my cheek bone
As water seal my eyes

Again a yawn stretch my jaw
My eyes now closing down
I must travel to that place
In response to a system shut down

The way men look at me

(A young girl’s perspective)
By jermaine Gordon © Copyright 2009

Men stand a gaze
By what are they amaze
Staring, peering
Is it my ear ring
The dress I‘m wearing

Am I scaring them away
Or attracting them to stay
Is something wrong with my hair
Oh why? This long, persistent stare

Is there something on my face
Or my blouse of lace
Though separated by the distance
What could he be thinking?
I am his last chance
Or does he want to dance

This stranger staring down on me
What could he possible want to see
Perhaps engage talk
Make a date
Go to the park

Is he thinking how beautiful I am
Admiring my complexion
OMG! Is he seeing my reaction?
What does he want from me
I turned and saw him smiling
So I smiled in returned

Am I too concerned?
For my number he yearns
Wanting to come over and say hi
I am afraid not
For now, its goodbye

The jealous husbands problem

Three married couples must cross a river using a boat which can hold at most two people, subject to the constraint that no woman can be in the presence of another man unless her husband is also present. How would you get all three couples safely across the river?

What is driving you?

Someone or something
Driving you to work
Driving you to school
Driving you amidst the conflict
To keep your cool

~~~~

Driving you to go
Driving you to stay
Driving you back home
Driving you away

~~~~

Someone or something
Driving you crazy
Driving you sane
Driving you to remain lazy
Driving your pain

~~~~

Someone or something
Driving your thinking
Driving your disbelieving
Driving your failing
Driving your achieving

~~~~

We just keep on going
There is always someone driving
Always something motivating
So be sure of where you want to go
Where you are going

~~~~

If your tank is empty
Then it may just interrupt your journey
One thing is certain even if you stop a while
Soon you’ll be driven another mile

Sleepers v Dreamers

Most people who dream never fully understand the importance of waking up and living it.

They are in love with sleep and sleep often times love them back.

The language of laughter

What language is laughter?
I speak Italian and you German
Yet you understood my very laughter expression

I am amazed at this little fact of life
It seems all the things we ought to share with each other
Is easily understood by another

Laugh while you can
Laughter, a feature of man

It is true for love
The same for laughter
It is true for crying and for a smile

It really doesn’t matter
There comes a point when words alone just won’t do
The laughter is much too much not to do

Laugh when it seems too crazy to laugh about
Laugh when it seems too heavy to bear
Laugh when there’s no reason to

Laugh while you can
Laughter, a feature of man

Laugh yourself to better days
Laugh at your complex maze

Even when your laughter offends
Your own heart break you may need to mend

So whatever language you speak
The sound of laughter is always sweet

Laugh while you can
Laughter, a feature of man

Laugh yourself to better days
Laugh at your complex maze

The Shadow-side effect

Today as I traveled to work I came up on an object in the road.
I was traveling east and the morning sun had cast a shadow on the object in the middle of the road.
The object seemed dark and was difficult to identify. But as I drew closer and closer, my vision got a little clearer and I saw what appeared to be a little dog that was unfortunately run over by an earlier vehicle and by now had become motionless.

As I drove around it and looked back in my rear view mirror, it became even clearer what it was. It was a little white puppy with brown stripes and black spots. As I pondered on the whole experience I realized even in this there was a beautiful morning lesson.

As I approached the object it was difficult and perhaps impossible to see clearly what was in the road. The shadow effect had created a blur, a distraction and an illusion. This reminded me of life and how often we fail to see things for their real value and color as our perception is affected by shadows around; Shadows that cause us to only see the pain and not the gain from each experience; Shadows that cause us to focus on the hurt instead of the chance of a new birth.

As I continued the rest of my journey I began to notice the same thing even with each tree along the road side. To see the tree’s real color, type and worth I had to view it from the side with the sun light and not its shadow-side. An amazing lesson it was for me and I pray it will be for you too. The shadow-side is not the best angle to judge your current troubles and problems. If you really want to see them for what they are worth, view them from the side of the light. Allow the light to cause you to see life for what it really is.

In light of this unfortunate accident with the puppy I chose not to allow my emotional-side to cause me to miss this ah! ah! moment or my morning dew.
In John 8 v 12, Jesus is described as the light of the world.
The shadow side also causes us to be filled with fear, for the shadows often times bring scary darkness. If you are not looking from the sunny-side, the Jesus-side, then you are viewing life from its shadow-side.

~~~~~~

Trust and open mind

An evil man must defend the good he has done and his reasons in a similar way a man of good character must truly convince us that he has done an evil thing. When we have reinforced perceptions of a person's character it is hard for us to see them in another form, even when presented with the facts...Therefore, an "open mind" is the solution

Leadership and followship

Leadership is of no necessity when there is no one following.
Most often people complain about the absence of leadership without also recognizing the absence of followship.
Just as how it is important to train our leaders to lead effectively we must begin to consider guiding the followers on how to be responsible and effective followers.
In this twenty first century there is much emphasis on leadership training and we are being coached in understanding the essential qualities and characteristics of a good leader.

I have attended a few training sessions myself and have purchased books, DVDs and so on about leading and leading effectively. My aim is to lead to the best of my ability and beyond. However I have seen many failures in leadership and quite often the people who are being led tend to divorce themselves from the failures of their leaders.

I have seen failures in our political, religious, corporate, community and family leaders that have affected whether are not we want to be led further. Not many corrective measures have been taken in the evaluation process to address present and future leadership issues.

Take for example the ‘trust’ issue which has been hanging over our heads for many decades. We have seen dishonest leaders who are known to have mismanage and misappropriate huge sums of the public funds yet they walk scotch free while we imprison an ordinary man for five years for stealing two mangoes. We have seen leaders lacking in integrity, fairness, justice and wisdom and many of us have not been able to live above the betrayal in some instance.

I believe I can categorically state that we as a people, in this side of the world, simply just don’t trust our leaders. We have been hurt, lied to, cheated and exploited. The demon of trust still haunts us today as a nation, as a region and as a people. This demon which prevents our leaders from leading effectively also prevents our followers from following responsibly.

Leadership is a partnership. The willingness and ability to lead must be coupled with the consent to be led. If I were to ask you whether you are a leader or a follower, what would your response be?

Unfortunately, too often there are many leaders and just not enough followers. I have always believed that good leaders are also good followers and the best followers are the ones who understand the important role they play in this whole business of leadership.

Much resource is being expended on developing our leaders and it is becoming increasingly more difficult to lead for the fundamental reason that our people are finding it more difficult to follow. Why not therefore, divert some of the resources toward developing better followers?
Why not teach our people how to serve and serve without servitude?
After all, those who are exemplary followers are soon promoted to leadership.

In order to have effective leadership and responsible followship a very key ingredient must be present, that of oneness of purpose, unity and collaboration. It is neither good nor bad to lead or follow but it is always good to serve.

Serving is hard work, no wonder we are having such diffiuclty following, but even more frightening is the fact that leading requires an even greater level of serving.

If we are going to become better leaders without being losers then we must also become better followers. Forgiveness and starting a fresh is now required. The change for a better tomorrow, as echoed many times before, must begin with me. God bless you and let us commit to being better followers.

10 Things I Can Least Stand And Why

Beautiful girls who are so sweet they make my skin itch

People who are judgmental as they oftentimes misjudge

Work that robs me of play time

Behaviours and cultures copied under the disguise of fashion without knowing the real reason for it

People who live without an understanding of who they are and from whence they came, as they tend to just go around in circle, one generation to another.

Nations who impose their evil beliefs on others

Leadership who fail to lead

Followers who fail to follow

People who thrive on creating division and controversy

An ungrateful heart and bitter attitudes

Not easily replaceable

When before someone you bear your naked soul
They tap into a deeper dimension, a big part, the whole
Making it difficult to let them go,
Though they are not easy to hold

Feel like I’m losing my mind

Today I felt like was losing my mind so I went to google and did a search on what it means to lose one’s mind. My search directed me to www.answerbag.com where I found some funny and interesting answers. Here are some of the better answers I saw:

The same place your wallet goes when you lose it: the last place you left it. Either that or the dryer.

It doesn't go anywhere, it just doesn't announce its presence.

It means u lose control over ur mind .

Reflective at 34

At age 34
Love at its worse
Love at its best
And so much more

At age 34
Life and its meaning dodge many
The man at forty, sixty or twenty

At age 34
Some seek more, get more
But still have less, contentment poor

At age 34
Leaders become the worse servants
Away from themselves they are lured

At age 34
Despite all the ills and pains
A thankful heart is by far the best gift to attain

At age 34
I am neither the passage to go through
Nor the door
I am only my Master’s instrument
Just one more

Some more than some

Some problems you encounter will be like walking
Some will be more like sky diving
Some you will straighten out and some will straighten you out

Some people you meet will be easier to deal with
Some will think the worse of you even after you have offered yourself, offered help and endured their sorrows

A passing wind will move some more than some.
A clanging noise could deafen some more than some.
A joke will crack up some more than some
A beautiful sunny day will mean more to some than some

The association of a certain scent could awake memories in some more than some

The playing of specific music could mean more to dance to, more to cry about or more to reminisce on for some more than some

When I realized some more than some was a part of everything we do and everything we say, then I commit that my tongue must be guided more and cautioned with every utterance, for a word spoken will mean life to some more than some but that same word could be fatal to some more than some.

Fortis Forever

I was privileged to have attended the noble institution of Kingston College located in Kingston Jamaica. I spent the first seven years of my boy to manhood years at Kingston College. The Founder, Bishop Percival William Gibson was of the belief that Kingston College Boys would take the world as Christian Gentlemen.
You can read more about Bishop Gibson and his accomplishments by clicking here.

It is also commonly believed that Bishop Gibson founded the school on these two scriptures:

Psalms 37 v 24, “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.”

And

Isaiah 41 v 6, “Each one helps his neighbor and says to his brother, “Be strong!”

The School motto, “The Brave may fall but never yield,” in the latin translation is “Fortis Cadere Cedere Non Potest”. This embodies the teachings and principles of the school. Bishop Gibson saw a better tomorrow from molding the young minds of the men who would be leaders today. He founded the school primarily to educate the minds of the less fortunate, the poor.

I believe every mother’s son who attends the school is engrafted and becomes a part of this Fire that Bishop carried in his heart for many years. We have been so selected to make a difference in our world, to look out for our brothers and to rise amidst the wind. The challenges of today require more Bishop Gibson’s to rise among us, right in our present generation and they should rise to correct and address some of the ills of the society we live in.

Kingston College, a school conceptualized and built on love, remains a notable contributor to the building of our nation. Love for our fellow brother was evident in the way we lived then and even more so today. During my school years, I observed students without the ability to purchase lunch being offered one-half of a beef patty by another.

Now, some 15 years after leaving the institution, the message for today still remains “Be Strong and love your neighbour”. Despite your struggles be strong and remember to look out for your brother, we are indeed Fortis for

Association at eight months

During Joshua’s eight month, he was ill twice.

It was so amazing to observe how he had developed a phobia for everything placed at his mouth other than his bottle.

When he had fully recovered and we no longer needed to subject him to all those medication, every four hours, in some instance, he still remained resistant even weeks afterwards.

His mother and Grandmother shared with me the difficulty they encountered trying to calm him down whenever they attempted to brush his teeth. Two weeks after his last illness, they tried desperately and failed.

One Sunday afternoon I was at home and heard the screams and wondered what could be the possible reason for him to make such a loud cry. So I went to the living room to find out. On entering I noticed mommy trying to get him to change his clothes. I was however convinced that he doesn’t have to always cry whenever we need him to do what is necessary. So for a while we had a tussle and I took him away, determined that he doesn’t have to cry, there must be a better way.

Mommy then commented that I must complete all the necessary things to prepare him for bed. It was at that point I decided we may as well turn everything into a game.

After turning on some music, I danced him into his night clothes, changed his diapers and had him brushing his teeth with smiling face. Grandma and Mommy came to observe in utter disbelief.

We all have associations, just like Joshua. We recall or recount certain events and experiences in our lives once the similar conditions are present. Be it a certain sound, smell, colour, visual etc.

Association is a widely used memory tool. Quite often we can’t change the past or the way it affects us, however we can always change the association. Thank God for the perfect way in which He has made us, we are fearfully and wonderfully made.

If I could choose my Dad

If I could choose my dad
I would choose you
You cheer me when I am sad
Teach me what to do

Dad you are the best
You gave yourself
Always working with little time for rest
You are the only one on my shelf

Thank you for all you’ve done
I tell you just now
Special to me like the morning sun
I choose you, oh wow!

One of the seven wonders of the world

Auroras, sometimes called the northern and southern (polar) lights or aurorae (singular: aurora), are natural light displays in the sky, usually observed at night, particularly in the polar regions. They typically occur in the ionosphere...

Just the thought of knowing you are there

Just the thought of knowing you are there
I may not see you, your voice I may not hear
I live only by the thought that you are near

Just the thought of knowing you are there
In my heart is delightful cheer
My mind free of fear, my eyes see so clear

Just the thought of knowing you are there
Unimaginable peace, with a thought so sweet
Embraced by your love, protected by your care

Just the thought of knowing you are there
Somewhere in the distance near
Somewhere, out there

It still flows

(This speaks to the love of a parent for a child, a friend to another, a lover or God to us)

Regardless of where you’ve run
Whatever you’ve done
It still flows

Though you have made a mess
Advancement your ardent quest
It still flows

In your heart is guilt
Crafted like a quilt
But it still flows

Abundant love
Yours from above
It still flows

Forgiveness is keen
Transgressions come on the seen
It
Still
Flows
It still flows
It flows

If I Trust Your Hands

To whet your musical appetite in time for the November release of his debut album, “Lord I Surrender-Music for now”, Worship Leader, Music Director, Arranger, Composer and Author Jermaine D. Gordon recently released his first single “If I Trust Your Hands”.

The future is unknown, the path unfamiliar but Jermaine in his own unique style encourages and inspires his listeners to trust God’s guiding hands, even in times when trusting seems so difficult.
In his debut album, Lord I Surrender – Music for now, you will be taken on a spiritual journey charted by thirty years of musical experience integrated with love, passion and anointing to give you some of the most prolific music you have ever heard in recent years.

Profile:

Jermaine D. Gordon has been playing music from as early as age four in the island of Jamaica. He has traveled to The United States, Canada and other parts of the Caribbean playing music, speaking, conducting workshops, Ministering in Youth Revivals and Camps and leading God’s people into intimate worship.

At his church he is known as a ‘Psalmist’ for his unique talent and gift in composing a full song on the spur of the moment, spontaneity at its best. Jermaine D. Gordon is known for his anointed music and his ability to invoke the presence of God when his gifted fingers meet the ebony and ivory keys of the piano.

He is a Classical Pianist and Flautist who studied with the Royal School of Music ABRSM and Jamaica School of Music among others.

You can view Jermaine's other works by going to: www.go-jamaica.com/jdgordon

In his own words, “When we truly desire and seek to worship God at our best, let us remember all God requires is our obedience, nothing more, nothing less”.

If I trust your hands - Jermaine D. Gordon

If I Trust Your Hands

To whet your musical appetite in time for the November release of his debut album, "Lord I Surrender-Music for now", Worship Leader, Music Director, Arranger, Composer and Author Jermaine D. Gordon recently released his first single “If I Trust Your Hands”.

The future is unknown, the path unfamiliar but Jermaine in his own unique style encourages and inspires his listeners to trust God’s guiding hands, even in times when trusting seems so difficult.
In his debut album, Lord I Surrender – Music for now, you will be taken on a spiritual journey charted by thirty years of musical experience integrated with love, passion and anointing to give you some of the most prolific music you have ever heard in recent years.

Profile:

Jermaine D. Gordon has been playing music from as early as age four in the island of Jamaica. He has traveled to The United States, Canada and other parts of the Caribbean playing music, speaking, conducting workshops, Ministering in Youth Revivals and Camps and leading God’s people into intimate worship.

At his church he is known as a ‘Psalmist’ for his unique talent and gift in composing a full song on the spur of the moment, spontaneity at its best. Jermaine D. Gordon is known for his anointed music and his ability to invoke the presence of God when his gifted fingers meet the ebony and ivory keys of the piano.

He is a Classical Pianist and Flautist who studied with the Royal School of Music ABRSM and Jamaica School of Music among others.

You can view more about Jermaine by going to: www.go-jamaica.com/jdgordon

In his own words, “When we truly desire and seek to worship God at our best, let us remember all God requires is our obedience, nothing more, nothing less”.

If I trust your hands - Jermaine D. Gordon

The birthing of a 9 Month Old Father

Today, our son Joshua is a nine month old bubble of laughter and a nine month bundle of joy. He is engaging and entertaining. You should see his dance moves. He sways from left to right and turn his head from side to side. He is very excited about standing on his own two feet without any assistance from any of us. Oh! You should see the delightful smile on his face when he is able to stand successfully on his own.

Today, nine months later, I am still adjusting even as I am here writing. All of what you can imagine and more have been my experience over the past few months. But through it all I am a better person.
Fatherhood is hard work, motherhood is even greater. There have been some scary moments, certainly not for me – I am usually more on the calmer, cooler side.

I am learning the importance of my presence. I have seen and observed just how much the father’s touch is needed. A nine-month old father, by nine month I am being born into fatherhood - Thank goodness they don’t stay small forever. Joshua is developing so fast.

I ensure that we are ahead of him by at least a few years, as it relates to school, economics and so on. I carefully scrutinize his development and I have already appointed myself as one of his biggest cheer leaders. Incidentally, I can tell when I have struck a good melody on the keyboard from just observing his reactions. He would leap with open mouth joy whenever he hears something which stimulates him.

I am happy for the journey which I have started and I look forward to the great times, lessons and breathtaking moments ahead - More later.

You are loved and appreciated

Mother, mother, mother you are often times misunderstood.
Your work and worth often times goes unnoticed.
But oh it is the folly of man to chase after the wind.

We without hesitation arise from our foolishness and see you for you are.
Name you for what you are worth and give you what you deserve.
A precious person you are, a diamond, a ruby by far.

When sin came into the world to separate our hearts from God’s, then God gave us mothers. Mothers who would be the bridge between the role we are playing now and the person we are suppose to be.

Mothers who would dry our tears when we cry, kiss our hands when they hurt and hold our heads in her arms when it aches.

Know now and forever that you are loved and appreciated, though often times it goes unstated.

YOU ARE LOVED AND YOU ARE APPRECIATED
HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY

- by J.D. Gordon - www.go-jamaica.com/jdgordon

I am a little man

Can I make a difference?
I am a little man...

Can I be as effective and efficient as others?
I am a little man...

I don’t have material riches so how much can I accomplish?
I am only a little man...

I am not as brilliant, strong and layered with muscles and stamina…
I am seriously only a little man...

Giants surround me in my daily walk, talk and activities
I am only a little man...

Little man though I am, the land I must possess. The world usually stands in awe to acknowledge simple, ordinary man do great, extra ordinary things.

I am a little man, though small, In my heart and in my mind I believe I can

Good Teachers are our Heroes

Today is a very special day as we pause to salute our nation’s teachers.

A profession that is the back bone for all the nations of the world.
Teaching is also the pillow which holds the heads of the world.

If I were to use one word to describe a good teacher then it would be ‘hero’.

A teacher has the ability to break a child’s will, destroy his spirit or mold him or her into something great. When I consider how much my early childhood experiences were framed and carved from my interactions with good teachers, then I consider myself blessed.
Blessed to have had the opportunity of my mind being trained by women and men of great integrity, good values and moral standards and above all, they had the fear and wisdom of God.

These are the true heroes of the day; Spending their time, their energy and their lives helping to develop the lives of others. Finding and reaping very little material rewards at times, but gaining greater joy from others accomplishments and their success stories.

If we are able to truly give of ourselves and to find at least one person who we can pour ourselves into. If we can find someone who we can guide, instruct and help to make it to the top of their mountain, then we have reached a plateau of maturity where only the heroes among us go.

I salute you, unsung heroes. I wish you will find heart-warming joy and fulfillment in everyday life as you give to the world.

RISING TIDES

Rising tides presents a problem, a crisis, a possibility or an opportunity. They usually invoke fear, failure, discouragement, courage, ingenuity or creativity to those who experience them.

Your rising tide requires you to plan not panic, remain hopeful not fearful, trust God not your own abilities, not your reasoning powers and not your intelligence.

Extra ordinary results require extra ordinary actions and extra ordinary actions come about from extra ordinary faith.

The sky opens…morning has come

At the dawn of day
When the mist is rolled away
The sky opens
Rooster has spoken

Light set free
Darkness chased to captivity
Air and wind unadulterated
Its cool, fresh fragrance slowly abated

~~~

No smell of eggs and bacon
The flavour is purely Jamaican
The earth now awaken
Worms their homes in a while forsaken

Green grass militantly stands guard
Creating grandeur in the yard
Shuffled sounds heard in the bush
Perhaps a lizard; you could take a look

~~~

Baby cries in the distant near
I imagined Care givers bringing it cheer
In a while there’ll be a rush
Children scurrying to catch the bus

At the dawn of day
When the mist is rolled away
Another chance to live and dance, pray and play
Don’t lose this moment, don’t let it slip away

By J.D. Gordon © copyright 2009

Why are you not happy?

If you were to reflect on your life five or ten years ago, what were some of things you wanted to have? Were there some things you believed would make you feel accomplished and happy?
Then look at your life today. How many of those things you sincerely desired and worked long and hard at do you possess today?
If you accomplished seven or nine out of the ten things that you wanted, why are you still not happy today?

If you believed those things would have brought you happiness and suddenly realize that they did not what does that mean. Is it that you thought wrong or is it that you are too busy looking at those not yet achieved while forgetting to be grateful for the ones you have.

Are your standards so high that even though you have 51% of what you wanted it is driving you up the walls that 49% is missing?

Happiness is defined as a state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy.

Albert Camus the Algerian-born French Author said:
“All men have sweetness in their life. That is what helps them go on. It is towards that they turn when they feel too worn out.”

Here is a little exercise I find very useful:

Firstly, if you were to make a list of things that you are not contented with, how many things could you come up with? What would be the nature of things on your list? These could range from things about your own life to things in your surrounding of which you have little or no control. Your list could include things that make you feel sad, depressed and miserable or tend to cast a shadow over your daily encounters.

Then on that list of things you prepared, place a rating on each item with No. 1 being assigned to that thing which is most valuable and of most importance to you.

Finally make another list, this time with things you are contended with; things which form a part of the definition of happiness given above. Your list must include the things that bring cheerfulness to your heart, leaves you smiling or raise your emotions to a higher level.

Similarly, on that second list of things you prepared, place a rating on each item with No. 1 being assigned to that thing which is most valuable and of most importance to you.
These two lists will help you to decide whether you have more things to be happier about or not.


Some persons may even argue that things, stuff and persons will never be able to bring you happiness. It is a choice you have to make. Your inner-self must decide whether it will remain happy despite your conflicts and turmoil.

It is also a fact that one man has a shirt and he is not happy while another man never owns a shirt yet he is happy.

The Habits of unhappy people:
1. In my experience I have found that most unhappy people are not involved in anything apart from the routine of life. They are not a part of a club, religious group or society.

2. They are usually not passionate about anything.

3. They are loners, not having close friends or family with whom they frequently interact.

4. They usually FOCUS on the negative, not spending much time or energy to appreciate the successes and positives.

5. Not having something to work towards that they can one day celebrate the success of when it is achieved or accomplished.

Some people also find happiness from making others lives unhappy. But that is not what this is about.

Fun people are fun to be around as they radiate an aura that those around them always catch, even for a moment.

For the Christians, Joy is considered to be a deeper level of happiness and is a pre-requisite as the bible says in Psalms 32:11
“Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.”

In my own belief, Joy is from within, consider a young baby who so joyful. There is absolutely nothing to provoke that level of joy we see yet that young child emits so much joy and in such a remarkable way that everyone around latches on to it. A child knows true happiness and pure joy.

Your happiness and joy are far too important to leave it to chance. Make an effort to secure and preserve your happiness and rejoice always.

Because happiness is everything but blue, you should find greater happiness not from what hasn’t been done, rather from what you do.

Think on these things - 1

Where it really matters most-
Qualification is not considered
None is required.

Sipping

Sip, sip
With the lip
Forced gently against the tip

Drink, drink
Without a wink
Mouth and edge interlink

Thirst, thirst
Today will burst
Alas my dryness has been cursed

Hot, hot
From the pot
Take one sip and cannot stop

Cold, cold
Too cold to hold
Indulged my tongue now wet my soul

Gulp, gulp
Down the pulp
Journeying to the town of Kulp

Slurp, burp
Feel the wind on my skirt
Swallow, wallow the colour of dirt

Refreshing, Accenting
Mouth watering, thirst quenching
Ah! That’s my chocolate

Guess who we trust?

We often times find it so difficult to trust the one who show us who he is; The person who reveals his true self, his weaknesses and issues with which he struggles.

But guess who we oftentimes trust?
Sadly though, we find it easier to trust the man who we do not know.

Why Do Humans Cage What They Love?

Someone said that God fell in love with birds so He made trees, man on the other hand fell in love with birds and made cage.

Why is there this tendency in man to cage whatever he falls in love with?

A man falls in love with a girl so he marries her and takes her home. Not before long, she starts complaining how he is gone most of the time and she is left ‘caged’ in.

We labour long and hard to have, possess and own more so we can take home and put away. This cycle is repeated until man realizes that he is better off giving away than hoarding.

Why?

Why do we crave to cage?

 

 By J.D. Gordon (Author of the Colour and Power of Your Thoughts)
Listen to his music here: YOUTUBE

A stranger is my friend

By J.D. Gordon copyright © 2009 All rights reserved

Long before we crossed each other’s path
Our souls met one day in the park
When alas our voices greeted our ears
This stranger, like a lion tackled my fears

How could this be?
Someone so strange to me
Paid my bail, stand security
So I could go free and become me

How could this be?
Our first meet and we are swimming deep
Wasted no time in removing the cover
So we may venture deeper, even higher

Not many find friendship in a stranger
Though many find a stranger in a friend
A stranger willing to dry my tears
Soothe my wounds, my injuries, share my cares

How could this be?
Someone so strange to me
Paid my bail, stand security
So I could go free and become me

Oh stranger, I hardly know your name
Yet you dig deep to uproot my shame
Treasures and mysteries about me
So sacredly locked away, now made free

I sense my wings are beginning to grow
My halo switched on to glow
White, pure white
This battle I am empowered to fight

How could this be?
Someone so strange to me
Paid my bail, stand security
So I could go free and finally become me

Valentiners v Lovers

Valentiners v Lovers

Valentines is for the average lovers

~ Not for you and me ~

Red and white is bright

~ But we share a red hot love that is so right~

Valentines gives others a reason to love

~ We don’t need a reason ~

Valentiners need a season to show love

~ We don’t need a season to express our love ~

We are lovers

Love is the greatest

When man on his quest discovers love at its best

~~
He loses his mind to regain it with the passing of time

~~
I am yet to understand how a man who is free

~~
Craves love and its captivity, how clever

~~
For he who has been chained with chains is still free

~~
But he that is chained with love is bound forever.

~~

Copyright (c) 2009 J.D. Gordon. All rights reserved.

As you fight your battles

It is very likely that right now as you are reading this, you are fighting a battle of some sort. You could be fearful, anxious, weary or broke.

The bible reminds us in St. Luke 12 verses 22 – 34
“…Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 23For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 26If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? 27Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. 30For all the nations of the world seek after these things and your Father knows that you need them. 31Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
32 "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is there will your heart be also.”
We are all driven by our desires and matters of the heart. Quite often we worry and fight over ‘bread and butter’ matters. Life however is more than bread and butter. God desires to bring greater purpose out of our lives that just to make us exist, eat, sleep and find pleasure in the earth.

As you fight your battles, don’t allow cares of life to defeat you. ‘Cares’ are powerful weapons, but don’t allow them to defeat you. Find time for God and the things for which he has created you. If you fight against God and the things which are Godly, then your defeat is certain. But if you are for God and God is for you, who can be against you?
You are a predestined winner.

President Obama Inauguration Speech

When hope shatters like glass

When your hope has been shattered like pieces of glass
What else is left for you to do?
How?
When?
What?
You will ask yourself.
If you have one thread of hope you could hang
from the highest mountain top and never fall.
The strength of a single thread of hope is more than that of a double-braided rope.

There is still hope, let your soul find hope in God.

The mischievous side of love

Boy meets girl and they right away have a ‘thing’ going for each other.
But wait! Take a look at the picture below:

Picture No. 1
The boy showers her with extra attention, so he pulls at her hair, pinch her and even hit her from time to time.
On different days the range of things he will do to her greatly depends on his creativity.
This is described by some as play, love play or mischievous.


Picture No. 2
The girl responds by deliberately avoiding the boy and whenever he carries out his usual acts she make remarks such as, “I hate you”, “I can’t stand you!”, “Why don’t you leave me alone?”
This is described by some as misleading.

There are some people on the other hand, who are able to look at the two pictures above and right away determine that it is love. These two are really in love…Ooh!

But then why do they paint a total opposite picture to the one they are feeling and experiencing?
Why do they become so brash when dealing with each other?

Perhaps this little ‘game’ is played because:

They don’t want it to be public knowledge that they are fond of each other
They are overly concerned about each other, so they end up squeezing each other too tightly, by continuous annoying one another, which eventually leaves one person running away believing they are not liked.
Or maybe it is that we have been socialized to be bashful about love

Which ever of the reasons given above you do agree with; the fact is this same behaviour grows with many of us and remains with us throughout our lives until we recognize it and correct it. This little ‘love game’ leaves many unhappy, never really receiving who or what they desire and admire.

There are those who are brave enough to confess their love to the other party at the risk of being rejected. But such is life, life is a huge risk.

Who or what is controlling YOU?

Who or what is controlling you?
Who or what has the power to direct and determine your next course of action, your next thought or what determine your valuables?

Are you under the control of someone or something?
All of us are under the control of someone or something, without any exception.

When you are under the influence of someone or something your actions are determined accordingly. I saw this week just how one of my friends held her self captive, take a look at this scenario:

She had some money put away as short term savings. She needed to pay some bills that were now overdue. The entire thing placed her under such severe stress. She was under stress because she had some money tucked away that she did not want to use. It was so amazing to see how much pressure she brought unto her self by refusing to withdraw her own money. She was under the control of this thought and remained under its control until she decided to take back control. The same instant she decided to call the financial institution and requested the check was the very same instant her stress level went all the way down.

One of two things usually happened with control: We either yield control or we lose control. It is only when we realize how much control these things and persons have over us that we can make a change. We can refuse to yield control or lose control any longer, then and only then will we have dominion as designed by God.

Another side is, self-control, it is such an important fruit of the spirit we should not yield it to anyone or anything else. It is certainly worth keeping and never losing.

The next time you come under sever pressure from someone or something, take a conscious decision that you will not yield control and you will be amazed how much more power will reside in your hands. Yielding control to the circumstances around us only warrant us powerless. If you have lost control of your life, you can regain control. Then when you have it, then you can truly live it.

2009 Focus

I want to believe and behave as if:

· Better will not come unless I become better

· Change will not come unless I bring about the change.

I wish for you a blessed year

11:59

11:59
On the brink of a…
By J.D. Gordon

We all experience it and some dread it
Buzzing with excitement or caged by fear
We are never the same once that time is near
Change gives rise to stress
Stress forces change

A change is looming at eleven fifty-nine
For we all experience change in our life, at some time, at some point
A change of day, a change of month or a change of year
We lose or gain something, someone dear

You could love it
You could hate it
One thing is natural
We all must have it

If the clock doesn’t stop ticking
You are bound to be changing
For even when your clock stops
A change even in death is happening

But why we say eleven fifty nine?
By no means maligned
A lot you can buy with dollar and dime
But not much can be exchanged for time

Change is certain not constant
For only time changes change
Only change changes time.
Whatever your story or whatever your fame
After Eleven fifty-nine
Things never remain the same
Copyright (c) 2007 J D Gordon All Rights Reserved.

Our Greatest Distraction

Sometimes it is not that our distractions have moved away, or suddenly decide to give us a break; rather it is really a case that we have either refocused or changed our focus.

What would you consider to be your greatest distraction throughout 2008?
As for me, my greatest distraction has been me. I tell myself I can’t and I have allowed my limitations to determine my end and my result.

I have even allowed others to discourage me by their responses to my ideas, my goals and the things which are of paramount importance to me. I lose focus when my wife is upset, my job becomes too pressuring or I become overly tired.

Reaching a point of greatest distraction sometimes is just what we need, a necessary evil you may call it, which forces us to make fundamental changes, only after we see ourselves in a way that no mirror could have showed us. We one day suddenly realize our life is going down a dangerous, unwanted path and only we can stop it and turn things around.

I have reached a point in my life where I now accept that if I have to get very angry, lose my temper or shout then I have lost my focus.
Once I remain conscious I fight my battles with wisdom, love and prayer not with the passion of fury.

Some persons will no doubt confess that their greatest distraction is either money, sex, lust, entertainment, loud music, their peers, worrying, their job, their spouse or life itself. Still others will say it has been a combination of these. I met a lady last week who was very honest enough to tell me that she was not functioning in her main purpose, because she was too busy with life. Talk about being too busy with life to live. Can you imagine your car doing absolutely everything else except what it was designed and made to do?

You know! Regardless of whether we are driving, standing by the road or sitting in our living room. There are some distractions which are always at us, tugging at our imaginations and our desires. In learning to return our energies and attention to where they really belong, we find great strength and are able to tap into that infinite creative realm.

I always use the starting of a new year to do some refocusing. It is the ideal time to revisit my plans and assess where I am and what I need to do to get me to where I desire to be.

I Love Christmas Time

I love the way I feel at Christmas time. It is not just my moment in time, but the experience of the time. It has always been one of my favorite times of the year. Furthermore, it was a day like this that my wife and I got married four years ago, yes we did, that early Christmas morning.

I love the coming together, the eating, the merry making, the fun, families close by and friends near, this always brings me great cheer. Except for those later years of being single when I became very lonely, Christmas is by far the most wonderful time of year for me.

I love the carols, the Christmas plays and pageants, the idea that the entire island take time out to acknowledge Jesus Christ and spend time away from work is no doubt a valuable one.

I have fond memories of my childhood Christmas years and this year, Joshua has certainly brought more Christmas into our Christmas. I hope yours will be filled with love, laughter, joy and peace.I wish God's richest blessings for you and your family.

LOVE FROM US TO YOU
Jermaine, Melesha and Joshua

Fruit Trees

On this Christmas Eve I want to share on fruit trees.

Do you have fruit tress in your yard or on your farm that were not planted by you? Please consider this for a moment. Perhaps too you know someone who has quite a few fruit trees in their yard that they inherited; whatever the case, please stay with me.

Think for a moment, someone actually took the time to plant those trees. They also no doubt, realized that some of the trees would never bear in their life time, yet they spent the time, labored and sweat to bring forth what you and I now enjoy today.

You perhaps think you know where I am going but, I guarantee that you will never see fruit trees the same after today, so read on.

Per chance you have heard the saying that if you succeed without work, it is because someone has already performed the work for you. Likewise, if you work without succeeding, then someone will succeed after you. Well, this is not what this blog is about today either.

There are several things or person in our lives which we could consider are like fruit trees. They are excellent representations of FRUIT TREES. They provide ‘fruit’ as ‘human food’ whether to lift us up when we are down, feed us when we are hungry or catapult us into the unknown as we become better and achieve that which we never imagined possible.

It is a fact that growers often times neglect the annual training and pruning of fruit trees. Without training and pruning, however, fruit trees will not develop proper shape and form. Properly trained and pruned trees will yield high quality fruit much earlier in their lives and live significantly longer.

If you happen to miss your reaping season whether by negligence, choice or adversities. Do not be troubled. I have seen trees which were battered by many storms, live to bear again. If you missed your season, another one will surely come. Pick fruit the first season, but if not, rest assured that some fruit trees bear more than once per year.
Know your time and move at it with haste.

The way things are we can’t afford to go through life without planting. I would like to encourage you to plant two types of fruit tree. Firstly, plant a fruit bearing tree that will mature in your lifetime, to bring new hope, food and life to someone. Then watch the reapers feast of the fruit you have planted and allow yourself to feel satisfied at your accomplishments and be encouraged.

Then secondly, plant a fruit tree that may never bear in your lifetime but will be around for many generations to come. The reapers will be able to find new life, hope and wisdom; strength and perseverance even long after you have gone.

Jesus, Mary his mother and Joseph his earthly father sowed so we could reap. The early disciples of Jesus also sowed what we are feasting of today. They planted fruit bearing trees from which we now partake. We can now celebrate for Jesus’ life He dedicated. We have redemption through the process of salvation. Many years after and many more years to come this hope will be with mankind.

My Parents did just that and today, their nine children, over ten grandchildren and seven great grand children are among the many reapers. The true planters are indeed the best givers, for those who always sow will always have something to reap, something from which they can also give. Those who fully understand this principle know how to live the best lives.

Christmas time is a huge fruit tree planted for you and me. Let us share it

‘Tis the season to spend

Christmas has traditional been the time of year to spend
With family, loved ones or friend
Their excess some would give or probably lend
This year, your time, how will you spend?

Others may spend time being grateful
For all the blessings, the many times God has been faithful
Perhaps bringing a little love to the hateful
A time relished by the peaceful


We all are spenders at one thing or another
What will you consume, fritter or squander?
How will you be spending it, I wonder?
Don’t make a blunder

For I have come to learn
There is so much to the meaning of the word ‘spend’
We could spend money to purchase gifts for ourselves or for others
For whom will you spend?

We could spend time doing specific activities
Embodied in the word ‘spend’ are exhaustion, discharging and completing
How will you be spending, what will you be discharging?

At the end of it all
Dog-tired, in their beds some will fall
Some bankrupt, will file
While others will be with child

Soon after the wine and dine
And you have spent your time
Be sure yourself you can find
An experience sublime

Whether you gave your money, time or kind
Spend time
Precious it is to the heart
And valuable to the mind

Say a word…Bring a little hope

I am amazed at just how many people these days could really use some encouragement.
It is only human nature that our spirits grow weary and faith faint, that is why the Prophet Isaiah said, “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

I want you to know that regardless of your temporary state or your current ‘weather’ conditions. The sun is going to shine again. Be encouraged and be strong, God has not taken you this far to leave you. He is a friend to the friendless, father to the fatherless, a mother to the motherless and He cares about every one of us just the same.

I met a guy on the street a few years ago that felt like he was at the end of his rope. I shared a word of hope with him for just a few seconds. Four years later he stands to tell of his victory since that day. His story is one worthy of spreading to bring hope and purpose to other young men and women.

Today, someone might come to you for you to share a word and bring a little hope and a little light to their dark situation. Let us not become weary in well doing. The words you utter today could be just what someone needed to make it. Be encouraging and bring a little hope.

More than most - Be Inspired!

Christening Day

Sunday, December 14, 2008 on this ordinary day, in an ordinary church service our extra ordinary son was dedicated. Baby christening is a christian tradition we have always upheld in our family and community. In fact for most of Jamaica this is something parents do regardless of whether they are committed christians or not.

It is a special service where the child is offered up to God. In a similar way Jesus took the children and blessed them in the temple.

This day, for the first time our son was officially blessed by our minister, Rev. Albert Mais.

What looked like tear drops and crying, were merely him making it known that he was alive and well. Dressed in his white silk suit and boots to match, Joshua was ready to receive his blessings.

I wondered though just how much of what was happening he understood.

All in all, it was a blessed day and it was Joshua's day.

CONGRATULATIONS!

I know there were times when you certainly thought you couldn’t, you wouldn’t and perhaps shouldn’t.

Throughout the worrying moments; perhaps the pain, the tears, the sleepless nights and the battles you have had to fight. With all the skeptic voices shouting you can’t and you won’t, well you have done it.

You managed to swim against the tide, your success now can not be denied.

Whatever you didn’t know then, now you know, you surely can and you surely did it.

Congratulations!

No Sooner than - Revised

No sooner than I REALIZED that I was standing in the way of my own success
No sooner I succeeded

No sooner than I CHANGED my attitude towards my job
No sooner I found greater job satisfaction

No sooner than I LEARNT that the people who are impatient needs
My patience the most
No sooner I also became more patient with others

No sooner than I OBSERVED that whatever it is that we need we are going to find it difficult to give it
No sooner I tapped into a higher dimension of blessing by giving away what I needed

No sooner than I STOPPED making excuses for why some things just don’t work
No sooner I started resolving problems once considered ‘impossible’

No sooner than I STARTED a crusade to bring about a change
No sooner the change happened

No sooner than I ACCEPTED that the best leaders are indeed the best servants
No sooner I found great pleasure in helping others to discover the bigger purpose and meaning of their lives

No sooner than I PERFORMED my role with excellence
No sooner the world seemed a better place

No sooner than I BELIEVED it could work
No sooner did it happened

No sooner than I RECEIVED my Heavenly Father’s promise that He will provide my needs
No sooner I laid my worries down at His feet while on my knees

No sooner I REFUSED to judge and condemn others
No sooner I began seeing them through the eyes of God and without a tainted perception

No sooner than I LOVED others
No sooner love was returned to me multiplied

I realized it so I changed it, I learnt so I observed. I stopped to start afresh.
I accepted the terms so I needed to perform, I believed and so I received.
I refuse to yield power to the wrong forces because I love that which is righteous.
I now see sooner than later the power within my hands. Yes I can!

Love v Commitment

LOVE

has no boundaries

but

COMMITMENT

comes with limitations

Why are you being someone else?

I was reacting to how badly I was treated by a friend recently, but I soon realized that this wasn’t me at all. I was not being myself.
I wanted her to know how disappointed and hurt I was so I was reacting accordingly. My reactions were supposed to make her feel bad, ah! Or something like that.
The problem with that though is all that wasn’t me. That’s just not the way I behave or treat others.

Furthermore, I had a bigger, better role to play but because someone had done something to me which I didn’t like, I was now playing a minor role, a role totally different from the one God had ‘auditioned’ me for.

I then recognized that I was being distracted. In the wink of an eye I had made the wrongs right and moved on. The sooner I did, the sooner I started living again. My ill feelings, my hurt and my depression were all gone. It was an amazing change of attitude.

Whenever others do bad things to us, sometimes we behave the way we think we should respond and not necessarily the way we would want to. This has the tendency of creating greater conflict on the inside. So a small thing even appears much bigger than it really is. This internal struggle is a battle between the real you and the distracted you.

‘You are your worst enemy’, they say and this really embodies the struggle we face against ourselves.
These distractions come at us every now and again from all angles and in varying shapes and forms. Contended I am, having quit that other role, I am happier, free and I am enjoying the real me.

QUIET PLEASE! Healing Taking Place

Over the past few days I have been displaying this sign on my desk at work above my computer. Quite often we get a little cut and we seek to have the wound covered so it can go through the process of healing. Our aim is to protect it from festering into something else. But how often do we take steps to protect our emotional wounds from festering? It is possible that we feel hurt by things people say and do to us each day of our lives. However, if we are too easily offended, that is a matter all by itself for another time.

People will harm you today because of something you did or said to them 10 years ago. That is the power that unresolved, festered hurts will have over people’s lives. It controls your actions and your reactions. But I have been sieving my life and getting rid of both things and people who are toxic. It is a hard decision in some respects but a very important exercise. No one should go through life without doing this exercise every now and again.

As suspected it will take a little time to get the ‘toxic waste’ and residue out. This is similar to another emotional evaluation tool I created earlier this year called, “Emotional Inventory”.

I am not where I want to be and so I must make changes to my life in going looking forward to a new year. I am not perfect, on the contrary I am far from it. But God is faithful and He has promised to perfect that which concerns me. So as I am going through my healing, it is very important that I let others understand that.

The emotional scars we carry can do far more damage than a little cut on the finger or a cut on the forehead. So if you happen to pass by me, do not be alarmed, just remember to be quiet! - healing taking place

More than enough vs not enough

I thought I was sufficiently and adequately qualified to earn enough but it was just not enough, no never enough.

I figured with all my knowledge and experience I would be able to run my finances, but that was just not enough either.

I felt like I had a good handle on relating to others and had very good ingredients for creating and maintaining healthy and long lasting relationships, but again I was wrong, I just did not have enough.

I thought if I was nice, polite and kind to everyone then they in return would be nice, polite and kind to me. Well, that was the case most of the time, but still not enough.

I felt I had it within me to tackle my inadequacies, my fears and worries, YES! What I had was good enough to a point, after that it was just not good enough.

I knew my dreams and aspirations were many but in comparison to God’s perfect plan for me, my wishes were so small, less than enough.

I knew that the only way to please God was through faith, without which it is impossible to please Him. So I was able to believe and trust Him for the smaller things and surely he provided those but I thought God couldn’t handle the bigger stuff. I soon realized that once the problems grew bigger my faith and belief was not enough not even a mustard seed size.

So as I came to know Jesus more and more and trusted Him as my Lord and Saviour, I now turn over my finances to Him, my relations, my dreams and plans, my fears, worries and shortcomings for He is more than enough. My faith believes in the impossible and today I know there is absolutely nothing faith in an all powerful, all knowing God cannot achieve.

I am glad I have learnt that he is truly more than enough. In a world hard pressed for more of everything, I know a God who is everything and He is more than enough.

In Christ Alone

The Way Home

When you have lost your way and have become weary of life do you know your way home?
If you allow the struggles and challenges to overburden you, eventually you also will become stressed and despondent. Does this sound like you?

Depressed?

Perhaps so as well

Well you are not alone...There are so many institutions, societies, churches, families, government and individuals who have totally lost their way. Issues which once were dear to our hearts have become far less significant. Moral standards have decayed and many have strayed. We defend the wrong as though our inheritance depended on it. The original purpose for which some things were created has been abhorrently compromised and we continue to make silly excuses.

How many things around you are actually working the way they ought to? Most certainly it is not a perfect world, we are not even close. I am not for one minute purporting that all is lost. But when we have lost our way and need to find our way home, then it cannot be business as usual. Some things must change.

The Prodigal son is one such story of hope, forgiveness and love. He left all the convenience and comfort of his father's house to champion life on his own. He was careless in his spending and immature in accepting certain responsibilities. He lost his way. He soon became poor and wanting. His ‘friends’ with whom he squandered his money turned their backs on him. He had become destitute, disgraceful and overcome by shame. Nonetheless, He never allowed that to stop him. He never gave up.

Instead he got up and decided it was time to journey home. Not surprising, he knew the way home. He knew he could raise his current standard; perhaps also return to his rightful place. His father was waiting, hoping for his safe return. Upon his return, he wanted to negotiate the terms, bargaining to be a servant as he thought that he was no longer worthy to be called a son. But his forgiving and loving father opened his arms and his heart and received his son which was lost. He was restored to his rightful place, a son.

When we have lost our way home, it puts us in a place where we can experience the power of love and forgiveness. It gives us an opportunity to make a new story of hope. Don’t give up even if it seems like all around is shattering. There is a way home; regardless of the facts facing you. There is hope. There is a way, you too can find your way home.

The story is really about the forgiving father. In a similar way our Heavenly Father loves and forgives us once we are willing to come home. You too should love and forgive others so God's best can be done in their lives and also in yours.

Have a good walk today.