Guest Post : Hurricane Ivan

Guest Post: Written By M. H Japal

Ivan is a category 4 Hurricane that had devastated Grenada in the year 2004

Hurricane Ivan the destructive one came to take away my land,

he came Tuesday 7th September,

telling me,

I have to surrender,

I said no Jesus is my saviour and I know he’s going to deliver,

I am sure of that because my prayers are always answered.

Monday the news came around,

Television and radio broadcasted it loud

and I knew that day everyone heard.

Some ignored the warning smiling as they go

saying

I know for sure that will get slow

Carrying on as usual without any fear,

While others with concern started to prepare.

G is for God,

Good,

Grenada

That was their statement when they heard the announcements.

Ha,ha,ha some would have laughed

God love his people that will just pass,

Good people we are,

We Grenadians are blessed

But it did not take long before we were in a mess,

Rain started falling,

Wind blowing,

Trees breaking,

Houses flying,

My God look how the neighbors running,

Screaming as they go,

Whoever thought it would have been so.

He attacked us at 12.49am

A category 3,

With winds at 160.

Came with a vengeance to wipe us out completely,

We fought to stay alive even though the battle was not easy,

It seemed as if it will last forever

And begged,

God! Please let it be over.

A mother and her baby we lost

And don’t forget the gentleman’s heart

That collapsed.

When it was all over,

We had a devastated Grenada,

Everyone’s now uniting as one,

For everything we had,

Was gone!

Coping with shattered dreams,

We all sheltered under blue tapolins.

Ivan thought that wasn’t enough,

So he sent ‘Sister Emily’ to finish us off.

July 14th 2005 she came,

Rushing with all her might,

Well this time we were prepared

And took cover so our lives would be spared,

Now after two disasters I can truly say,

God have been good to us regardless of what came our way.

Love is – Excerpt from a piece I wrote

Excerpt from a piece I wrote :-

Sometime ago I’d learned that they’re some things in life that aren’t worth it.

The Constant failures in my life had taught me just that, and at this very moment, with such an important decision to make I needed the experience that those twenty two years of my life had taught me.

Because this was one of the rare moments I’d encountered something worth it.

It may not be important to others but it was to me.

In every decision, there’s a compromise and with every compromise there’s a sacrifice.

The question is “Am I willing to make that sacrifice”.

The answer was already engraved in my heart – “I am”.

I wish I could state though that I regret the decisions I’d made a few years ago –the one’s that have brought me to this cross road, but I can’t.

Love will do that to you.

Love will change you,

love would make you desire to become a better person,

love will push you beyond limits,

love know’s no boundaries,

love is universal,

love is pain,

love is hurt,

love is compromise and love is sacrifice.

Love is the reason I’m about to expose myself to another.

To another after God, that has captured my heart.

Something, Nothing & Everything about God

There is something about God or maybe nothing about God but Everything about God that has me in Awe.

My heart races whenever I think about God’s Love for me.

I get goose bumps from excitement,

The feeling is overwhelming,

Intoxicating,

Exhilarating,

Heady.

Have you ever experienced something so special?

That there’s this bubbling in your stomach and

all you desire to do is scream and shout with sheer pleasure,

“OH GOD I LOVE YOU SO MUCH”

That’s the place I’ve gotten to in my life,

Whenever I think about his love, his mercies, his protection,

“HIM”

I’m speechless.

Words can’t describe how I feel about the “Almighty Father”.

Neither can it describe how “The Great I Am That I Am” feels about me and you.

The fact that this supernatural being of such Magnificence gave his life for a sinner like you and you is humbling –tears inducing even.

He’s prepared a place for all who has accepted his free gift of salvation.

Of Walls made of Jasper & Streets paved with Gold.

Call me crazy – I’ll be Crazy for Jesus.

Closer than a brother is what he is.

Better than a friend.

He’s Sweeter than the Honey and the Honey Comb.

Talk about Sweetness….. 😀

He is Jehovah,

The Rose of Sharon,

The Lily of the Valley,

The bright and Morning Star,

He is worthy to be praised.

Because

There is something about God or maybe nothing about God but Everything about God that has me in Awe.

Solving your New year’s Resolution failures – It’s time to Achieve them

As each New Year approaches the same sentiments are echoed.

“Pull out your pens and papers people it’s time to write our new year’s resolution”

And at the end of the five minutes that have been allotted, numerous things have been written.

“I’ll obey my parent’s, I’ll eat healthier, I’ll lose a few pounds or maybe I’ll gain a bit”

Most of us only take part in such because it has become a norm in our society.

In fact most of the things that we write, seemingly desiring change, we don’t really mean.

And that would have been ok if only we weren’t deceiving ourselves and anyone else.

I Know,

I’ve been there done that,

I wrote on each paper I’ve been given what I thought everyone expected me to write,

Not what I wanted,

And when that year was closing and the question of “did everyone accomplish what they had set out to do this year” was asked.

The answer was always No.

Most of us have never accomplished what we wanted for the years gone by,

But maybe you can just tackle that this year.

As I thought about the things I wanted and should have accomplished years before,

I decided that Instead of New Year’s Resolutions, I can have an everyday resolution.

The problem of not achieving your goals doesn’t lie in the resolution itself or the timespan.

It lies in us.

It’s as if we desire the change to be automated.

Change doesn’t happen because we wish it too, or because it’s written on a sheet of paper for the world to see.

Neither does it occur on the spur of the moment; instead it’s a process that occurs overtime.

Effective change should be made gradually, one step at a time.

A baby crawls before it stands and stands before it makes his first step,

And then a second and a third and pretty soon he’s walking and overtime running.

That’s how changes work,

Overtime.

I believe that if it is tackled daily, it will work out much better.

#1. Don’t get a sheet of Paper.

Get a diary!

You’re less liable to lose a diary than a sheet of paper and more susceptible to reading it.

#2. List all of the things that you desire to change or accomplish.

It can be separated by time span –

Short term and Long term, you can even write an additional copy on Bristol board and stick it to the wall of your bedroom so that when you wake it can be visible.

Technology has even expanded itself to serve our needs so you can type them into your tablet or smart phone.

It will serve as a reminder.

(pls. Make sure they’re reasonable eg. I want to win 30,000.00 in the lottery that is a bit unreasonable. Make sure it is something that can be accomplished by you.

#3. Create a Schedule.

Yes, plan everything on paper. Record your daily routine, include an approximate time when whatever you’re doing should begin or end.

(Especially if you plan on losing weight putting aside at least fifteen -15 minutes will help with your goals)

#4. Have a minuscule support group –

It can be your, husband, wife, children, parents, friends etc. Having people in on your goals willing to support you will help you achieve it quicker.

#5. Take it one step at a time.

Simple –just take baby steps.

#6. Expect Disappointments.

Everything may not go your way, on your way to success there’s always failure or stumbling blocks. What’s important is how you deal with these roadblocks. Don’t sit back and cry, get up and move on!