It’s far easier to exist than to live. What are you doing? Living or Existing?
John 11: 25 ‘I am the resurrection and the life’…
In Loving Security…
Our security comes, not from the beautiful edifices we live in, nor from the pots of money that we possess, but from the love that surrounds us – Jacqueline
Leashed and Loved – A beautiful pooch
Chocolate and sugar craft sculpting – The Elephant family
Chocolate and Sugar Craft – In mama’s arms
You can have all the material wealth but poor and insecure in your heart. A heart that’s rich in love is the most secure and wealthiest of all – Jacqueline
What Are You Willing To Give? #SoCS
Giving my thoughts free rein this morning, my mind automatically rests on thoughts of Jesus Christ and yesterday’s sermon of Good Friday where we recalled how he was betrayed by Judas and crucified.
His Life was traded and given away for 30 pieces of Silver and though it happened over 2,000 years ago and for many, it reads like an old tale from the storybooks, it’s a fact and always leaves me in shivers.
I wonder to myself how horrifying and beyond pain it must be to be clubbed to the inch of one’s life and nailed to a cross to slowly die.
From the beginning of time, man’s attitude towards what they don’t understand has always been to destroy it because it just doesn’t fit into the frame of their mind and plan.
We forget that the minds we’ve been given can only grow in proportion to our way of thinking, that our sojourn on Earth is only for mere years and that there are things that our human mind may never, ever comprehend.
I ask myself, would I willingly give my life and submit to such inhumane treatment for the benefit of others and I don’t have a ready answer to such complicated question though a little part of my mind whispers ‘you are not Jesus Christ.’
How difficult it is for us to give a neighbor a helping hand in their time of need, to give out of what we have, yet we willingly take and take.
Yet in a split second, selfish and savage tendencies can overpower the thinking faculties of men that they bay for the blood of other men whom we didn’t give life to.
Crucifying has not gone out of fashion, it has merely morphed into different ugly methods. Just take a hard and long look around you.
We’ve been given so much by life, what are we willing to give?
Most times all we are required to give is to love while we are here and to stop thinking of only how we can receive. How difficult can that be?
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
“WHO AM I?”
It’s a long journey of discovery. Enjoy being and finding you.
A life spent being fearful of showing your soul is a life not worth living.”
― Shannon L. Alder
A few days ago athling at A Writer’s Life presented the quote above by ― Shannon L. Alder. I asked her at that time if she would mind if I pass it on in this Writer’s Quote Challenge. —–
How much of your soul do you reveal in posts for your blogs? I think many bloggers blog because it give opportunity to vent about themselves in a way that is at least semi-anonymous.
There seems to be so many people who are trying to “discover” themselves. From my vantage point in age, I say, “Relax, you will not will not be your full self until the day you die.” Every day adds a new layer to the person you are. Even if it is the most boring horrible day of…
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The Time…Friday Fiction in Five Sentences
He could recreate her routine to the last second, sometimes he watched and silently willed her to break it, but like clockwork, she kept to her schedule of little things.
At precisely 4.15, she would come in, a creature of habit, she loved to sit in the same chair and the quieter corner behind the shelf with Art on a bold plaque pinned to its side.
She would plug in her laptop, put on her headphones, hum and move to the soundless music as she happily chomped on Twizzlers and tapped away rhythmically on her Toshiba laptop.
At 6.30 she would rise, stretch her taut limbs that bordered on thin, go for a restroom break and return with her lips glistening pink from gloss, a powdered face and a cup of decaf from the vending machine.
Now it’s 5 minutes to 8, he watched her pack up her things, in less than two minutes she would take the stairs two at a time, sadly, she seemed happy today, it was time, so he followed behind.
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
Featured Blogs
‘PLEASE SEND IN YOUR LINKS.’
Today’s featured blogs are:
Do step in, explore these blogs and show some love.
Inspired Beacon More than just a blog. Kaylaa offers you food for thought, personal development, better living, inspiration and sells high-quality Products on her site.
Two Are Better Than One Michelle authors this most heartwarming site. I always leave here richer than I was when I visited.
Caffeinated Ramblings Brenda offers poetry and posts that reach inside you. They simply make you pause.
Steps To Protect Tasha runs this gem of a site. Offers down to earth, sensible safety tips, humourous anecdotes of life and safety/self-defense online shop.
Come In, Sit Down Anna offers you the skinny details on Diabetes, Mental health, Yummy recipes, and bits of this and that.
Brew N Spew Eugenia’s whimsical and capricious chatter will make you laugh, think, stop, cry and smile. She offers delicious brew too.
Lifting Taboos Maline’s naked and sometimes brutally honest posts make my eyes water. Every time I read her about page that I’ve read several times, I feel something shift inside me.
Thus N Such A delightful poetry blog where certainty is doubtful – the authors’ byline.
Do you want more eyes on your words?’
Well then, add your LINK INTO THIS LOOP.
Comments are disabled here to keep the loop tidy. Any comments or link you want to send can be added through the link in the post.
Thank you for your understanding and regards.
‘Remember, we create a cohesive community when we come together.
A Promenade, A little Show and Some Fake Snow…Echoes of My Neighbourhood
- I thought that I would have a quieter week this week with the children being on a mini-vacation from school. I lied!
There were lots of pending activities to fit into our busy days – church matters and meetings, school projects, getting my daughters hair fixed (a major project) etc, etc.
Phew! I didn’t know when we hit Thursday but we did manage to squeeze in fun along the way. That’s what living is, isn’t it? Balancing all the nuts on your fire 🙂
City walk Dubai is a beautiful location to visit anytime. There’s so much that aesthetically pleases the eyes’ and there are loads of people to watch. I took lots of photos that I don’t even know which one’s to use.
Lady Lee shares some leche flan with us. Do you know how to make one?
Don’t Quit Your Blog! Just Tweak it.
Is Your Blog in A Rut? Don’t Your Quit Blog.
No one told you that it would be a slow climb of grits, cramped fingers and the snail pace attention from your expected dream audience.
No one told you that finding fame or making money from blogging is not easy pickings and that there are many days the thrill would fizzle out faster than the time it took the ink of your words to dry.
No one told you when you started blogging, all awash with excitement and so much to say, that time might come when you find yourself writing terse sentences such as:
Sorry I haven’t posted for AGES, guys.
Don’t know what to say….blah, blah.
If you are contemplating tossing in your paddle and jumping out of the choppy waters of your blogging boat; I would say, halt!
As a matter of fact, according to online research, most bloggers struggle and 95% of bloggers give up and abandon their blogs within six months of starting.
They open a blog, post with enough enthusiasm to keep a steam engine running for a while, then they either find a niche and a particular way of expressing themselves, or they run out of steam, lose heart and walk away.
The highway of the huge worldwide web is dotted with blogs abandoned by their owners and sometimes, it gives one a reason to pause and ponder why.
- A common reason beginner bloggers give up is because they become frustrated by the technical side of things. They find customizing their blogs tedious and coupled with other stress factors, they pack up their bags and leave the scene.
- Following quickly behind this is the fast-moving, ever-evolving world of social media that requires tons of attention to grow and engage an audience.
- The toll from trying to grow a blog in the sea of blogs is the number one reason why bloggers quit.
- Running out of ideas on what to blog about, not knowing what to do about their blog and a hectic lifestyle add themselves to the steamy cocktail to make it more challenging.
Don’t Become A Statistic
We all want a successful blog, but the difference between success and failure lies in doing the needful to succeed.
Success in general, regardless of the area it is in life, requires dogged discipline and consistency. It requires applying the right strategies and sticking with it for the long haul. People don’t become successful by giving up too soon.
I know that there’s a huge difference between saying “be patient and keep going”, and the reality, but with a pragmatic approach, your blog can survive and thrive. It need not become a statistic.
Methodical Approach – read more here…
Featured Posts – Share Your Post Links
‘PLEASE SEND IN YOUR LINKS.’
Today’s featured blogs posts are:
Do step in and show some love.
Labeling yourself or others – insert I am illness An insightful post you’ll be glad you read. We’ve got to be careful what stickers and labels we affix on ourselves.
The 5 stages of dealing with your kid’s car seat This post gave me several chuckles. I remember days of battling with the children’s car seats. Thankfully, we’ve grown past that. Take a peek and buckle up 😉
Repurposing The Talking Drum We can make music from anything. This is fun to watch 🙂
Penpoint Pub Have you been to pen point pub? I love the byline ‘let’s get to the point together.’ Visit and say hey.
Amanpan blog My dear lady Eugenia serves up decadent brew from her bottomless pot of coffee while entertaining you with chatter that provokes thoughtful rumination. Go say hello.
Do you want more eyes on your words?’
Well then, add your LINK INTO THIS LOOP.
Comments are disabled here to keep the loop tidy. Any comments or link you want to send can be added through the link in the post.
Thank you for your understanding and regards.
‘Remember, we create a cohesive community when we come together.
Caught in The Dark…
The night bears its own charm. It cloaks things in exciting mystery and sometimes adds that forbidden element that simply makes you want to either explore or flee.
a cooking pot and twisted tales 