Hostility among nations

Can there ever be #peaceinourworld? After all the hostility seen among nations, the fear, pain, and suffering experienced by groups of people in our world there are those who may not know what it means to have #peace. “Peace is an occurrence of harmony characterised by the lack of violence, conflict behaviours, and the freedom from fear of violence”. (Wiki quote)

We hear of the violence in the Middle East and North Africa with nine civil wars going on in Islamic countries between Pakistan and Nigeria. Over two million Syrian forced from their homes and none of these wars shows any signs of ending. Then there’s the plight of over sixty-five thousand Rohingya people who had to flee Myanmar to Bangladesh. We also hear about the abuse, pain and humiliation suffered by children, young people, the elderly, and those caught up in modern day slavery in our own part of the world. Then there’s the blatant discrimination of refugees landing in the West, and one could almost emphase with them as so many of us have experienced rejection in a foreign land, among strange people ourselves.

What is it that possesses mankind to believe that they have some claim to a certain part of the world or that their race or culture is superior to others? Have they not heard; all people are like grass, and all their glory is like the grass of the field, the grass withers and the flowers fall. (1 peter 1:24). Those who show power over others need to know that there’s someone who is more powerful than they are who holds the key to life and death in his hand. His name is  #Jehovah,  #GodAlmighty, he neither slumbers nor sleeps. He is very much aware of the atrocities carried out by vicious men/women throughout the world. He is known as the  #Comforter, he promise to wipe away every tear from the eyes of the broken hearted and those who mourn.

The prophet Isaiah tells of a time when hostility between peoples will be a thing of the past. He speaks of a time of #peaceandtranquillity when hostile man and vicious animals will live in harmony. He refers to the time when Christ reign over the earth. Scripture say in that day the wolf and the lamb will lie down together, and the leopard and goats will be at peace. Calves and fat cattle will be safe among lions, and a little child shall lead them all. #Isaiah 11: 6-9.

To believe that peace is available to all can be a hard thing to imagine. The fact is that #ChristJesus came into the world to offer us his peace as a #giftfomGod. This is a state of quiet or tranquillity from agitation as from fear/ terror. Quietness of mind, calmness, a quiet of conscience, and this peace is freely available for those who will put aside malice and strife against their fellowmen and turn to him. We have all experience hurt in one form or another and #forgiveness is the key to #findingpeacewithGod and each other. I pray that Men, Women and Children throughout the world will experience HIS peace and live in  #harmony with God and one other beginning today.

 

 

 

Reflections

It’s New Year’s Eve and a few years ago I would be getting ready either to attend New Year’s Eve service at my church or to spend the time at one of my Son’s house. This year however I’m not able to leave the house due to a cold and I’m taking time to reflect on life.

Straight ahead of where I’m sitting hang photos of my parents in their forties. Nearby hangs another of me and my husband with our young family. Parents and my husband are no more. Children are all grown up with families of their own.

Sitting here I have so many #memories to reflect on just by looking at the pictures. This particular time of the year I’m taken to times when I looked forward to Mum’s special dish for the evening.  It’s as though I’m back through time enjoying the presence of my parents as they come to see the New Year in with us. What great times we had #reminiscing on time gone by back home. Eating and drinking I can still hear all their voices, children at play, the room filled with laughter and the sound of music, and goodies on the table.

How swiftly the years past taking along with it youth and changing them into adults, and the adults into old people who finally pass away leaving us only with #preciousmemories. The pictures remind me that life does not remain static but that we move along with time. This is clearly seen in the faces of each one of us as we journey through life. Thanking God for the memories!

 

 

 

Conflict

There’s a lesson to be learnt in every disaster that occurs around the world. We are constantly being reminded of the plight of refugees. We see people fleeing homes where they lived all their lives leaving their belongings behind, and we watch terrified Children cry.

We also hear of people being kidnapped, turned into slaves and living in bondage.  In these trying times of life we can see how easy it is to lose everything including our self-esteem through no fault of our own. It’s time for us to give a thought to those caught up in these terrible conflicts, and pray for their safety and well-being remembering that they are brothers and sisters of ours needing mercy.Who knows what tomorrow will bring. Let us not forget to pray for our safety and our well-being too.

 

 

The ones without a voice #inspiration

#Loveandkindness seems to have gone out of the hearts of men in our world today. We hear about those who abuse children and young people, the elderly, and those caught up in modern day slavery. The suffering experienced by groups of refugees, the hatred, fear, pain and the humiliation suffered by all the various group of individuals and the nation’s hearts go out to them. But there are groups of other suffering people e.g. Abused partners who stand alone in their distress. When it comes to the ordinary woman/man who has for years felt unloved by their spouse and who has continuously suffered abuse, scorn, rejection and other degrading circumstances they stand alone. Many women/men although they may have a roof over their heads, families around them they too can be made to feel excluded, alone, neglected and even treated with hostility. Many go about their daily lives with a smile carrying out their everyday chores even though they are hurting inside. With no one to persecute for the #injusticesuffered, many turn to #GOD for comfort, and solace. In Him they can say with confidence “Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness”. Why? because they can find solace in  #theGodofmercy.

Restored to face challenges

When God Intervenes tells the story of how God transformed my life from one of brokenness and lack of self-esteem to one who can stand up to face challenges.

God met me at a time of deep distress where life seemed pointless and the only option for me was to end it all. Unknown to me the invitation to attend a convention would be the beginning of a new and vibrant life. This inspiring book tells how God’s intervention enabled and equipped me to provide a service to help those suffering emotional despair such as mental stress, loneliness, isolation, and rejection:  issues that previously affected me. God gave me a deep passion for those suffering emotionally. B y putting my faith in God I was enabled to overcome giant obstacles to offer support to destitute individuals not only in Hackney but internationally through my organisation “Wayside Community Centre”. Read about my trials, rejections, struggles, determinations and successes for the past twenty-six years.

Order your copy today online from; Amazon, or purchase yours through email from my website. Jeanvjohn.com

World View On Life

Looking back over the years can we truthfully say that we have moved on with the years? It is said that time waits for no man yet there are numerous amount of individuals whose lives remain static while the years go by.  Attitudes to life play a big part in our lagging behind.  However  #changing the way we think, can make us less  #obnoxious and more #desirous to live in the world. Life is a journey that entails changes. We watch our children grow from infancy and take on their identity in life. They must decide where they want to go or what they want to achieve in life. Some may take a negative stance to life while the others make a positive stance. This positive or negative view will, in the end, portray characteristic of the world view taken on by each one.

Thinking I don’t care what the world think about #mybehaviour puts restrictions to  #personaldevelopment in life. So often we see some people who shared the same attitudes to life change and move on to achieve something better whilst others remain static in the past getting nowhere. #Thinkpositivately and find hidden jems within yourselves for #thenewyear.

Life in Old age

Winter can be a depressing time of year especially for older people living alone, but it could also be a time of reflecting on the past. The evening sun fades and gives way to shadows of darkness. Youth also fades and gives way to old age. Sitting alone in the dark and gloom of winter it’s good to know that the memory stores bright sunny days of times gone by, times of our youth when we were busy bringing up a family and enjoying life to the full. How swiftly the year’s pass, not only for us but for our children who have all grown up and moved on leaving us behind. Winter for me can never be depressing when there are countless additions to the family, books to be read, articles to be written, speaking appointments to be delivered, and so many blessings to reflect on.#inspirational

 

The plight of the Elderly

The latest news on cutbacks has brought home the fact that Organisations such as ours could be a thing of the past unless something miraculous occurs quickly. Wayside is a resourceful organisation and has been successfully managed on a shoestring budget to deliver services that are both meaningful and effective to the community. Our project provides care and support to older people. These include social/recreational and keep fit activities that contributes to their ability to remain independent, reduce circulatory diseases, obesity and diabetes. Due to the recent economic decline many organisations are struggling to survive and we are feeling the pinch. Although we generate some income from the shop this is not sufficient to keep the doors open and unless the situation improves we will be forced to close our doors.  Putting many vulnerable lives at risk of social isolation. Service users have found the activities a great source for socialising and it has clearly helped them feel more confident, invigorated, refreshed, and full of life. The programme has also seen vast improvements in the health and well being of its users; it has enabled participants the chance to regain all or some lost abilities. Health complaints such as High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Arthritis, Stroke, and Heart Disease have become more controllable and people are now able to do more for themselves. It is estimated that one in twenty (5.1%) people in Hackney and the City have diabetes, with significantly higher prevalence among Black and Asian people. In 2003 obesity caused about 4,000 deaths in London (7% of all deaths) including 600 from heart attacks, 450 from strokes and high blood pressure. Obesity also caused around 2,700 hospital admissions for cancer, 2,500 for angina or heart attack, 2,400 for diabetes and 1,300 admissions for stroke or raised blood pressure (City & Hackney Joint Strategic Needs Assessment 2008). The  impact the recession has on our ability to deliver services is seen in the reduction of activities from 8 times weekly to 2 x weekly sessions. These activities benefited 200 people weekly but as from last November our funding was depleated and ever since no immediate funds has became available to carry out these activities. As a result we had no choice but to cut back on the amount of classes we could afford to deliver. The two classes cannot accommodate the numbers of people turning up for the exercises and we could only put them on hold until further sessions could be arranged. Unless something is produced soon these people will finally become bored, give up and return to a position where they are once again being socially disconnected, at risk of developing chronic diseases and loosing their independence.

A critical view of Church

Whilst listening to the preacher I had a feeling he was speaking to me personally even going as far as making a demand on my life. He was telling me I had certain duties to perform in the church, and I certainly was not prepared to get involved there. I was beginning to feel very restless and angry and had a great urge to escape. Being a polite person I simply switched off and went to a pity party with myself thinking of my own sad state of heart. The breakdown of the marriage which was very painful came to mind. How was I going to cope? What would become of me – these were just a few of my thoughts. I was not particularly in a good mood and started getting critical of the people simply for being happy in Church. They were smiling, clapping and praising God and I was not amused.

Labelled an Outcast

My newfound way of life however had its disadvantages; some people seeing the dynamic changes likened it to insanity and described me as having: ‘gone mad’. Some even certified this as fact. Because not only was I seen in the company of the mentally ill and other people seen as outcasts I also welcomed them into my home.