Author: Noel Williams

Welcome to my new blog–Jamaican Gazette. My name is Noel Williams. I am a former Law Enforcement Officer and hobbyist food photographer. I use this blog to report trending news in Jamaica. My main focus are: Politics, culture, crime, Dancehall and Reggae.

Why worry?

Just like many of you, I worry about tomorrow. I worry about my future, my kid’s future; there is always something that causes any number of us to worry. But sometimes our worry is unnecessary. Other times it’s out of genuine fear of what might or might not happen. Either way, worrying is an unwelcome burden we take unto ourselves.

As Christians, we shouldn’t worry so much. In fact, we should cut worry out of our lives. Instead, we should pray, and do what Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30). The writer of 1 Peter 5:7 said: “Cast all your anxiety on Him (Jesus), because He cares for you.” Also, the Psalmist David said this: “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He will sustain thee. He will never let the righteous be move, (Psalm 55:22).

My late grandmother thought me how not to worry about things I cannot control. A long time ago she noticed that I was beside myself. She asked me what was wrong. I told her that I feared I did not do well in my grade nine achievement exams. She looked me in the eyes and said, “Too late! Worry won’t change what you wrote on your exams.” That was good advice, but I do not always use it for my benefit.

Indeed! Worry never made a wrong decision right. It never changed the course of a hurricane, and it never stopped a financial disaster. But it can wreak havoc on one’s health. Why waste precious time worry?

Forever live–Keri Jobe

Let there be light–Hillsong Worship

Mark 8:22-25 (NIV)

A Blind Man Healed at Bethsaida

22 Jesus and His disciples came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When He had spit on the man’s eyes and put His hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”

24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”

25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes opened, his sight restored, and he saw everything clearly.

Good things happen when you trust God

To trust God takes more than lip service. It requires strong faith, dedication and confidence; and knowing within your heart that God loves you and He wants to help. And only He alone can help. Many Christians think one has to be a follower of Jesus Christ for God to help you. Wrong. Some people follow Jesus, yet they do not trust God.

Learning to trust God takes some form of transformation which could take years to develop. But it could also take a moment or an occurrence of some sort. For instance, from all accounts, neither the Centurion nor his dying trusted worker referenced in Luke 7:1-10 were followers of Jesus. Still yet the Centurion was confident that Jesus could heal his worker. So, he sent for Him.

But while Jesus was on His way, the Centurion exercised strong faith. He sent word telling Jesus to stay put, “I am not worthy to have you under my roof”. He then suggested Jesus just say the word, from where he was, and his servant would become whole again. Jesus then commented that He had never seen such strong faith.

And the woman with an issue of blood (Luke 8:43-48), proved once again that good things happen when you trust God. Perhaps she learned about Jesus through friends and relatives. Still, she believed that her age-old problem would get solved if she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment.

Friends, contrary to popular belief, extraordinary things happen when you trust God. And you need not be a follower of Jesus before tribulation comes. Like the Centurion, you can confess your unworthiness to Him in that dark moment, and life changing results will happen.

Of course, it is better to have an ongoing sincere relationship with God before trouble starts. That way you will be more confident that the God you serve and trust will deliver you.

The three Hebrew boys, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3), had a relationship with God. So, when Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon threatened to throw them in a furnace seven times hotter than usual for failure to worship his golden image, they never flinched.

The boys were trusted servants, so the king gave them the option to escape his wrath. But they refused. Instead, the group told the king that they would not worship his gods or bow to his golden image. And they were confident that their God would deliver them.

The Bible says Nebuchadnezzar commanded his mightiest soldiers to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. But something extraordinary happened. Instead of three men, the king saw four men walking in the midst of the fire unhurt. Those boys knew whom they serve. And they knew the God of their ancestors never fails.

Indeed! Good things happen when you trust God. Not just for your benefit. But also for the glory of God. Nebuchadnezzar would later embrace the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

How Denominations Destroy Faith

There is a lot we can learn from each other as we share our differing perspectives and understandings of Jesus. That is, if we can dare to be a little vulnerable and admit that maybe we don’t have God all figured out.

Source: How Denominations Destroy Faith