Psalm 23 for Busy People Toki Miyashina

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The Lord is my Pace Setter, I shall not rush,

He makes me stop and rest for quiet intervals,

He provides me with images of stillness,

Which restore my serenity.

He leads me in ways of efficiency,

through calmness of mind; and his guidance is peace.

Even though I have a great many things to accomplish each day,

I will not fret, for his presence is here.

His timelessness, his all-importance will keep me in balance.

He prepares refreshment and renewal in the midst of my activity,

by anointing my head with his oils of tranquility,

My cup of joyous energy overflows.

Surely harmony and effectiveness shall be the fruit of my hours,

For I shall walk in the pace of my Lord,

and dwell in his house for ever.

Toki Miyashina

Greed means Stress

Compared to the people from the old times, the commoners who have to get water from the well and travels only by feet, who has only rocks to rest their cooking wares that is made out of clays to cook,  who have very few clothes to wear, who have very small space to live and very simple way of living. They must be envious of what we have at the present time because of the comfort of the Technology that we are experiencing. They will probably be surprised how comfortable to travel in different ways, how easy to cook, wash clothes, clean the house,  etc.  Yet I have a feeling that they will be even more surprised to find out how stressful our life still in spite of all the help we get from the benefits of technological advancement in our time. (Although there has to be some parts of the world that people are still living in a very simple life as described from the start, with no access to present time technology.)

There are times I envy people who have simple lives for having a simplistic frame of mind and they get to feel more and taste life more. Nowadays it's even a struggle for us to get a quiet time in these very loud and so many things to be busy about world, sometimes we even feel guilty for having to do nothing in laying low. Our mind runs hundred miles per second, very busy of wanting to do more, more achievements, higher salary rates, more collections, more clothes, more everything. But you know, at the end of the day what could have made our day complete are the simplest of things; harmonious conversations, laughter, personal connections, breeze of the air, the beauty of nature, quiet moments, enjoying our meals, etc. We underestimate the importance of the simple things that we can share (which is for me the true basis of happiness) and we overestimate the significance of material things that we keep for ourselves.

I am not saying having less means we will sin less. I get that we are all sinners and we are all captives of sin. I am just saying that with the help of Technology in our life these days it should have been a lot easier to find time to quiet our mind. It is surprising for me how we are still so burdened of so many things in this time of supposed to be more relaxed. Could it be that we are stressed out too much because of our greed to have more and more? Is it really going to make us happy? Maybe, just maybe, having less means peace.

Dark Knight R F

Prayer for the Philippines

Heavenly Father Thank you again for this great morning that you are presenting to me today which is peaceful and wonderful morning. I often forget to appreciate small things in my life but to others it's big. I have come to realize that there are no small things because we owe everything to you. Compared to all the people who are suffering right now in the Philippines our country men, we have so much to be thankful for and so many reasons to be faithful to you. As we come to you humbling ourselves as sinners that confesses our sins on a daily basis. We ask for your forgiveness. forgive us from being so weak and selfish Lord. There must be a message behind this great devastation we have seen that is so obvious which is about the issue of transforming our hearts not only locally but worldwide not only within our self but together with our family. Help us to pay really good attention to it and take you seriously this time. Send us the Holy Spirit to guide us and that we may have the fruits of the Holy Spirit which are love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. We lift up to you all who were severely affected, the ones who have lost their loved ones, those who have lost their faith in you because of this strengthen them Lord, may the survivors rebuild their lives and family in the confidence of your Love and Honor. We ask all of these in the name of Jesus Christ our solid reality, King of kings, Light of the world, our sure Foundation, our Healing and Wholeness, our Savior and our Salvation, we trust in you. Amen

Dark Knight R F