JB Lifestyle

We are still in the wake of hurricane Harvey that devastated Houston recently. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this disaster. May God be your strength and may he comfort you in your time of distress! So called natural disasters have been a part of life as long as the world has existed and will probably continue till the world's end. When such disasters strike, we tend to blame God saying how could a God who is good allow such a thing to happen? Some people's faith is often tested and they ask "where is God?" I often think of Horatio Spafford' s song "it is well with my soul", in such times. I marvel at how a man who lost his children and his business , in a short span of time could be so calm. He had just rcently  lost his first child, when he lost his business in the Chicago fire of 1871. A few years later he lost his daughters in as ship wreck and penned the hymn it is well with my soul. Life often times throws us into the

We are always searching for happiness in things and in accomplishments but true happiness can only be found in the way we relate with others. Whether its the co-worker you work beside every day or the people waiting for you at home or even strangers. The way we relate with others will either bring us joy or make us miserable. Do you ever notice that a smile is contagious? That laughter really keeps you young and vibrant. (its a good thing, you cant laugh by yourself). Look  for the humor in every situation and try to laugh more. Smile at srangers too. Smile at your family and friends. Smile at your co-workers and your bosses! I know life can be hard for many people and sometimes they think they have no reason to smile! Life is what you make it and if you choose to frown at people and build walls around yourself, you will never be happy. Treat people with dignity and respect and they will respond in the same way. Do not expect that everyone will be kind but take the first step.

That is the salutation addressed to the blessed virgin at the annunciation of our Lord's birth over 2000 years ago! Today, we celebrate the feast of the assumption, one of the greatest Marian feasts in church history. Hail, full of grace! Ponder on the greeting of arch angel Gabriel to Mary. Mary is at first startled and unnerved by this greeting. She wonders why she is greeted as the "full of grace". Mary's wonderful humility shines through here. She cannot fathom how she, a mere creature of God,  can be full of grace. But oh, i marvel at her as the angel did. I cannot help but feel such pride for one so gracious as she, she is truly unparelled in all humanity. Mary's fiat became our salvation. She humbly surrenders her whole being to the will of her God and her King. Do not think she does so lightly. She knows fully well the trials she will endure as mother of the redeemer. She recalls the words of Isaiah about the suffering servant, "he was chast

I was watching a motivational video shared by my friends on social media. A very wise lady i must say was saying that we keep day dreaming and never do anything to make our dreams a reality. I believe her exact words were "we see success stories and think one day while doing nothing, something happened!" Seriously? Has something ever come from nothing? Or young ladies keep hoping  that a rich man will come into their lives suddenly and they will live happily ever after. Hmmmn....too much time spent day dreaming is bad for you. Her advice is dream with your eyes wide open and make those dreans a reality. I know its not that simple but honestly your decisions in life will define you! Lets try to be realistic while we dream. I do not mean limit your potential but learn to adapt your dreams to life's circumstances. When i was still in high school, i really wanted to be a doctor but my math and physics were abysmal. Chemistry wasnt that great either. I was always much bet