Knowing the Past, the Present and the Future

Knowing the Future is an oxymoron.

I cannot know the future; I can only experience the present.

Until the present presents itself, it is unknown.

The future is yet to happen and yet to be created.

It is just a possibility of what may occur based on present thinking.

It is my perspective and my perceptions of my present reality that create my future.

To know my future, I would have to be aware of everything that is occurring in this present moment and every other present moment that has ever occurred in my life so far. This is beyond the capability of the conscious mind.

My future can never be exactly the same as my present reality because change is the nature of reality.

The only thing that I can know with certainty about my future is that something will change, and that makes the future uncertain.

Prophecies and predictions are just an attempt to influence and persuade an uncertain mind of its fate.

It is my destiny to know that I do not know, because in my heart I choose not to know.

Knowing the Past is not an intuitive sense of knowing.

It is knowledge accrued through past experience.

Past knowledge is an experience through which I have passed.

Should I choose to repeat the experience then this knowledge is of use to my Self.

Should I choose not to re-experience my past, I am obliged not to give it another thought.

Past knowledge will often create resistance in the present.

Without past knowledge, I have no option but to follow my instinct and my intuition.

My intuition will instinctively guide me on my path.

My past knowledge will create obstacles, hurdles, crossroads and dilemmas to navigate and to overcome.

My past knowledge is filed under headings of what was good or bad for me and what was right or wrong for me.

My past experiences of a dual reality world will always create at least two choices that make my future unpredictable and dependent on chance or misfortune.

My past is never on the path of my destiny.

To re-experience it is my fate.

Knowing the Present is the key to consciously creating the future.

My future is a recreation of my present thinking.

Whatever I focus on in the present moment becomes my experience in the future.

The focus of gratitude & appreciation in the present allows my gifts to be re-presented in my future.

Being totally present in each moment of reality requires absolutely no reference to my past or my future.

Thoughts of the future are always sponsored by my discontentment with the present.

The more I focus on my fears of the past, the more I project them into my future.

Knowing the present requires an intuitive sense of knowing and the attribute of Presence.

Being my Presence is the essence of knowing the present moment.

Being my Essence allows me to know each moment and be present.

When I feel my own presence, I receive the gift of Life.

This is the present that presents itself in each present moment of my reality.

Bridesmaids Presents – The Gifts of Thanks and Appreciation

Thanking and appreciating bridesmaids is traditionally done by giving bridesmaids gifts. Apparently, finding and purchasing these gifts fall on to the bride’s responsibility. Although this task is not mandatory, however, most brides stick to this idea as it is the most effective and easy way to thank their wedding attendants who have been very supportive and helpful during the entire wedding process.

Depending on the bride, she may present the gifts to her bridesmaids before or after the big day. Pre-wedding parties such as bridal shower and bridesmaids luncheon can great times to present gifts to bridesmaids.

There are so many gift items for bridesmaids available in the market these days. Some may find it very advantageous, but some find it very tricky that they might not be able to find their likes as easy and fast as they want. So because of this, one must plan and decide in advance before going out for shopping.

When shopping for bridesmaids gifts, the bride must consider the personal preferences of her bridesmaids. Bridesmaids are different individuals and may have different likes, dislikes, interests and personalities. And a key to make your gifts effective is to select items according to each girl’s individual taste. This is easy, though, since bridesmaids are basically family members or friends of the bride and she knows them already. But in case these girls are barely known by the bride, then she will need to do some investigation as early as possible. Asking some friends or family members of each bridesmaid is a great idea to collect opinions and suggestions that can really make sense later on.

Bridesmaids jewelry is one of the best gifts you can give to each of you wedding attendants. Necklaces, bracelets, earrings and anklets can make them look complete on your wedding day. However, bridesmaids jewelry pieces, as gifts, must be chosen according to each girl’s wedding dress, as well as personality. Of course, you can’t just pick a piece of jewel without thinking that item might not be best for each wedding attendant. Also, instead of choosing very elegant pieces, choose pieces that are beautiful but not competing. Remember, you are the bride and you should be the center of attention and not your bridesmaids. So, choose bridesmaids jewelry pieces that are not competing, but instead complementing.

Many brides these days opt to shop online instead of shopping at local bridal stores. Why? Because they can find great choices and best deal items in not time, at the comfort of their home. There are thousands of online stores that carry a wide variety of wedding supplies and accessories, including bridesmaids gifts. Also, these online products are usually available for personalization. Meaning, brides and grooms will have the chance to add their personal touch onto their wedding items. So, if you opt for personalized items as bridesmaids gifts, there’s no other easy way than browsing the Net. You can find so many personalized bridesmiads gifts online, from engraved jewelry pieces, embroidered handbags; scarves; robes and shirts, engraved picture frames and albums to etc.

Do Not Permit the Past to Colour and Influence Your Present and Even More Importantly Your Future

What would you do having been so unfairly? How would you react to such harsh treatment and it all so totally illegal? If you were a leader what kind of example would you show to the world?

Paul and Silas move on from that dramatic and traumatic time in Philippi, westward along the Grecian coast, to Thessalonica. They enjoyed no respite. There seldom is in the Kingdom of God.

Paul searched for the synagogue, that place of worship for the Jews and in he went and spoke about Jesus Christ suffering and dying to rescue men from the mess they were in, and rising from the dead.

Paul has had bad experiences at the hands of the Jews, but he realises that this is where God would have him start. Would you keep bothering going back to the same people time and again? This is leadership of calibre and true spirituality.

He does not permit the past to colour and influence the present. Having endured what these leaders had to endure it would be difficult to find anything that would make these men give in and give up. Such people really never contemplate making that type of decision.

After preaching for three weeks some folks can stand no more of this.

Many had come to believe in Jesus. Paul had this deep desire to make profound spiritual investments in the lives of men and women, and these investments have amazing rewards and dividends.

Others were so outraged, and filled with jealousy and envy, that they rounded up a mob to riot and attack the house where Paul and Silas were based.

Religious people whose hearts are closed to Jesus Christ are capable of horrendous behaviour. The false charge against Paul and Silas is astonishing. “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here. They say there is another king, one called Jesus.”

Speak about distortion, lies and exaggeration! And yet, in what they say there is a degree of truth, but not the whole truth. Check all this out in Acts Chapter seventeen in the New Testament part of the Bible.

Yes, disciples of Jesus can sound like radical revolutionaries. They are forever seeking to change people’s wrong ideas about God, and wrong ideas about themselves.

Paul and Silas are falsely accused of turning the world upside down.

What these leaders were really seeking to do was turn the world the right way up, but unbelievers cannot see that. They never will. If God is calling you to do what you can to turn the world the right way up and ease the plight of people wherever they are living, keep on serving as faithfully as you know how.

We have just been praying for the leadership of Christian pastors and leaders in Uganda and Kenya. Having met some of these fine men they need all the encouragement and support possible as they have a difficult job to perform.

Give leadership wherever leadership is so needed in these present days.

Sandy Shaw

Sandy Shaw is Pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship, Chaplain at Inverness Prison, and Nairn Academy, and serves on The Children’s Panel in Scotland, and has travelled extensively over these past years teaching, speaking, in America, Canada, South Africa, Australia, making 12 visits to Israel conducting Tours and Pilgrimages, and most recently in Uganda and Kenya, ministering at Pastors and Leaders Seminars, in the poor areas surrounding Kampala, Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.