"Read and pray daily.It is for your life;There is no other way:Else you will be a triflerAll your days."
~John Wesley
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Monday, June 18, 2012
Beginnings of True Discipleship...
Monday, June 11, 2012
True Love...
A friend of mine, Jeannie Harper, posted this on Facebook today... It is such a good reminder of what true love is about, that I am re-posting it here. Thank you Jeannie!!
"Is it possible for the rose to say, 'I will give my fragrance to the good people who smell me, but I will withhold it from the bad?'
Or is it possible for the lamp to say, 'I will give my light to the good people in this room, but I will withhold it from the evil people?'
Or can a tree say, 'I'll give my shade to the good people who rest under me, but I will withhold it from the bad?'
These are images of what love is about."
~Anthony de Mello, Jesuit Priest (1931 - 1987)
"Is it possible for the rose to say, 'I will give my fragrance to the good people who smell me, but I will withhold it from the bad?'
Or is it possible for the lamp to say, 'I will give my light to the good people in this room, but I will withhold it from the evil people?'
Or can a tree say, 'I'll give my shade to the good people who rest under me, but I will withhold it from the bad?'
These are images of what love is about."
~Anthony de Mello, Jesuit Priest (1931 - 1987)
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Monday, June 4, 2012
Witnessing to God's Greatness...
For this, O LORD, I will praise you among the nations; I will sing praises to your name. ~2 Samuel 22:50
The 22nd chapter of 2nd Samuel is one of David's songs, a psalm if you will of praise to the LORD. In the first 49 verses, David lists a multitude of things that the LORD has done for him, and then concludes by saying "for this", for all the things that you have done for me LORD, "I will praise you..."
As we read this song of David (2 Samuel 22:1-51) it is clear that he is praising God for specific things God has done for him... Some of them include David's praising the LORD for saving him from real enemies who would have actually killed him in battle... for giving him victory over enemies and making him king over Israel... for giving him, as king, strength and power so that people of foreign nations submit to his rule...
As we read this song of David, we see how David is giving a testimony, a witness to the greatness of the LORD.
Like David, we can be a witness and give a testimony to the greatness of God. We can remember things that God has done for us, and like David, say, "for this, O LORD, I will praise you among the nations; I will sing praises to your name."
If you are willing to do this, you will find that God will provide opportunities for you to tell others what God has done for you... not to tell them what they have to think or to believe, but just to share how God has worked in wondrous ways in your life, and how you praise God for it.
Are you willing to be a witness of what God has done?
The 22nd chapter of 2nd Samuel is one of David's songs, a psalm if you will of praise to the LORD. In the first 49 verses, David lists a multitude of things that the LORD has done for him, and then concludes by saying "for this", for all the things that you have done for me LORD, "I will praise you..."
As we read this song of David (2 Samuel 22:1-51) it is clear that he is praising God for specific things God has done for him... Some of them include David's praising the LORD for saving him from real enemies who would have actually killed him in battle... for giving him victory over enemies and making him king over Israel... for giving him, as king, strength and power so that people of foreign nations submit to his rule...
As we read this song of David, we see how David is giving a testimony, a witness to the greatness of the LORD.
Like David, we can be a witness and give a testimony to the greatness of God. We can remember things that God has done for us, and like David, say, "for this, O LORD, I will praise you among the nations; I will sing praises to your name."
If you are willing to do this, you will find that God will provide opportunities for you to tell others what God has done for you... not to tell them what they have to think or to believe, but just to share how God has worked in wondrous ways in your life, and how you praise God for it.
Are you willing to be a witness of what God has done?
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Renewal, Transformation and God's Will...
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing, and perfect will. ~Romans 12:2
In what way do you go about "renewing" your mind? How you renew your mind, and who or what you allow to be a part of that renewal, will most likely determine how you are "transformed"... If you wish to know God's "good, pleasing and perfect will" for your life, then God's Holy Spirit must be the One in whom and through whom your renewal is accomplished.
Just something for you to reflect on as you go about your Saturday activities...
In what way do you go about "renewing" your mind? How you renew your mind, and who or what you allow to be a part of that renewal, will most likely determine how you are "transformed"... If you wish to know God's "good, pleasing and perfect will" for your life, then God's Holy Spirit must be the One in whom and through whom your renewal is accomplished.
Just something for you to reflect on as you go about your Saturday activities...
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Prayer, Praise and Daily Devotions...
As you woke this morning and began your day, did it include a little time to say, "Praise you" and "Thank you" to the Lord? Praising God simply for who he is and thanking him that you woke to see his newly created day? The Psalmist reminds us:
"From the rising of the sun to it's setting the name of the LORD is to be praised."
~PS 113:3 NASB
"The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands." ~Ps 19:1 NASB
"Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting."
~Ps 118:1 NASB
Did you give all of this day to the Lord? Did you invite the Lord into your life, to guard your heart and guide your steps, as you live out the day? Or did you, as so many of us do, simply get started with the busy-ness or even the fun-ness of the day, thinking that there was so much to do, that you had no time now for a "devotional time" and you'd do it later?
In his book, A Pocket Guide to Prayer, Dr. Steve Harper reminds us "God does not call us to have a devotional time but to live a devotional life."
There is much that can be said of what it means to live a devotional life, but in the context of this post, I believe it means prayer is to be ever present in every aspect and at all times of our daily lives.
The Apostle Paul reminds us:
"Pray without ceasing;" ~1 Thessalonians 5:17 NASB
Prayer is not meant to be just another thing we do added onto the rest of the things we do in our daily lives... it is not meant to be another item to check off of our daily to-do list... Rather, prayer is to be that which undergirds, infuses and invades all of the other aspects of our daily lives, in both obvious and subtle ways. Prayer, as communication with God, is that which keeps us in contact with our source of strength and joy and wisdom and life, so that we might get through all of each days challenges - challenges that usually exceed our to-do list.
Again Paul reminds us:
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." ~Philippians 4:6-7 NASB
The day is not yet over... we can still give thanks and praise to the Lord for this day... we can yet connect to our source of strength and joy and wisdom and life for the living of this day.
Once again, borrowing from Dr. Harper's A Pocket Guide to Prayer, I offer this simple prayer for you to use as you begin to live your "devotional life":
"Dear God, I rise from my bed of sleep, to adore your holy name, to live for you this day, to work with you in the building of your kingdom, and to find in you eternal life. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen."
Don't wait until tomorrow morning when you are getting out of bed to pray this beginning prayer. Wake up from your "sleep" and do it now!
"From the rising of the sun to it's setting the name of the LORD is to be praised."
~PS 113:3 NASB
"The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands." ~Ps 19:1 NASB
"Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting."
~Ps 118:1 NASB
Did you give all of this day to the Lord? Did you invite the Lord into your life, to guard your heart and guide your steps, as you live out the day? Or did you, as so many of us do, simply get started with the busy-ness or even the fun-ness of the day, thinking that there was so much to do, that you had no time now for a "devotional time" and you'd do it later?
In his book, A Pocket Guide to Prayer, Dr. Steve Harper reminds us "God does not call us to have a devotional time but to live a devotional life."
There is much that can be said of what it means to live a devotional life, but in the context of this post, I believe it means prayer is to be ever present in every aspect and at all times of our daily lives.
The Apostle Paul reminds us:
"Pray without ceasing;" ~1 Thessalonians 5:17 NASB
Prayer is not meant to be just another thing we do added onto the rest of the things we do in our daily lives... it is not meant to be another item to check off of our daily to-do list... Rather, prayer is to be that which undergirds, infuses and invades all of the other aspects of our daily lives, in both obvious and subtle ways. Prayer, as communication with God, is that which keeps us in contact with our source of strength and joy and wisdom and life, so that we might get through all of each days challenges - challenges that usually exceed our to-do list.
Again Paul reminds us:
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." ~Philippians 4:6-7 NASB
The day is not yet over... we can still give thanks and praise to the Lord for this day... we can yet connect to our source of strength and joy and wisdom and life for the living of this day.
Once again, borrowing from Dr. Harper's A Pocket Guide to Prayer, I offer this simple prayer for you to use as you begin to live your "devotional life":
"Dear God, I rise from my bed of sleep, to adore your holy name, to live for you this day, to work with you in the building of your kingdom, and to find in you eternal life. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen."
Don't wait until tomorrow morning when you are getting out of bed to pray this beginning prayer. Wake up from your "sleep" and do it now!
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
A Prayer...
I came across this today as I was taking some time for prayer and thought I would share it with you.
Set us afire, Lord,
Stir us, we pray!
While the world perishes
We go our way,
Purposeless, passionless,
Day after day.
Set us afire, Lord,
Stir us, we pray!
~Ralph S. Cushman
I pray the Lord will bless you, "stir you" and "set you afire" to do his will on this day and every day to come!
Set us afire, Lord,
Stir us, we pray!
While the world perishes
We go our way,
Purposeless, passionless,
Day after day.
Set us afire, Lord,
Stir us, we pray!
~Ralph S. Cushman
I pray the Lord will bless you, "stir you" and "set you afire" to do his will on this day and every day to come!
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Christology...
By the very definition of the word, Christology
is the study of Christ. We seek to
understand Christ and the work that he did by asking the questions: Who is
Jesus? What is the significance of his
work? And even as we begin to look for
our answers, we find that these are questions that were being asked even while
Jesus still walked on this earth, as all who marveled at his teachings and at
his miracles and at his mighty deeds asked themselves and each other, “What kind
of man is this?” (Matthew 8:27 NIV1984) The inevitable question that would have
followed, even if it was an unspoken one was, “What does this mean?”
It was the same question John
the Baptist wondered, as he sent his followers to ask Jesus if Jesus was the
Messiah. In answer, Jesus told them to
report to John what they had seen and heard of Jesus, so that John could answer
Jesus’ implied question: What does my work tell you about who I am? In asking those questions posed by the study
of Christology, I find myself, like John the Baptist, being asked by Christ, “What
does my work tell you about who I am?” And
then the next question is asked, “What does who I AM mean for your life?”Friday, April 6, 2012
Thursday, April 5, 2012
The Lenten Journey... Nearing the End
We are nearing the end of our Lenten journey... the journey we began weeks ago... the journey with our Lord as we opened our hearts... searched our souls... asked forgiveness for our wrongs... and humbly walked with our Lord as he neared the time when he would pay the price that brings us forgiveness and life...
During this time we have known tragedy and triumph, joy and sorrow... we have grown closer to our Lord and stronger in our faith...
Perhaps we have thought that our journey was ours, alone... but we must remember that countless others, sisters and brothers in the faith, have also made this journey with us... so this has been a time of both intimacy and community...
Today is Maundy Thursday - Holy Thursday, as some call it. It is the day during which we commemorate the Passover feast that our Lord celebrated with his disciples... and it was at this feast that our Lord "...took bread, gave thanks, and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.'" (Luke 22:19-20)
At the time, the disciples did not truly understand what he meant...
And I wonder if today, we disciples truly understand... that Jesus' body had to be broken and Jesus' blood had to be poured out for us because there was no other way to reconcile sinners with a Holy and Just God.
We have journeyed with our Lord during this time of Lent... and perhaps we have drawn so much closer in our relationship with the Lord... but, like every other human being in our world, we are still sinners... and always will be... as such, we are all equal in the eyes of God... no one better or worse than any other person...
Today, as we gather to worship and celebrate Holy Communion on this Maundy Thursday, let us be reminded that it is ONLY through the breaking of GOD's body and the pouring out of GOD's blood, done because our Holy and Just God loved us so much, it is only because of this act of GRACE that we have forgiveness of sin and reconciliation with God...
The season of Lent is drawing to a close, and we will soon see our Lord and Savior pay the price for our sins...
Lent will soon be over... but our journey continues on...
During this time we have known tragedy and triumph, joy and sorrow... we have grown closer to our Lord and stronger in our faith...
Perhaps we have thought that our journey was ours, alone... but we must remember that countless others, sisters and brothers in the faith, have also made this journey with us... so this has been a time of both intimacy and community...
Today is Maundy Thursday - Holy Thursday, as some call it. It is the day during which we commemorate the Passover feast that our Lord celebrated with his disciples... and it was at this feast that our Lord "...took bread, gave thanks, and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.'" (Luke 22:19-20)
At the time, the disciples did not truly understand what he meant...
And I wonder if today, we disciples truly understand... that Jesus' body had to be broken and Jesus' blood had to be poured out for us because there was no other way to reconcile sinners with a Holy and Just God.
We have journeyed with our Lord during this time of Lent... and perhaps we have drawn so much closer in our relationship with the Lord... but, like every other human being in our world, we are still sinners... and always will be... as such, we are all equal in the eyes of God... no one better or worse than any other person...
Today, as we gather to worship and celebrate Holy Communion on this Maundy Thursday, let us be reminded that it is ONLY through the breaking of GOD's body and the pouring out of GOD's blood, done because our Holy and Just God loved us so much, it is only because of this act of GRACE that we have forgiveness of sin and reconciliation with God...
The season of Lent is drawing to a close, and we will soon see our Lord and Savior pay the price for our sins...
Lent will soon be over... but our journey continues on...
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Continuing the Lenten Journey...
How has your Lenten journey been going? Hit any snags or having any unexpected life experiences?
A good friend, Jeannie Waller Harper, posted something on her Facebook page that I would like to share...
Be still, and know that I am God
Be still, and know that I am
Be still, and know
Be still
Be
~Psalm 46:10
Today, no matter what comes your way... good or bad... may you know God's peace in your heart.
A good friend, Jeannie Waller Harper, posted something on her Facebook page that I would like to share...
Be still, and know that I am God
Be still, and know that I am
Be still, and know
Be still
Be
~Psalm 46:10
Today, no matter what comes your way... good or bad... may you know God's peace in your heart.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Day 12... The Lenten Journey... What is God Doing in Your Life?
"Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man's behalf!"
~Psalm 66:5 (NIV1984)
In this verse, the psalmist invites the hearers and readers of his message to notice what God has done for humanity... and in the next verse he gives just one example, out of many that he could have chosen, of what God had done for God's people.
As you go through the day today, look around you... notice what is happening... where are God's love, mercy and grace intersecting with your life? See if you can notice something that God is doing in your life today... and give God thanks!
~Psalm 66:5 (NIV1984)
In this verse, the psalmist invites the hearers and readers of his message to notice what God has done for humanity... and in the next verse he gives just one example, out of many that he could have chosen, of what God had done for God's people.
As you go through the day today, look around you... notice what is happening... where are God's love, mercy and grace intersecting with your life? See if you can notice something that God is doing in your life today... and give God thanks!
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Through the Late Watches of the Night... Our Lenten Journey Continues...
Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.
~Psalm 62:8 (NRSV)
As I was driving home from work this evening, I saw a message on a church sign. It is a very simple message, but one that perhaps should be remembered at night and also during this time of the year, as we make our Lenten journey with the Lord.
The message is simply this: "God forgives you - yes, even for that"
Maybe now you are wondering why I said this is a good message to remember at night and during this Lenten journey...
It is usually at night, as the sun sets and the shadows deepen around us that fears and doubts and worries begin to creep up on us and steal into our hearts. Sometimes our fears and doubts and worries can even wear down our strength of spirit that might have seemed so strong to us just a few hours before, when the sun might have been shining brightly.
The strong assurance we felt during the day, the assurance of having God's grace and mercy and forgiveness for our sins, may have slowly weakened, even as the shadows of night lengthened, bringing with them the worry and doubt and fear that maybe, just maybe, there was sin in our lives for which we would not, could not be forgiven...
And now perhaps in the late watches of the night, because of our fears, we begin to lose hope... we begin to wonder how God could possibly love us enough to give us grace and mercy and forgiveness...
No... not us... not for that...
Anybody been there? Anybody still there?
The message on the sign is there for you... and me... It is there to remind all of us that we will be forgiven... and our scripture reminds us that we can pour out our hearts to God, who is our refuge, our protection...
As we travel this Lenten journey, remember this is a time to open our hearts and examine its deep recesses, and in humble trust, repent and ask forgiveness...
And yes... you will be forgiven... even for that...
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.
~Psalm 62:8 (NRSV)
As I was driving home from work this evening, I saw a message on a church sign. It is a very simple message, but one that perhaps should be remembered at night and also during this time of the year, as we make our Lenten journey with the Lord.
The message is simply this: "God forgives you - yes, even for that"
Maybe now you are wondering why I said this is a good message to remember at night and during this Lenten journey...
It is usually at night, as the sun sets and the shadows deepen around us that fears and doubts and worries begin to creep up on us and steal into our hearts. Sometimes our fears and doubts and worries can even wear down our strength of spirit that might have seemed so strong to us just a few hours before, when the sun might have been shining brightly.
The strong assurance we felt during the day, the assurance of having God's grace and mercy and forgiveness for our sins, may have slowly weakened, even as the shadows of night lengthened, bringing with them the worry and doubt and fear that maybe, just maybe, there was sin in our lives for which we would not, could not be forgiven...
And now perhaps in the late watches of the night, because of our fears, we begin to lose hope... we begin to wonder how God could possibly love us enough to give us grace and mercy and forgiveness...
No... not us... not for that...
Anybody been there? Anybody still there?
The message on the sign is there for you... and me... It is there to remind all of us that we will be forgiven... and our scripture reminds us that we can pour out our hearts to God, who is our refuge, our protection...
As we travel this Lenten journey, remember this is a time to open our hearts and examine its deep recesses, and in humble trust, repent and ask forgiveness...
And yes... you will be forgiven... even for that...
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Day Seven... The Lenten Journey Continues...
"Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun."
~Psalm 37:3-6 (NIV1984)
We have traveled a week, seven days along our Lenten Journey. How is your journey going? Did you promise to give something up for Lent... or add something to your daily routine? Have you kept up with your Lenten promise (whatever it was), or have you been side tracked? Are you beginning to wonder about your promise... whether it really makes any difference whether or not you keep it?
If you are beginning to wonder about your promise, about whether it really makes a difference if you keep it, let me encourage you to examine your heart and your motives. Ask yourself why you made the promise to begin with. Did you make your promise so that you might look good in the eyes of other people, so that they might think you to be especially holy or religious or righteous? Did you make a Lenten promise out of pure habit, because you felt you were "supposed to" or that you "had to"? Or did you make your promise to bring glory to the LORD and to deepen your faith and relationship with the LORD?
The last reason is by far the best one for your having made a Lenten promise... But no matter which of the them was your reason, keeping your Lenten promise makes a difference to the LORD.
As our scripture encourages you to do, and as you think of your promise, "trust in the LORD"... "Delight yourself in the LORD" (in other words, do what pleases the LORD, not you)... and finally, "commit your way to the LORD"...
Your Lenten promise is not about you showing off to others how holy or religious you are, but about you showing your heart to the LORD... and about preparing your heart for the LORD... and about allowing the LORD of LORD's to change your heart so that it reflects his love to all others...
Your promise is important... look into your heart and reflect on what you find... begin again if you need to... ask the LORD to help you with this... that is of course what Lent is all about... journeying with the LORD...
~Psalm 37:3-6 (NIV1984)
We have traveled a week, seven days along our Lenten Journey. How is your journey going? Did you promise to give something up for Lent... or add something to your daily routine? Have you kept up with your Lenten promise (whatever it was), or have you been side tracked? Are you beginning to wonder about your promise... whether it really makes any difference whether or not you keep it?
If you are beginning to wonder about your promise, about whether it really makes a difference if you keep it, let me encourage you to examine your heart and your motives. Ask yourself why you made the promise to begin with. Did you make your promise so that you might look good in the eyes of other people, so that they might think you to be especially holy or religious or righteous? Did you make a Lenten promise out of pure habit, because you felt you were "supposed to" or that you "had to"? Or did you make your promise to bring glory to the LORD and to deepen your faith and relationship with the LORD?
The last reason is by far the best one for your having made a Lenten promise... But no matter which of the them was your reason, keeping your Lenten promise makes a difference to the LORD.
As our scripture encourages you to do, and as you think of your promise, "trust in the LORD"... "Delight yourself in the LORD" (in other words, do what pleases the LORD, not you)... and finally, "commit your way to the LORD"...
Your Lenten promise is not about you showing off to others how holy or religious you are, but about you showing your heart to the LORD... and about preparing your heart for the LORD... and about allowing the LORD of LORD's to change your heart so that it reflects his love to all others...
Your promise is important... look into your heart and reflect on what you find... begin again if you need to... ask the LORD to help you with this... that is of course what Lent is all about... journeying with the LORD...
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Day 2... The Lenten Journey Continues...
From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
~Matthew 16:21-24 (NIV1984)
No, Lord, never!! You, the Son of the Living God, the Messiah, suffer?? Be killed?? No... that is not the way it should be... We should die for you... in glorious battle!!
And we disciples, who like Peter, might so willingly follow you into battle against an enemy, find instead that we must follow you on a much harder journey... for instead of calling us to arms, you call us to suffering... to self-denial... you call us to the cross... and to death...
But you also mention something about being raised to life?
Is it just possibly true that following your path... journeying with you through self-denial and suffering, following you to the cross and death... that all of this leads to... new life?
Yesterday's ashes are gone... but the journey continues...
No, Lord, never!! You, the Son of the Living God, the Messiah, suffer?? Be killed?? No... that is not the way it should be... We should die for you... in glorious battle!!
And we disciples, who like Peter, might so willingly follow you into battle against an enemy, find instead that we must follow you on a much harder journey... for instead of calling us to arms, you call us to suffering... to self-denial... you call us to the cross... and to death...
But you also mention something about being raised to life?
Is it just possibly true that following your path... journeying with you through self-denial and suffering, following you to the cross and death... that all of this leads to... new life?
Yesterday's ashes are gone... but the journey continues...
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Ash Wednesday...
“Even now,” declares the LORD,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
Rend your heart
and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity.
and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity.
~Joel 2:12-13 (NIV1984)
Today is Ash Wednesday. It marks the beginning of Lent, a 40 day period of time set aside for introspection and reflection as we journey with the Lord to the cross. It is a time to remember why the Lord had to die for us... to remember our sins and to repent. Ashes are a symbol of our mortality as well as a symbol of repentance. As the prophet Joel encourages, rend or tear open your hearts... pray and deeply mourn and grieve over the things that you have done that have grieved the heart of God... and repent. For our God is indeed "gracious and compassionate... abounding in love..." God will have mercy and forgive.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
put this on your calendar!!
No matter what your daily schedule already looks like, adding these activities will bring you untold blessings and help you focus on what is truly important. God bless you today!!
Schedule for today:
Wake up: Worship the Lord
Mid-Morning: Snack on Scripture
Lunch: Listen to the Lord
Mid-Afternoon: Meditate on your blessings
Dinner: Discuss His Faithfulness
Bedtime: Thank Him as you retire in the evening.
~while the actual author of this schedule is known only to God, it was contributed by Nellie, my sister in Christ.
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
~Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)
Schedule for today:
Wake up: Worship the Lord
Mid-Morning: Snack on Scripture
Lunch: Listen to the Lord
Mid-Afternoon: Meditate on your blessings
Dinner: Discuss His Faithfulness
Bedtime: Thank Him as you retire in the evening.
~while the actual author of this schedule is known only to God, it was contributed by Nellie, my sister in Christ.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
a meditation for today...
This meditation is taken from:
Let Nothing Disturb You: A Journey to the Center of the Soul with Teresa of Avila,
edited by John Kirvan, Ave Maria Press, Notre Dame, IN, 1996
"Our Lord asks but two things of us: love for God and love for our neighbor. These are the two virtues that we must strive to attain. If we practice them perfectly we shall be doing the will of God, and so will find the union we seek. The most certain sign that we keep these two commandments is that we have a genuine love for each other. We may not know for certain whether we love God, but there can be no doubt whether or not we love our neighbor.
If we fail to love our neighbor, we are deceiving ourselves if we think we love God.
But if we possess a true love of neighbor, we will certainly attain union with our Lord.
Beg God grant you true love of others and you will be rewarded with more than you know how to desire. God will insist that you surrender your self interests for those of your neighbors, taking upon yourself their burdens. Do not believe that this will cost you nothing and that you will find it all done for you by God. Never forget what the love God bore for all of us cost the Son of God. To free others - his neighbors - from death he suffered the most painful death of all, the death of the cross."
~Teresa of Avila
Let Nothing Disturb You: A Journey to the Center of the Soul with Teresa of Avila,
edited by John Kirvan, Ave Maria Press, Notre Dame, IN, 1996
"Our Lord asks but two things of us: love for God and love for our neighbor. These are the two virtues that we must strive to attain. If we practice them perfectly we shall be doing the will of God, and so will find the union we seek. The most certain sign that we keep these two commandments is that we have a genuine love for each other. We may not know for certain whether we love God, but there can be no doubt whether or not we love our neighbor.
If we fail to love our neighbor, we are deceiving ourselves if we think we love God.
But if we possess a true love of neighbor, we will certainly attain union with our Lord.
Beg God grant you true love of others and you will be rewarded with more than you know how to desire. God will insist that you surrender your self interests for those of your neighbors, taking upon yourself their burdens. Do not believe that this will cost you nothing and that you will find it all done for you by God. Never forget what the love God bore for all of us cost the Son of God. To free others - his neighbors - from death he suffered the most painful death of all, the death of the cross."
~Teresa of Avila
Saturday, February 4, 2012
something to think about...
"What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless."
~James 2:14-17, 26 (NLT)
"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." ~Micah 6:8 (NIV1984)
Thoughts? Reactions?
Friday, February 3, 2012
answered prayer
A big thank you to all who took time to pray for my friend Charlie Awad. It seems as though Charlie has come through his surgery ok. Please continue to lift Charlie up in prayer, that he would continue to recuperate and recover. Again, thanks and please keep praying. And if you know someone who is a colon cancer survivor with a story to tell, go to Charlie's site, www.cancersucks.tv, and add their story! God bless!
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