Mind yourself

Difference of rite ought not to involve differences of faith-———Christopher Dawson

Sometimes I think that we spend as much or more time pointing out the flaws of other denominations that we do about other religions. Some feel that their path is the only one and want to be sure that everyone else is wrong.

God is so far beyond out understanding that none of us can claim to have the only truth. Don’t waste time putting down others.

beam
Gracious Lord, remind us to mind our own search for you and not someone else’s. AMEN

God with us

scar

God never promised that life would be free of problems. There is no magic wand that can be waved to banish our troubles. Our strength to survive each day comes from God’s promise to be with us. Each struggle that we get through gives us the wisdom to survive the next. God helps us to learn and gain the strength to fight the next battle.

Intimate God, we give you thanks for your love for us and your healing presence in our struggles. AMEN

Light and Love

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”          …………………Martin Luther King, Jr.

When we are in the dark….with no light at all we feel disoriented. We need light coming from somewhere to give us balance and perception. We need the light. We need it to survive. Without light plants will not grow. The earth would be barren.

Just as much as we need light we need love. We need someone to hold up the mirror of love and show us our goodness. Without that we are barren.

God is willing to hold that mirror for us and let his light shine through us. Love and light give us life.

proverbs-27-19_orig

Amazing God, your grace has given us what we need to live as you call us to. Help us to remember that. AMEN

Lift us

From the end of the earth I call to you, when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
I often feel like I’m getting caught in a flood. Things become overwhelming and I’m sinking. We are so busy in today’s society that we take on more than we can manage. Then we can feel ourselves being buried.
When we feel this way we need to call on God to help us slow down. He is the only one who can lift us out of the mire onto the rock that is higher.
lift me
Faithful God, we take on more than we should. Help to make us wiser about our limits and when we fail and are sinking lift us to the rock that is higher. AMEN

Just Love

Let your religion be less of a theory and more of a love affair. ———— G.K. Chestertson

just love

We are told to love the Lord our God with all our souls and all our hearts and all our minds. We are not told to prove that God exists. We are just told to love Him. Can we let go of all our trying to understand all of this and just love?

God of love, help us learn to just love you with all that we are. AMEN

Renew my spirit

Psalm 51: 10-12

10 create in me a clean heart, O God,
    and put a new and right[b] spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from your presence,
    and do not take your holy spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
    and sustain in me a willing[c] spirit.

This is one of my favorite Psalms. I frequently think that my heart needs cleaning out. I have let too many unkind thoughts sneak in. Sometimes my mind is made up about someone and I see them through dark glasses. That opinion might have come from gossip or a too quick judgement on my part. My opinion colors my relationship with them. I need a new and right spirit.

renew

Loving God, help me to clean out my heart of wrong thinking and unfair ideas. Put your spirit within me. AMEN

Afraid?

It is human to be afraid. It is what we do about it that matters.……….Suzanne Boyd

Sometimes we can’t help being afraid. Sometimes if we are not afraid then we can’t see the situation clearly. The question is what do we do when this happens?

afraid

We often have to begin with a deep breath and another assessment of the moment. In the next moment we must turn to God. Prayer asking for his aid and  sitting quietly just letting God surround us helps. Picture yourself held in his arms. Seek his peace.

This may not solve the problem but it will remind you that you are never alone. We are always in God’s care.

Intimate god, you have promised to be with us no matter what. Help us to see you. AMEN

Freedom is a gift

To fear the Lord is the beginning of freedom. ——————-Ecclesiastes 1:14a

It is very a very strange fact that in giving ourselves freely to God we become free ourselves. It is in “fearing” God that we gain our very souls. To “fear” him is to acknowledge that he is God and he is in control. Yet his way of control is to give us freedom. We can choose him or not. We can love him or not. We can”fear” him or not. It is up to each of us.

freedom with God

Intriguing God, your way to control is to give freedom. Hep us to use our freedom for you kingdom. AMEN

Grasp peace

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the word gives. Do not let you hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. —————John 14:27

Finding-Peace-in-a-Turbulent-World-Part-1--1024x683

I really wish that I were never afraid. Fear can take over when something goes wrong. We have so many things to fear; poverty, homelessness, crime, disease, depression, anxiety, job loss.

We could spend each day cowering in our homes, afraid to go out. Sometimes we do, but God doesn’t want us to live like that. He has given us his peace. All we have to do it take it. Sounds easy bit it never is.

God, Father and Mother of us all, remind us that we are your children and that you wish only good for us. Help us to grasp your promises and your peace and never let go AMEN

God knows

For God Himself works in our souls, in the deepest depths, taking increasing control as we are progressively willing to be prepared for His wonder. ……………Thomas R Kelly

god knows you

God has been with us our whole lives. Fod knows the depths of our soul. He knos our prayers before we say them and out rhoughts before we form them. But God doesn’t intrude into our lives. He wiats patiently until we are willing to let him in. He only steps in as far as we open ourselves. But if we are willing, he will show us his kingdom.

 

God  almighty, help me to open the door of my heart and let you see me as I am. AMEN