What Comes To Mind

When I have a problem I pray about it, and what comes to mind and stays there I assume to be my answer. And this has been right so often that I know it is God's answer.

(J.L. Kraft, 6 March)

31 December 2015)

Our Hope and Trust

Oh Lord, we put our hope and trust in You.

Renew our strength.

Help us to soar on wings like eagles;

To run and not grow weary,

To walk and not be faint.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(From Isaiah 40:31, found in Flowers Along The Path, by Esther Carls Dodgen, p. 233)

30 December 2015

Prayer and Meditation

We often tend to slight serious meditation and prayer as something not really necessary. To be sure, we feel it is something that might help us to meet an occasional emergency, but at first many of us are apt to regard it as a somewhat mysterious skill of clergymen, from which we may hope to get a secondhand benefit.
(As Bill Sees It, p. 127)
29 December 2015

Christmas Letdown

Our reaction after the Christmas holidays can be discouraging because the excitement is over, but also because we approach a new year. This can lead us to feel fear and get us into a bag of looking at the past and worrying about the future.

Lord, I pray for guidance and help for today, 

and freedom from worry about tomorrow.

(Day By Day, 26 December)

28 December 2015

Star of Bethlehem

Day in the east is breaking;

day o'er the crimsoned earth;

now the glad world is waking,

glad in the Savior's birth!

See where the clear star bendeth

over the manger blessed;

see where the infant Jesus

smiles upon Mary's breast.

(Moravian Daily Texts - 2013, 26 December)

27 December 2015

Good Intention

Santa Claus on the dining room table - 2015

Lord, help me to do all things 

with a good intention and 

always to please You.

Help me never knowingly say what is not strictly true and to 

always remember that You are the God of Truth.

In Jesus's name, I pray.

Amen.

(Esther Carls Dodgen, Flowers Along the Path, p., 220)

26 December 2015

Hark, The Herald Angels Sing

Our 2105 Christmas Nativity Scene

Hark! the herald angels sing, 

"Glory to the new born King, 

peace on earth, and mercy mild, 

God and sinners reconciled!" 

Joyful, all ye nations rise, 

join the triumph of the skies; 

with th' angelic host proclaim, 

"Christ is born in Bethlehem!" 

Hark! the herald angels sing, 

"Glory to the new born King!" 

Glory to God

Our 2015 Nativity Scene

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"
(Moravian Daily Texts - 2013, 24 December)
24 December 2015

Life's Burdens

Pilgrims Landed - December 21, 1620

God, I am forever grateful
for those who share
my life's burdens with me.

(Rick Hamlin, Daily Guideposts - 2013, 19 June)

21 December 2015

The Right Thing

Dear Lord, please forgive my sins. Help me do the right thing.

(Patty Kirk, in Daily Guideposts - 2014, 17 June)

20 December 2015

Answered Prayers

Lord, when I see how You have interceded on my behalf, I want to fall on my face before You. My prayers have been answered in miraculous ways. In times when all I could see was darkness, you provided light and power and hope. Amen.
(Prayers From The Heart, Day 111)
19 December 2015

Walk Humbly

Teach me, O Lord, to walk humbly before You.

(Esther Carls Dodgen, Flowers Along The Way, p. 193)

18 December 2015

Meditation and Prayer

... when we turn away from meditation and prayer, we ... deprive our minds, our emotions, and our intuitions of vitally needed support.
(As Bill Sees It, p. 93)
17 December 2015

Whatever

Photo: National Geographic

Whatever is true,

whatever is noble,

whatever is right,

whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely,

whatever is admirable --

if anything is excellent or praiseworthy --

think about such things.

(Philippians 4:8)

15 December 2015

Strengthen Me

Strengthen me, O God, by the grace of Your Holy Spirit; grant me to be strengthened with might in the inner self, and to put away from my heart all useless anxiety and distress, and let me never be drawn aside by various longings after anything whatever, whether it be worthless or precious; but may I regard all things as passing away, and myself as passing away with them.
(Thomas 'a Kempis in Flowers Along The Path by Esther Carls Dodgen, p. 206)
12 December 2015

Keep On Praying

Always keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.  

(First Thessalonians 5:17-18 (TLB))

Father, Your solution is so simple, yet how many times have I given in to despair? Nudge me to pray unceasingly.
(Patricia Lorenz in Daily Guideposts - 2014, 11 December)
12 December 2015

Meditation

In meditation, debate has no place. We rest quietly with the thoughts or prayers of spiritually centered people who understand, so that we may experience and learn. This is the state of being that so often discovers and deepens a conscious contact with God.
(As Bill Sees It, p., 108)
11 December 2015

Thank You

If the only prayer you ever say in your whole life is 'Thank You' that would suffice.
(Meister Eckhart, theologian, in Words That Matter by the Editors of The Oprah Magazine, p. 64)
10 December 2015

The Most Perfect Prayer

One single grateful thought raised to heaven is the most perfect prayer.
(G.E. Lessing, philosopher in Words That Matter by the editors of The Oprah Magazine, p. 64)
9 December 2015

Progress

Mr. Dickie at 2015 Artomatic

Lord, let me be satisfied with my progress and not expect perfection from an imperfect being.
(Day By Day, 18 November)
5 December 2015

Wisdom

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

(James 1:5, in God's Promises and Answers For Your Life, p. 78)

30 November 2015

Grateful Heart

Lord, give me a grateful heart for what I have been blessed...

(Day By Day, 3 November)

28 November 2015

Simplicity

The simplicity which is in Christ is rarely found among us.
In its stead are programs, methods, organizations, and a world of nervous activities which occupy time and attention but can never satisfy the longing of the heart.
(A.W. Tozer in The Pursuit of God, found in Flowers Along The Path by Esther Carls Dodgen, p. 198)
27 November 2015

We Gather Together To Ask The Lord's Blessing

We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;

he chastens and hastens his will to make known;

the wicked oppressing now cease from distressing.

Sing praises to his name; he forgets not his own.

(Dutch Hymn)

26 November 2015

Trust in the Lord

Trust in the Lord with all you heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
(God's Promise and Answers For Your Life, Proverbs 3: 5,6, p. 78)
19 November 2015

Lead Me to the Rock

From the ends of the earth I call to you,

I call as my heart grows faint;

lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

(Psalm 61:2 (NIV) in Prayers From The Heart, Day 335)

18 November 2015

Staying Focused

Father, help me stay focused as I work to stay on course and press on toward Your goals for me.
(Brock Kidd, in Daily Guideposts - 2014, 8 June)
16 November 2015

Our Father's World

This is our Father's world:

O let us not forget

that though the wrong is often strong,

God is the ruler yet.

He trusts us with his world,

to keep it clean and fair --

all earth and trees, all skies and seas,

all creatures ev'rywhere.

(Moravian Daily Texts - 2013, 15 November)

15 November 2015

Tomorrow

Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow; the same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow, and every day ... Be at peace, then, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations.
(St. Francis de Sales, in Especially For You, by Heartland Samplers, 14 November)
14 November 2015

Hurry

I will not hurry through this day!

Lord, I will listen by the way,

To humming bees and singing birds,

To speaking trees and friendly words;

And for the moments in between

See glimpses of Thy great Unseen.

I will not hurry through this day;

I will take time to think and pray;

I will look up into the sky,

Where fleecy clouds and swallows fly;

And somewhere in the day, maybe

I will catch a whisper, Lord, from Thee!

(Ralph S. Cushman, in Flowers Along The Path, 

by Esther Carls Dodgen, p. 180)

13 November 2015

Precious Time

Lord, show me what I can do today to make myself more worthy of the precious time given to me.
(Day By Day, 8 November)
12 November 2015

Foolish Acts

We thank you Lord for your willingness to forgive our foolish acts and decisions. May we find ways to follow your example and lead more honest lives deserving of your love, Amen.
(Moravian Daily Texts - 2013, 8 November)
11 November 2015

Lord Forgive Me

Hibiscus in our backyard.

Lord, forgive me, day by day,

debts I cannot hope to pay,

duties I have left undone,

evils I have failed to shun.

(Moravian Daily Texts - 2013, 8 November)

10 November 2015

Bondage

2015 Washington, DC Orchid Show

Lord, release me from the bondage of old ideas and aid me in following Your will for me today.
(Day By Day, 26 September)
7 November 2015

Silence

2015 Washington, DC Orchid Show

Silence is listening with all our might to God.  This is prayer at its best. We must learn to be still and listen. We get away from scandals and rumors and judgments and through the practice of silent communion we begin to know the power of prayer. In silence we can close our minds to what the world thinks is desirable. The babble of the world is drowned out so we can hear the voice of the Spirit. We must be faithful to the practice of silence and we will reap rich rewards.
(C.M.M. in Flowers Along The Path, by Esther Carls Dodgen, p. 177)
7 November 2015

Good Intentions

Two of Melva's Geraniums in 2015

Forgiving God, often our good intentions do not become what we want them to be, and the good we want to do, we don't. It is sometimes difficult to face up to the wrongs in our lives. Help us to feel your forgiving presence and strengthen us to forgive those who have wronged us. Amen.
(Moravian Daily Texts - 2013, 6 November)
6 November 2015

What Do You Think?

Flowers in our front yard

Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.

(Proverbs 4:23, in Grace For The Moment by Max Lucado, 19 July)

5 November 2015

Good

Dick & Melva's Cactus in Bloom- 2015

Tonight, I will feel gratitude for the good in the ordinary.

(Amy E. Dean, Night Light, 16 July)

4 November 2015

How Hard Is It?

2015 Washington, DC Orchid Show

Generous God, help me to remember that doing Your work may not be as hard as I think.

(Marci Alborghetti in Daily Guideposts - 2014, 17 October)

3 November 2015

Defects

2015 Washington, DC Orchid Show

I pray that You now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to You and my fellows.
(A.A., p. 76, found in Daily Reflections, 23 July)

******

I didn't do any blog posting, or daily reading for about a week.  I needed an attitude check.

Dick Henthorn

1 November 2015

Way To Happiness

The way to happiness:

• Keep your heart free from hate,
• Your mind from worry.
• Live simply,
• Expect much.
• Fill your life with love.
• Scatter sunshine.
• Forget, self, think of others.
• Do as you would be done by.

Try this for a week and you will be surprised.
(H.C. Mattern in Flowers Along The Path by Esther Carls Dodgen, p. 166)
21 October 2015

Spirit

I accept my deep personal spirituality. I nurture and support my spirit nature. I trust the creative spirit of the universe.  Peace of God is my only goal today.
(Perry Tilleraas, The Color Of Light, 12 July)
20 October 2015

Peace Of God

Although my spiritual practice is far from consistent, I know that God is directing my life, and that peace of God is my goal.
(Gerald Jampolsky, in The Color Of Light by Perry Tilleraas, 12 July)
18 October 2015

Messages

My messages come from my Father first, they flow through me then spread to loved ones and to all other areas of my life.
(Day By Day, 12 October)
17 October 2015

Stay Focused

Dear God, please help me stay focused on the things that really matter and the people who make them matter.
(Edward Grinnan, Daily Guideposts - 2013, 15 October)
15 October 2015

Location

Lord, help me to know that it's not my location that makes the difference in my life - it's what I'm working with inside.
(Day By Day, 4 October)
14 October 2015

Blessing

Lord, help me to be a blessing 

to those around me in my daily life. 

Amen.

(Prayers From The Heart, Day 266)

13 October 2015

Pass Me Not

Pass me not, O gentle Savior,

hear my humble cry;

while on others thou art smiling,

do no pass me by,

Savior, Savior, hear my humble cry;

while on others thou are calling;

do not pass me by.

(Moravian Daily Texts - 2013, 12 October)

12 October 2015

You Are My Rock

Since You are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of Your name lead and guide me. Free me from the trap that is set for me, for You are my refuge.
(Prayers From The Heart, Psalm 31:3-4 (NIV), Day 278)
7 October 2015

Lord, Our Rock

Lord, our Rock, help us to be steadfast in faith and to trust that Your plan for us is perfect and according to Your will. Keep us always by your side, in Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
(Moravian Daily Texts - 2013, 6 October)
6 October 2015