Love Is

Love is swift, honest, devout, joyous and pleasing; love is strong, patient, faithful, prudent, long-suffering, courageous. Love is never self-seeking, for when we seek ourselves, we abandon love. Love is watchful, humble and upright; it is not soft, not frivolous, not given to empty things; it is sober, chaste, steadfast, calm, and it always stays alert. Love is submissive and obedient; it is ordinary and insignificant in its own eyes, devout and grateful to God, always trusting and hoping in him, even when it cannot taste him, for one does not know love without pain.
(Thomas 'a Kempis, Book 3, Chapter 5)
31 May 2015

Examine Your Conscience

Be sorry for all of your sins in general; in particular, regret your daily offenses, and be especially sorry for them. If you have time, confess to God in the secret recesses of your heart the pain that your failings have caused you.
(Thomas 'a Kempis, The Imitation Of Christ, Book 4, Chapter 7)
30 May 2015

Irish Blessing

May God give you ...

for every storm, a rainbow;

for every tear, a smile;

for every care, a promise;

and a blessing for each trial.

For every problem life sends, a faithful friend to share;

for every sigh, a sweet song;

and an answer for each prayer.

(Irish Blessing, Whispers of Blessing, Day 342)

29 May 2015

Courage

Holy Spirit, give us the courage to be

gracious in the face of rudeness;

kind in the face of hatred and bigotry;

just in the face of injustice.

(The Christophers, Three Minutes A Day, Vol. 41, 9 November)

28 May 2015

Help Me To Remember

O Great Spirit, when I have food
Help me to remember the hungry;
When I have work ... the jobless;
... a home, those who have no home at all;
When I am without paint ... those who suffer;
And remembering,
Help me to destroy my complacency;
Bestir my compassion,
And be concerned enough to help;
By word and deed,
Those who cry out for what we take for granted.
(The Christophers, Three Minutes A Day, Council Of Indian Nations, 12 October)
20 May 2015

Being Full Of Yourself

When you're full of yourself, God can't fill you.

(Max Lucado, Grace For The Moment, Vol. II, 25 November)

19 May 2015

Possibilities

Photo by: Mr. Dickie

No matter how dark things seems to be or actually are, raise your sights and see possibilities -- always see them, for they're always there.
(Norman Vincent Peale in Whispers of Blessing, Day 299)
17 May 2015

Anonymity

God is no stranger to anonymity and often appears in human affairs in the guises of "luck," "chance," or "coincidence." If anonymity, somewhat fortuitously, became the spiritual basis for all of our ... [good fortune], perhaps God was acting anonymously on our behalf.
(Daily Reflections, 25 November)
16 May 2015

The Most Critical Hours

If it really happened ... 

if God did commandeer his own crucifixion ...

if he did turn his back on his own son ...

those six hours were no normal six hours.

They were the most critical hours in history.

(Max Lucado, Grace For The Moment, Volume II, 29 September)

15 May 2015

Worry

No one has to remind you of the high cost of anxiety. ... 

Worry divides the mind. ... 

Anxiety splits our energy between 

today's priorities and tomorrow's problems. 

Part of our mind is on the now; the rest is on the not yet. 

The result is half-minded living.

(Max Lucado, Grace For The Moment, Volume II, 20 October)

14 May 2015

Spiritual Path

Thank you for this opportunity to come closer to You on my spiritual path.
Bless me in this endeavor, I pray and help me keep from backsliding in the process.
I wait on You, God of my understanding.
(Christine Pisani in Prayers for Every Need, by Guideposts, p. 279)
13 May 2015

Wisdom, Determination, Courage

Panama - Mural

Lord, grant me wisdom, determination and courage.

(The Christophers, Three Minutes A Day, Volume 44, 22 September)

12 May 2015

Effort & Outcome

Ship in the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal

I must always keep in mind that in every situation I am responsible for the effort and God is responsible for the outcome.
(Daily Reflections, 20 November)
11 May 2015

Prayer For The Home

Our House Under a Double Rainbow

Photo by: Mr. Dickie

O Thou, who dwellest in so many homes, possess Thyself of this.
Bless the life that is sheltered here.
Grant that trust and peace and comfort abide within, and that love and life and usefulness may go out from this home forever.
(Author unknown, Whispers Of Blessing, Day 311)
6 May 2015

My Prayer

Panama Foliage

Photo by: Melva

This is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best.
(The Christophers, Three Minutes A Day, Vol. 44, Philippians 1:9-10)
4 May 2015

Watchfulness

Photo by: Melva

Panama Foliage

You must maintain continual watchfulness so that nothing arises in your life that would cause you shame.
(Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest,15 September)
3 May 2015