AMAZING PROMISES

Israeli Art at Etsy

According to Google, there are over 8,800 promises given by God in the Word.  Among these promises are:

I will be with you and always love you

I will give you strength and protect you

I will provide and answer you

I will give you peace and eternal life…and the rest follow.

“I will live with them and move among them, and I will be their God and they shall be my people.”

–2 Corinthians 6:16

Given that the world operates only on self-centeredness, these many promises are a great source of comfort…because

“Whoever sacrifices to any god except to the Lord alone, shall be doomed.”

–Exodus 22:19

Now, I’m curious to learn about the many other promises…

Are you?

PLACE OF WHOLENESS

A Bing Image

So True!  The places we live in gives us power to experience a wholeness of being.

When I glance over my life’s history, I can connect the dots that prove my purpose in living.

Such an exercise of mind and heart can render a powerful sense of sacred well-being.

I will lead the blind by a road they do not know, by paths they have not known I will guide them.  I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground.  These are the things I will do, and I will not forsake them.”

–Isaiah 42:16

HAIKU

The ground connects us

Circles our feet to the earth

Haiku grounded in place

JESUS’ STORY IS OURS

A Bing Quote

In a recent retreat I attended, the question posed was:

  What do you thirst for in life?

The easy and obvious answers came forth:  career, prosperity, good health, etc.  That did not please our presenter.  Rather, he suggested we focus on the premise that we are created for love and that God gives us love through created things.  Then he quoted John Paul II, saying:

“Do not forget that true love sets no conditions.  It does not calculate or complain, but simply loves.”

We moved on to a short story of a father with his child walking along the beach.  Very content, the boy with his toys sat at the edge of the waves with his back to the ocean.  Puzzled, the  father said to the boy, “If you turn around, you will discover an ocean of mysteries.”  My guess is that at times the Holy Trinity sees us in that perspective.  Then when I silently answered what I thirst for, emptying my heart for him, God graciously gave me himself.

What do you really thirst for?

I pray you will find refreshment with God during this Holy Week.

KEEPING HAPPY

A Bing Image

A smile is Cheer to you and me

The cost is nothing – it’s given free

It comforts the weary – gladdens the sad

Consoles those in trouble – good or bad

To rich or poor – beggar or thief

It’s free to all of any belief

A natural gesture of young and old

Cheers on the faint – disarms the bold

Unlike most blessings for which we pray

It’s one thing we keep when we give it away.

“Do not inquire as to who said this, but pay attention to what is said.”

–Unknown Author

 

ANOTHER CHANCE

A Bing Image

With a new month comes another chance, leaving behind regret for goals not yet reached.  This poem by T.J. Farr makes an encouraging point.

“If we might have a second chance

To live the days once more,

And rectify mistakes we’ve made

To even up the score;

If we might have a second chance

To use the knowledge gained,

Perhaps we might become at last

As fine as God ordained.

But though we can’t retrace our steps

However stands the score,

Tomorrow brings another chance

For us to try once more.” 

Providentially, I found this poem between pages of one of my Papa’s favorite books.

May this month of March give you favors in the…

“The power of agreement cannot be overlooked.”

–Dutch sheets

PASS ON HOPE

A Bing Image

“Have utmost Hope and Faith and learn to get away from negative people who will push you further down.  Be brave to accept the one who really wants to be with you and reject the one who just pretends to be with you.  Close some doors, not because of pride, incapacity or arrogance, but simply because they no longer lead you somewhere.”

–Paulo Coelho

May you always be rich in generous good works.