Posted on Sep 09, 2010 under His Word |
Do not take revenge, dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me. I will pay them back, declares the Lord.”
Romans 12:19
I have lived by this passage. In fact, vengeance frightens me. When I’m feeling so angry that I want to “get back” at someone, I pray. I pray that God calms me. I pray that God controls me. And in the end, I pray that God blesses the person on whom I want to seek revenge.
I know that seems crazy. I’m not even sure I can explain it. I just know that when I pray that God blesses the person who has hurt me, without any conditions attached – like “so he’ll feel bad for what he did” or “so she’ll apologize” – something miraculous happens. I don’t know exactly what it does for the other person but I know that I find peace. Crazy, huh?
Today I feel betrayed. I want to call someone or visit someone and ask why. I want to express in words the hurt I feel. And part of me, if I’m going to be very honest, wants to make my betrayer hurt the way I hurt.
Instead, I pray now that the Lord bless the person who has hurt me. I pray that the Lord bless those who were part of the betrayal. I pray that God bless those who sought revenge against me and caused this pain. No conditions. Just blessings.
And I will wait for the miracle of a peaceful heart.
Posted on Jul 31, 2010 under Time |
If I could save time in a bottle…
Time keeps on ticking, ticking, ticking, into the future…
Time after time…
Who wouldn’t like to have more time? We buy things that will help us to save time and then we spend more time working to pay for those time-saving things.
Too often, we spend our time reliving and reassessing the past or worrying about the future. It seems that we have no idea how to spend the time we have, this very moment.
I’m going to make a real effort to focus on each moment as it is, not worrying as much about the next moment, or fretting about the last one. Instead of spending time trying to save time, I’m just going to spend time living and loving.
How about you? How will you spend your time?
Posted on Apr 06, 2010 under Uncategorized |
One of my biggest spiritual challenges is having faith. I’m not talking about faith that there is a God. I’m talking about faith that God will take care of each situation. I’m talking about having faith to relinquish control.
I’m struggling with that right now. I want to do something. I even have an idea in mind of what to do. I’m not saying it’s the best option but it is the only one I can imagine right now. Knowing that it’s a terribly inadequate solution doesn’t make it easier to resist the temptation. I have to bite my tongue, let go and let it be.
Inaction does not necessarily equal denial or apathy. Sometimes inaction is a practice of faith. Sometimes we just have to let things be as they are and allow God to work.
Lord, give me the strength to resist this urge to take control.
Posted on Apr 05, 2010 under Faith |
Acceptance of the unacceptable is the greatest source of Grace on earth.
– Eckhart Tolle, Stillness Speaks
So, what is Grace? We say “grace” before meals but what exactly is grace? Grace is God’s goodness in our lives that we have not earned. Grace is God blessing us even though we have not merited those blessings.
I don’t know about anyone else but I can think of a hundred different ways that I’ve failed to earn God’s blessings. I know that I don’t deserve the many blessings in my life, yet God continues to send all kinds of good stuff my way. That’s God’s Grace.
Accepting the unacceptable seems foolish on the surface. Why would anyone accept what is not good? Well, perhaps the acceptance is an act of faith. Right now I must walk away from the worrying and fretting and simply accept that this is how it is. I cannot change this situation; worrying about it, placing blame for it, “thinking it through” over and over won’t change it. I have to just accept what is and hand it to God.
And so I will.
Posted on Apr 04, 2010 under Uncategorized |
Oh, that you would bless me indeed
And enlarge my territory.
That your hand would be with me
And that you would keep me from evil
That I may not cause pain.
Posted on Sep 16, 2009 under Faith |
Okay, so it’s time to pray. Something is up and I need prayers. I need God’s hand on those I love and those who we’ve chosen to trust in this most important situation. So, what’s the problem?
It hasn’t been so long ago that I turned everything over to God, sat calmly reading my bible passages or praying, and waiting for Him to take care of everything. My faith was strong and I had no trouble being patient as I awaited the news. I was sure the news would be favorable.
It wasn’t. Everything fell apart. He didn’t take care of us the way I’d prayed. Even now, so many months later, I can’t quite figure out what good came of all that. In fact, today’s problems are mostly a continuation – and an expensive continuation, at that – of that terrible outcome.
So now I’m here and trying to pray all over again. I’m trying to believe that God will take care of this, that the previous let down had a reason and that it’s all in His plan. I’m trying to have faith. I’m not at peace as I was before, so I guess my faith isn’t as strong. Does that mean I’ve failed in some way? Does that mean God is not happy with my lack of faith and won’t answer my prayers? I don’t know. Only time will tell that.
In the meantime, I’m left to wonder about this Faith thing. Faith the size of a mustard seed is enough to move a mountain. Yet, my faith hasn’t moved anything. And so I doubt. My faith is weakened.
My prayer, then, is that God renew my faith. I pray that my faith remains strong no matter today’s outcome.
Posted on Sep 08, 2009 under Uncategorized |
Several years ago, my mother told me about a book that was supposed to be very moving. The Prayer of Jabez had not yet branched off into the “for women” or “for teens” editions. I read the book and something happened to me. My heart opened and my faith we reborn.
I was raised Catholic and still am. I love my Catholic faith. The Prayer of Jabez didn’t distract from that but rather, added to it. It brought my faith into sharper focus. The Prayer of Jabez for Women touched me even deeper and since then, my faith – and my spirituality – has grown. I’m on an endless journey for a deeper understanding of my God.
While much of what I believe is based strongly on Christianity, some of my thoughts and realizations are a little beyond that. It’s hard to explain. I’m constantly trying to bring all of this together in my own mind.
Each day, I pray the way Jabez did. I meditate on the words and pray:
Oh, that You would bless me indeed;
And enlarge my territory.
That your hand would be with me
And that you would keep me from evil
That I may not cause pain.
Posted on Sep 02, 2009 under Uncategorized |
When I started this blog, I had ideas for it. I was going to blog every day; in fact, I planned to start each day with a post here. I would then be able to look back at my journey and be amazed or grateful or whatever. I was sure I’d have an “Aha!” moment. I hoped to reach out to others wishing to lead a more spiritual life.
Even though I dropped the ball on this blog, I did have an Aha moment. I looked back and realized what I had always known: Going “where He leads” means accepting plans other than my own. In this case, it meant walking away from here and learning to cope with situations out of my control.
Some of what I’ve learned and come to understand is so profound because it is so simple. I’m not sure I’ll be able to write properly about it but I will eventually try. I’m not even certain what direction this blog will take or whether I’ll make any sense of it. I just know that I am struggling to understand more and hope to share it here.
Or maybe I’ll just ask questions. We shall see….
Posted on Feb 11, 2009 under Uncategorized |
O most holy apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus — People honor and invoke you universally, as the patron of hopeless cases, of things almost despaired of. Pray for me, for I am so helpless and alone. Please help to bring me visible and speedy assistance. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly (state your request) and that I may praise God with you always. I promise, O blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor, to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you by publishing this request. Amen.
Posted on Nov 17, 2008 under Faith |
I’m afraid. My fear is keeping me from asking God for help. I’m sure that seems odd but it’s true.
I’ve prayed so long and so hard for two very special intentions that I’m beginning to lose faith. Both situations have gotten worse and worse over the years and now I find myself avoiding praying altogether. I’m afraid that if I pray and still receive no help, my faith will be destroyed.
I know that God does everything in His own time; I know that sometimes when we ask, He says No. Knowing all that doesn’t do much good, though. There are times when I become so distraught that I doubt God’s very existence. That’s why I’m afraid to pray. I’m afraid that if my prayers are not answered, I’ll give up on God. I’m at that point.
