Fwd: THOUGHT

I READ MANY BOOKS. I LIKE TO READ. BUT THERE IS ONE BOOK TO WHICH I RETURN OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I REREAD MANY PARTS OF THAT BOOK. IF ALL MY OTHER BOOKS WERE TAKEN AWAY I WOULD SURVIVE. HOWEVER, THE WORDS AND MESSAGE OF THIS ONE BOOK I COULD NOT GIVE UP. IN THE THOUGHTS, STORIES, IDEAS, CONCEPTS ETC. OF THIS BOOK I FIND INSPIRATION, INSIGHT, GUIDANCE, COMFORT, AUTHORITY FOR KNOWING TRUTH. IT FEEDS MY SOUL. IT PROVIDES ME PRAYERS TO UTTER WHEN MY OWN WORDS ARE INADEQUATE. NOW THIS BOOK IS NOT A IDOL. IT IS SIMPLY THE INSPIRED STORY OF GOD'S LOVE AND DETERMINATION THAT CREATION WILL NOT BE GIVEN UP TO EVIL. THAT IN DIVINITY'S TIMING THE KINGDOM OF GOD WILL PREVAIL AND GOD'S INTENDED WILL WILL BE DONE. I AM COUNTING ON THIS FOR MYSELF, YOU AND …………

Fwd: THOUGHT

WE PLACE HIGH IMPORTANCE TO SICENCE, TECHNOLOGY, MATH ALL OF WHICH ARE IMPORTANT; HOWEVER, IF WE NEGLECT VALUES WE END UP WEAKENING THE CHARACTER AND MORAL FIBER OF OURSELVES AND  CULTURE TO OUR DETRIMENT. —— WHAT DOES IT MATTER IF WE GAIN GREAT WEALTH AND POWER BUT LOSE OUR SOUL, THUS BEING POVERTY STRICKEN WITHIN WHERE WE REALLY LIVE. —ALL WEEK LONG JESUS IS SAYING I LOVE YOU ENOUGH TO DIE FOR YOU AND WHEN I DIE I WILL RISE AGAIN IN LIFE OVER DEATH, FEAR, FAILURE, TROUBLE OF ANY KIND. ——AND THAT MEANS IF I FALL TODAY OR MAKE A MISTAKE I WILL RISE UP AND MOVE ON... THESE ARE THOUGHTS I AM LISTENING TO AS I BEGIN THIS DAY…..

Forgive

"IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO FORGIVE WITHOUT REFERENCE TO GOD….PEOPLE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO FORGIVE ONLY IF THEY HAVE THE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF BEING FORGIVEN…..ONLY SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD TO ASK FORGIVENESS AT LEAST ONCE IS CAPABLE OF GRANTING FORGIVENESS….ANYONE WHO DOESN'T ASK FOR FORGIVENESS IS LACKING SOMETHING IN HIS DAY-TO-DAY LIFE."  (Pope Francis, His Life in His Own Words) — Meditation thoughts as we begin Holy Week, the days leading to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

Evil

EVIL SITS ON MY SHOULDER WHISPERING IN MY EAR. EVIL ENCOURAGES ME IN NEGATIVE FEELINGS, TOWARD VENGEANCE AND GETTING EVEN. IT DOES NOT LET ME FORGET A INJURY OR INSULT. EVIL KNOWS MY WEAKNESS AND WILL USE IT TO DISTRACT ME FROM THE IMPORTANT. IT LIKES TO GET ME PREOCCUPIED WITH LESS THAN WORTHY THINGS THAT JUST PASS AWAY. BUT LOVE, GOODNESS, COMPASSION DWELLS WITHIN ME. FROM DEEP WITHIN RISES THE AWARENESS OF WHAT EVIL IS DOING AND CALLS ME TO THE BETTER WAY. ITS REWARD IS A SENSE OF PEACE AND KNOWING I HAVE DONE RIGHT AND N0 REGRETS. I HAVE POWER TO CHOOSE AND I CHOOSE THE BETTER WAY, AND IF I HAPPEN TO FALL I WILL GET UP AND GO AGAIN. I DO NOT GIVE UP BECAUSE GOOD/GOD/ETERNITY IS MY ALL IN EVERYTHING.

I THINKS EVIL IS A PARASITE THAT HAS NO LIFE IF IT CANNOT GROW IN THE MIND AND HEART OF A PERSON. ONE WE REASON WE PARTICIPATE IN THE LENT/EASTER SEASON OF THE CHRISTIAN YEAR IS OUR NEED FOR CONFESSION AND CLEANSING THAT COMES TROUGH THE SACRIFICE AND FORGIVENESS OF JESUS CHRIST.

I WROTE THESE THOUGHTS IN THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS. THEY HAVE BEEN SITTING IN THE THOUGHT FILE UNTIL NOW. IT SEEMS NOW IS THE TIME TO SHARE THEM. AND LET THEM SPEAK TO US WHEREVER WE ARE IN LIFE EXPERIENCES.

Jesus Christ

> "…THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT A SERMON IS THE MESSAGE OF JESUS CHRIST…..IT SUMMARIZES THE CORE CHRISTIAN TENETS: THAT GOD IS IN JESUS, HE MADE HIMSELF MAN IN ORDER TO SAVE US, HE LIVED IN THE WORLD LIKE ONE OF US, HE SUFFERED, HE DIED, HE WAS BURIED, AND HE CAME BACK TO LIFE…THIS IS THE MESSAGE OF CHRIST, WHICH CAUSES ASTONISHMENT AND LEADS TO CONTEMPLATION AND BELIEF….." (Pope Francis) …..and this is the testimony of the New Testament for us to read and contemplate regularly….let the meaning of this seep into mind, body,spirit where you are in life at this moment…..
>

YOU WILL KEEP IN PERFECT PEACE

>
> YOU WILL KEEP IN PERFECT PEACE(quiet, tranquility, mental calm, serenity, restfulness) HIM/HER WHOSE MIND IS STEADFAST, BECAUSE HE/SHE TRUSTS YOU. (Isaiah 26:3) - These wisdom words are ancient truth. Life was not easy and people were troubled and possibly afraid. I say this because so is it today. Some times when persons are troubled they reach out for others to be with them. Some times persons who are troubled cause others pain and heartache by lashing out at them causing injury. No matter, we humans are vulnerable beyond what any other human can help and our only recourse is the One whose nature and behavior is Love. In this Love we find comfort, encouragement, guidance, redemption, strength until out of our pain and trouble comes hope and life……
>

get up from your fall

>
> AND THEN DAWN COMES SLOWLY AND SUN RISES
> AND LIFE/ETERNITY/SPIRIT/BREATH…..
> REVEALS THE CONTINUING OF CREATION
> AS THOUGH SAYING
> GET UP FORM YOUR FALL
> AND TRY AGAIN
> AT THE BUSINESS OF LIVING
> IN THE HERE AND NOW
>
> "THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE, LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT.."
>

Wait

>
> sometimes i just sit in the darkness and wait….eventually the sun shines and i can see ….
>
>

JESUS CHRIST IS OUR MODEL AND MENTOR

WE NEED SUPPORT

NOT PERFECT SUPPORT

LOVING AND CARING SUPPORT

WALKING/LIVING MOMENTS AND EXPERIENCES OF LIFE.

THAT IS WHY GOD HAS DESIGNATED

YOU AND ME TO BE HERE FOR ONE ANOTHER

JESUS CHRIST IS OUR MODEL AND MENTOR

PRESENT WITH US ALWAYS

DAD/PAPA

FLANNERY O’CONNOR

>
> I WAS IMPRESSED WITH A PHRASE I READ FROM FLANNERY O'CONNOR MATERIALS. "….IT'S HARDER TO TEACH ANYTHING REGIONAL AS WE GET MORE HOMOGENIZED CULTURALLY." We may be a melting pot nation, but we also keep to our roots. The diversity of our ethnic heritage should be respected and valued. We do not need to reach place where everyone is alike and have the same background. We can listen to each others stories without feeling superior or inferior to each other. i like being me and i don't want to become like you and vice versa. …….. ?????
>
>
>

The Peace of God be with you

>
> THE PEACE OF GOD BE WITH YOU….THE PEACE OF GOD IS WITH YOU…..THE PEACE OF GOD IS GOD PRESENT WITHIN YOU…..THE PEACE OF GOD DISSOLVES THE VIOLENCE IN YOUR WORDS, ACTONS, ATTITUDES, FEARS. THE PEACE OF GOD MELTS ALL THAT IS CONTRARY TO LOVE, GOODNESS. THIS IS TRUE BECAUSE THESE CONTRARY THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS ARE FALSE, AND CANNOT SURVIVE THE PRESENCE OF ETERNAL LOVE. HOWEVER YOU AND I MUST STOP AND LISTEN AND WAIT UNTIL THAT PEACE FLOWS UP FROM DEEP INSIDE US AND CLEANS UP OUR CRAPY THINKING AND ATTITUDES. ……….some thoughts to ponder….
>

Trust the Lord

>
> I HAVE BEEN CALLED BACK TO THIS TRUTH MANY TIMES DURING LIFE AND AM STILL REMINDED OF IT IN THESE DAYS OF LIFE PERSONALLY, FOR LOVED ONES, AND THE WORLD SITUATION……
>
>
>>
>>
>>> things are not going the way i want. i push back. i fight back. i am upset. i can't control and i push back against the way life is happening. the last thing i am willing to do is say the prayer, "Your will be done." surrender goes against everything i am about. life is not fulfilling or satisfying lived this way. somewhere I finally realize that the picture is more than having my way, my will be done. finally I cry out to God, "have it Your way. You know what is best. I give all over to You, i trust You……everything belongs to You anyway and I am foolish to fight this reality……"Trust the Lord with all your heart, and do not depend on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5,6) ….now lets see what happens……
>>>

Surrender

things are not going the way i want. i push back. i fight back. i am upset. i can't control and i push back against the way life is happening. the last thing i am willing to do is say the prayer, "Your will be done." surrender goes against everything i am about. life is not fulfilling or satisfying lived this way. somewhere I finally realize that the picture is more than having my way, my will be done. finally I cry out to God, "have it Your way. You know what is best. I give all over to You, i trust You……everything belongs to You anyway and I am foolish to fight this reality……"Trust the Lord with all your heart, and do not depend on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5,6) ….now lets see what happens……

Be You/Me

I WAS IMPRESSED WITH A PHRASE I READ FROM FLANNERY O'CONNOR MATERIALS. "….IT'S HARDER TO TEACH ANYTHING REGIONAL AS WE GET MORE HOMOGENIZED CULTURALLY." We may be a melting pot nation, but we also keep to our roots. The diversity of our ethnic heritage should be respected and valued. We do not need to reach place where everyone is alike and have the same background. We can listen to each others stories without feeling superior or inferior to each other. i like being me and i don't want to become like you and vice versa. …….. ?????

Family

WE NEED SUPPORT

NOT PERFECT SUPPORT

LOVING AND CARING SUPPORT

WALKING/LIVING MOMENTS AND EXPERIENCES OF LIFE.

THAT IS WHY GOD HAS DESIGNATED

YOU AND ME TO BE HERE FOR ONE ANOTHER

JESUS CHRIST IS OUR MODEL AND MENTOR

PRESENT WITH US ALWAYS

Family

WHEN ONE MEMBER REJOICES ALL MEMBERS REJOICE, WHEN ONE MEMBER HURTS ALL MEMBERS HURT…THAT IS THE WAY OF LOVE…AND ITS ALL ABOUT LOVING FOR THAT IS THE HEART OF LIFE.

ultimate will of God

I have learned I cannot offer counsel until l have heard the other persons story. My initial impression  may be completely misleading. What we see on the surface may not have any relation to what is really going on down under. I am reminded of that sermon I read about the will of God. Their is the Intentional Will of God, the Circumstantial Will of God, the Ultimate Will of God. The Circumstantial Will of God is not what God intended and not what will ultimately be done, but in the present situation God's Will does the best it can with imperfect conditions and imperfect persons. This is risky because sometimes God has to tolerate being taken advantage of and live with less than should be. But this is the way of Love. However, at the end of time God's Ultimate Will is going to be done. Life is not fair and a lot is displeasing to us; however the underlying Love in all creation sooner or later prevails and we hang in for the present. 

anxiety

I sit here troubled by anxiety and there comes to the forefront of my mind these words, "but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, ……" (Isaiah 40:31) - many times through the years these words of promise and assurance have proven true. God's love for us is such that it penetrates whatever is our troubled thoughts and feelings to reassure us and light our way and enable us to allow God's timing to work……