Fwd: thought

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> I am sitting in my sun room looking out at the rain. Down the street I see my neighbor taking he morning paper to his neighbor. This is a random act of kindness. This is a antidote to what is wrong in human relationships. And there is another dimension to this scene. The guy doing his neighbor a good turn walks with a limp and one arm is held up close to his chest because a stroke has left him partially paralyzed. But his serving spirit is not paralyzed. "...the fruit of the Spirit is ..kindness..". It is also doing what you can with what you have.
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> dad/papa
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FW: THOUGHT

"….HE WANTED ME TO BE WITH HIM UNHURRIEDLY AND GENTLY." This thought came from a caregiver as he reflected upon his relationship with a patient. However, it has implications for all relationships during a day. Many times we may be not present when we are present with another person. Our minds are working on the next thing…..I have a little thought I reflect on: "Be present to the present--be present to the Presence in the present." GOD WITH US is a fundamental concept of our understanding of God. And when God is with us, God is not thinking about the next thing,person on his to do list-God/Spirit is really 100% with us-you,me in this very moment….slow down, let yourself be aware of Presence in this present….

dad/papa

FW: THOUGHT

>"THE EASIEST WAY TO ENJOY THE PRESENT IS NOT TO FEAR THE FUTURE." (Robert
>Rodale) -- "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
>everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life."
>(John 3:16) - I memorized this as a child. It has been a
>comforting(strengthening) thought from childhood to now and into all
>future; therefore no need to fearŠeveryone is afraid a some time, but
>fear need not be the fundamental state of a person.
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>dad/papa
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FW: THOUGHT

HENRI NOUWEN WAS THE PASTOR AND CAREGIVER TO A SEVERELY HANDICAPPED YOUNG MAN. IN HIS REFLECTIONS HE CAME TO A MOST LIBERATING INSIGHT TO CAREGIVING: "ONE OF THE GREAT RICHES OF CAREGIVING IS THAT IT EMBRACES SOMETHING MORE THAN SIMPLY A FOCUS ON CURE." IN OUR "FIX IT" CULTURE WE ARE IMPATIENT AND FRUSTRATED WHEN WE CAN'T FIX A SITUATION OR A PERSON. NOT EVERYTHING CAN BE FIXED. NOT EVERY ILLNESS DAN BE CURED. CHRIST DID NOT COME INTO THE WORLD TO FIX IT. HE CAME TO EMBRACE, LOVE, BE WITH US. WE ARE CALLED TO BE EMBRACERS....

FW: thought

>"He came to serve, not be servedŠ." (Matthew 20:28) -- the overwhelming
>desire to be important leaves us vulnerable to looking upon power people
>and power positions as the place to be. Then people will come to us for
>our help and we will both feel and be important. Unfortunately this
>mirage becomes the standard for misinformed persons. I carried items to
>Good Will yesterday. The young lady who came to the car and took these
>give aways into her hands said thank you. As she turned to walk away she
>said "blessings on you." She was the servant. Some how I get the
>impression from this picture that her attitude is more powerful that the
>stuff I have herŠŠ.Christmas is about serving and not being servedŠ.
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>dad/papa

Fwd: thought

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>
> The hour is early. I am sitting in my study with a cup of coffee. I look at the picture on the wall and wonder how it got a little crooked. Then in the shadows it looks like every picture is a little cocked off center. I remember visiting the home of a church member many years ago and noticing that nearly every picture on her walls was a little cocked side-ways. I realized this was purposefully done. She was making a statement. She was not exactly a follow the crowd person. Well, the message in these ponderings is that life gets knocked off course, off center, cocked sideways but we do not stop living. In fact it is just ok to be a little odd in the eyes of the world, and the Grace of God loves us and works with us just as we are,- not hanging exactly perfect on the wall of life…..
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> dad/papa
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Fwd: thought

"The Lord is my Shepherd…(Ps.)….I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself, sacrifices himself if necessary…" (John) --- our ego does not take to the idea of being a "dumb" sheep. We like the idea of being independent, self-sufficient, tough it out, don't need any help. Well, that is a thing of fantasy. While we are being independent, "sowing our wild oats" Someone has to be looking out for us; otherwise we might "jump off the cliff" to stupidly show how brave we are…..God comes to us in the Advent/Christmas rituals to remind us that He cares, and is always present and