An Irish Christmas Blessing…
The Light of the Christmas star to you…
image via fromtheheartofj
The warmth of home and hearth to you…
The cheer and good will of friends to you…
The hope of a childlike heart to you…
The joy of a thousand angels to you…
The Love of the Son and God’s peace to you.
image via fromtheheartofj
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL…a bit late …but still in the Octave of Christmas!
God’s Peace, Love and Joy in abundance, Fromtheheartofj : )
image via fromtheheartofj
We read in Matthew chapter 2 that when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, King Herod, fearing for his throne, ordered that all the male infants of Bethlehem be killed. These children are regarded as martyrs for the Gospel.
A Prayer to the Holy Innocents
Holy Innocents, you died before you were old enough to know what life means, pray for all children who die young that God may gather them into His loving arms.
Holy Innocents, you were killed because one man was filled with hatred, pray for those who hate that God may touch their hearts and fill them with love.
Holy Innocents, you experienced a violent death, pray for all who are affected by violence that they may find peace and love.
Holy Innocents, your parents grieved for you with deep and lasting sorrow, pray for all parents who have lost young children that God may wrap a warm blanket of comfort around them.
Holy Innocents, those around you certainly felt helpless to prevent your deaths, pray for all who feel helpless in their circumstances that they may cling to God for courage and hope.
Holy Innocents, you who are now in Heaven, pray for all of us that one day we may join you there to bask in God’s love forever.
Amen.
(author of prayer unknown)
What if there were no questions? No W’s to form the words.
image via fromtheheartofj
no _ho’s, no _hat’s, no _here’s, no _hich’s, no _hy’s.
What would life be like with no questions?…
Without questions there would be no answers…
And one cannot live the answers without first living the questions.
Without the questions…without the _ho’s, the _hat’s, the _here’s, the _hich’s, or the _hy’s
There also would be no _onder.
“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.”
― Poet Rainer Maria Rilke
“The fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord is safe.” Pro 29:25
Not enough time…not enough money…not enough energy…not pretty enough…not smart enough…not rich enough…not successful enough…not athletic enough…not enough…not enough…not enough.
Enough of the not enoughs!
image via fromtheheartofj
Not enoughs pollute the soul, distort the spirit, cripple the will.
Not enoughs restrict the breathing in of God’s grace…and the breathing out of thanksgiving for blessings received.
Not enoughs refuse the gift of – I AM ENOUGH
Enough of the not enoughs!
Look straight in the mirror. Declare boldly – I AM ENOUGH
I AM “made in the Divine image” ENOUGH,
I AM ” in Him we live and move and have our being” ENOUGH,
I AM “God’s offspring” ENOUGH,
I AM “chosen”, “dedicated”, “fearfully, wonderfully made”, “all good gifts come from You” ENOUGH!
I AM “Your treasured possession” ENOUGH!
Catch the poisonous thoughts and words of not enough before they strike.
Enough of the not enoughs….
I AM ENOUGH!
“You shall be called by a new name pronounced by the mouth of the Lord, a royal diadem held by your God. No more shall men call you “forsaken”, or your land “desolate”, but you shall be called “My Delight”, and your land “espoused”. For the Lord delights in you and makes your land his spouse. As a young man marries a virgin, your Builder shall marry you; and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride so shall your God rejoice in you.” Is 62: 2-5
“It is here in the pieces of my shame that I find myself.” Poet Rainer Maria Rilke
image via fromtheheartofj
Strewn about within the confines of the mind
These pieces of shame.
Bits of unlovable, not enough, could’ve been, disconnected, less than, shards cut the heart…
weigh down the joy-filled dance.
Bending down low to uproot…bit by bit…like a child collecting stones that block the stream’s flow.
Lifted up in offering to He who is the Offering.
The mess of me becomes the beauty of us…
Heart to heart intertwined,
Brokenness made whole.
image via fromtheheartofj
In the pieces of my shame I discover…He who is Love.
And the mess of me becomes the beauty of us…
Heart to heart intertwined.
“He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Mt 18:2-3
Life can be messy…but do not be afraid…
image via fromtheheartofj
Dig in….
Forget about stumbling on the past when you are walking in the present…
Forget about getting lost in the clouds of a future that hasn’t yet arrived.
Be at peace in the “sacrament of the present moment”
Dig into the “I AM”, grace filled now.
image via fromtheheartofj
And there find the sweetness of God…the joy of His presence in the messy of the present.
“You will show me the path to life, abounding joy in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever.” Ps 16:11
image via fromtheheartofj
My blog has been quiet…but my ponderings deep.
And who’s to say these thoughts wouldn’t too make your spirit leap?
There’s a sharing of self in the sharing of our musings…
We learn from each other’s victories and bruisings.
So Heart be not muffled…words be not mute…
all of our writings can bless and take root.
We can encourage the wanderer…and strengthen the tired.
Faith is contagious…Let’s together enkindle the fire!
image via jaquiscakes.com
Through Him With Him In Him Blog is 1 year old!
165 posts, 1724 comments, 12,193 views, 1089 blocked spammers later it is a day of celebration and of reminiscing as I reread the posts from the past year. I thank you dear readers for your support and encouragement in this journey of the heart shared…you are remembered in my prayers…through Him with Him and in Him.
“May our Lord Jesus himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word.” 2Thes2:16-17.
It all began with a Post It note…
image via fromtheheartofj
Someone took the time to affirm an anonymous woman wounded by the world.
She smiled from the inside out and too was led to do the same.
image via fromtheheartofj
She took the time to affirm an anonymous woman wounded by the world, who smiled from the inside out and too was led to do the same.
All with a Post It.
What is true beauty?
Is it not the light of Him who is beauty shining forth from within…that unique divine imprint that only you can reflect?
Let us throw off the bondage of the world’s definition of beauty…
Beauty Evangelization.
No experience required…just some post its and a beautiful heart.
Will you join me?
With our eyes upon Christ may we discover our true beauty reflected in His loving gaze. May we receive His smile upon us and reflect Him to all who cross our path.
“God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them.” Gen 1:27
image via fromtheheartofj
“In their distress they cried to the Lord, who brought them out of their peril, hushed the storm to a murmur; the waves of the sea were stilled. They rejoiced that the sea grew calm, that God brought them to the harbor they longed for. Let them thank the Lord for such kindness, such wondrous deeds for mere mortal. Let them praise him in the assembly of the people, give thanks in the council of the elders…Whoever is wise will take note of these things, will ponder the merciful deeds of the Lord.” Ps 107: 28-32,43
I’ve heard some say….”The weatherman was wrong again!”, “The media just hyped up Isaac!”…
Are we of such little faith that we no longer believe that in God all things are possible? I choose to give thanks for God’s calming of the storm, His hushing the harshness, and although our brothers and sisters in Louisiana and Mississippi are contending with some flooding issues…it could have been so much worse. Our prayers and assistance continue to reach out to them. But let us be like the “wise” taking “note of these things” and pondering “the merciful deeds of the Lord” while giving thanks in everything!
P.S. Thank you for all your prayers!
Hurricane Watch notifications awaken us this morning. Residents of the Gulf Coast….Be prepared, Isaac has his eye on you.
image via AccuWeather.com
Two to three days away people go into automatic hurricane pilot mode. Response team trailers and electric company bucket trucks from neighboring states beginning to arrive, parked in hotel lots.
image via davegerry.wordpress.com
Walmart filled with those looking to beat the crowds. Water, sandwich stuff, bread, charcoal, drinks, paper products, matches, batteries, tarps, oh yes a new rake –check, check check. Beer for the hubby? That will have to wait until after 1pm – the blue laws !
In the busy-ness of the shopping cart shuffle thoughts turn to Jesus rebuking the storm…turning the anxiousness of the apostles into peace. As I so easily pick up supplies, prayers are lifted up for our brothers and sisters in Haiti and Cuba who have already borne the brunt of Isaac.
image via en.wikipedia.org
Prayers are lifted up for all those whose hearts are still broken from the devestation of Katrina…lives forever changed… the impact of these emotions a deja-vu as Isaac aims for the Gulf Coast, expected to strike on the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Grocery store intercession…the power of prayer in the midst of the shuffle.
Here where Southern hospitality reigns neighbors and friends are checking on neighbors and friends in a “what can I do to help you prepare?” kind of way. But we are NOT putting out the welcome mat for you Isaac! Our windows will be shuttered and we will all be inside..
image via blog.nolo.com
Worshippers gathering in Churches this Sunday all over the Gulf Coast will be lifting up fervent prayers…interceding for those already affected…believing in miracles….and thanking God for His presence with us.
Please join us in prayer.
Abundant blessings to you this Sunday, From the Heart of J
To..Be…Continued…
through Him with Him in Him... 