At the Gate of the Year…

And I said to the one who stood at the gate of the year…

image via fromtheheartofj

image via fromtheheartofj

 

“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”

And he replied, “Go out into the darkness and put your hand in the hand of God.

That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”

Minnie Haskins

“For I am the Lord,  your God, who grasp your right hand.  It is I who say to you, “Fear not, I will help you.” Is 41: 13

May your journey ahead into the year 2013 always be hand in hand with God. Happy New Year! May God be forever praised!

Level Ground…

I just got glasses…Been a bit strange wearing them.
image via fromtheheartofj

I feel very tall…everyone looks short…I feel like I’m walking downhill uphill.

Has made me think about Perspective.

“Let your nose point first to what you want to look at…then find the sweet spot where things that are blurry become clear, ” said Martha with the white hair.

Good advice. Don’t you think?

It’s not enough just to set your eyes on where you want to go…your body needs to move in the same direction.

And aren’t we all looking for that sweet spot – that God perspective – where things blurry become focused and clear?

I’m finding it takes some practice…and patience… intention… and good humor.

Hopefully in time the journey will no longer all seem downhill uphill.

It will become level ground.

“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.  May your kind spirit guide me on ground that is level. ” Psalm 143:10

An Irish Christmas Blessing…

An Irish Christmas Blessing…

The Light of the Christmas star to you…

image via fromtheheartofj

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

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 : )

 

Holy Innocents…

image via 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)

No Questions?…

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

Enough of the Not Enoughs…

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!

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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

The Mess of Me…

“It is here in the pieces of my shame that I find myself.” Poet Rainer Maria Rilke

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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

Dig In…

Life can be messy…but do not be afraid…

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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