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Clay in His hand…
malleable to His “grace is sufficient”…
in the newness of “this is the day the Lord has made”…
in the newness of this “year of favor of the Lord”.
Docile to the work of the Holy Spirit…
allowing the embrace of a trust in the “plans for welfare not for woe”…
and armed with “in the joy of the Lord is my strength…
Adventure begins…the PRESENT of His PRESENCE in the PRESENT.
Happy New Year 2014!
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God is not in the what ifs, could have beens, if onlys….
He is in the I AM, we are, he/she is grace of each new day.
His Presence in the present is our strength.
“You will show me the path to life, abounding joy in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever.” Ps 16:11,
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God always surprises us. He bursts our categories. He wreaks havoc with our plans. And He tells us: Trust me. Do not be afraid. Let yourself be surprised. Leave yourself behind and follow Me. * Pope Francis
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love. ” 1 John 4:18
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Discouragement is when the problem before you has become bigger than God, Himself.
Our vision is cast downward and we’ve forgotten to trust in Him and His plan for our lives.
We are at our best when we are looking up.
It’s impossible to look up and be discouraged.
“My eyes are ever upon the Lord, who frees my feet from the snare.” Ps 25:15
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Mercy is to touch the hem of His Heart…
Mercy infuses…Mercy transforms…weaving one into the garment of His extravagant Love.
The gift received…becomes the gift given.
With the mantle of mercy one is wrapped, drawing all of life under this garment of grace.
Covered under the cloak are those occasions of forgiveness…not that they are forgotten, not an agreement with what was said or done…
But the loose threads of the hurt are carefully rewoven into the garment of grace…in trust…
That one is “filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body”…
All for a purpose…all for God’s glory.
“And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. ” Col 3:14-15.
Mercy received becomes mercy given.
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“Take care to maintain peace and tranquility in your heart; let the waves toss and churn all around your boat, but fear not, because God is there and as a result, salvation.” Francis de Sales
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27
What if there were no questions? No W’s to form the words.
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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
through Him with Him in Him... 