“Because there was no room in the Inn, Jesus had to be born elsewhere …
that is, in each one of us.
We may be simple and humble, like a stable…
But with Christ within us we can be magnificent and change the world.” (Michael Moran)
Live + Jesus.
image by fromtheheartofj
THE KING IS COMING…THE KING IS COMING…
HE IS ALMOST HERE!
image via vividtravel.ca
There is a tribe in East Africa where the birth of a child is marked not on the day of the physical birth, but the first time the child is a thought in the mother’s mind.
Aware of her intention to conceive a child with a particular father, the mother goes off alone and sits under a tree.
image via travelnationalgeographic.com
There under the tree she sits and listens until she can hear the song of the child she hopes to conceive.
Once she has heard it…
She goes back to her village and teaches it to the father so they can sing it together as they make love, inviting the child to join them.
The mother sings this song to the baby in her womb. She teaches it to the old women and midwives of the village so that at the miracle of birth the child is greeted with this song.
image via thedjservice.com
This song is taught to all the villagers so when the child falls or hurts himself they sing this song to comfort.
This song becomes part of the marriage ceremony and at the end of life, loved ones gather around the deathbed and sing this song for the last time.
image via internetmonk.com
If all creation sings God’s praise, then we too sing praise from the depths of who we are. We do have a song in our hearts….we came into this world in a love song of heavenly praise. Discover your song. Assist others to do the same. We will be a symphony of praise to the Lord.
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” Col 3: 16
Lord make me an INSTRUMENT of your PEACE…
image via mediate.com
Where there is hatred, let me sow love…
image via kacc.com
Where there is injury, pardon…
image via 3dental.com
Where there is doubt, faith…
image via truthstirring.blogspot.com
Where there is despair, hope…
image via susanrstoltz.com
Where there is darkness, light…
image via faithlifereflections.blogspot.com
Where there is sadness, joy…
image via livinglifebydesign.com
O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console…
image via chron.com
To be understood as to understand…
image via sender1typepad.com
To be loved as to love…
image via sodahead.com
For it is in giving that we receive…
image via hip2save.com
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned…
image via 4catholiceducators.com
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
image via ncrg.com
Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
“Lord truly make us your INSTRUMENTS of PEACE.”
Prescription for the weekend?…..
SMILE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8SPwT3nQZ8
God’s Blessings on You and Yours!
Fromtheheartofj
Stretching…
image via 101exercises.com
Elongates muscles, conditions, improves range and motion, gives increased energy, enhances coordination, and improves posture.
And gives a greater sense of well being.
Stretching prepares for future use and overuse.
And although pain in the stretching…
If held through the tension, there is a settling.
So too spiritual stretching…
A necessity.
Reading the Word and pondering a difficult passage…
Saying no to a temptation to live less than one’s dignity…
Reaching out to another against the feelings of “do I have to”?…
So many ways…
Spiritual stretching
image via kids.lovetoknow.com
Enlarges the heart…
Conditions our thoughts…
Improves our “range of motion reaching out to others”…
Increases spiritual energy and corrects our Godly posture…
Helps us to grow in the truth “I am God’s beloved”…
And prepares us for whatever battle will be fought that day.
We are professional athletes in the spiritual realm…
image via activerain.com
Running a race in which we already know the prize to be given.
The victory celebration will come soon…
But you have to STRETCH your very self in the “now” of the race.
And if there’s pain….stick with the tension until you gain the peace of the stretch!
May we all one day be able to say from the heart,
“I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.” 2 Tim 4:7
Have you ever breathed in the morning?
Deeply inhaled the fullness, the freshness, the beauty of the new day….
Held it within as it expanded your lungs…
and ever so slowly exhaled all the possibilities and hopes out before you?
Have you ever breathed in the noontime?
Paused and deeply inhaled the bustle of mid day…
Held it within as the busy-ness of it all met with the peace within…
and then exhaled this inner calmness into the world around you?
Have you ever breathed in the evening?
Deeply inhaled all the day contained within the confines of your chest…
and then slowly exhaled, surrendering all into the vastness of the night?
God’s first language is silence.
It is here we find peace.
May this weekend be filled with deep breathing in….and long, letting go breathing outs.
May the breathing in…and the breathing out….become a prayer without ceasing.
A prayer THROUGH HIM, WITH HIM, IN HIM.
“Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thes 5:17-18
THE KING WITHIN….
Clothed in robes of love and mercy…
reigns within the heart.
THE KING WITHIN…
Crowns us with royalty. We are heirs.
THE KING WITHIN…
rules over the chaotic areas of the heart…
waging war against all that would keep Him from His Beloved.
THE KING WITHIN…
is ever present.
THE KING WITHIN…
calls us “friend” and opens His heart for rest and wholeness.
THE KING WITHIN…
what an incredible treasure.
THE KING WITHIN!
Stand tall and walk in Godly confidence. THE KING WITHIN walks with you!
“Jesus answered and said to him, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.” John 14:23
A fun video….enjoy!
http://www.angelfire.com/ak2/intelligencerreport/stethoscope.html
When the pieces of life seem scattered and a mess…
Faith is the glue that puts it all together.
When the picture of God’s plan seems unrecognizable…
Faith is the glue that puts it all together.
On mountains, through valleys, in darkness, in light…
Faith is the glue that puts it all together.
Stick to Him. The masterpiece will soon be revealed.
“For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe! Plans to give you a future full of hope. When you call me, when you go to pray to me, I will listen to you. When you look for me, you will find me, Yes, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jer 29: 11-13
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VtiHkkbq18&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL8FFFBDC510C33D37
(This is a video I recently saw…had to share…pretty amazing isn’t it?)
With the box kicked open,
It’s time to unpack.
Slowly, sometimes painfully, discarding the old
to bring forth the new.
The gift in the growing?
“What surprises me, says God, is hope. And I can’t get over it. This little hope who seems like nothing at all. This little girl hope Immortal. … Faith is a loyal Wife. Charity is a Mother. An ardent mother, noble-hearted. Or an older sister who is like a mother.”
“HOPE is a little girl, nothing at all.”
image by chicks57 via Flickr
“This little hope moves forward in between her two older sisters and one scarcely notices her. On the path to salvation, on the earthly path, on the rocky path of salvation, on the interminable road, on the road in between her two older sisters the little hope pushes on….The one on the right and and one on the left. And they hardly ever see the one in the middle. The little one, the one who’s still going to school. And who walks.”
“It’s she, the little one, who carries them all. Because Faith sees only what is. But she, she sees what will be. Charity loves only what is. But she, she loves what will be. …Hope sees what will be. In time and for eternity. ..The little hope pushes on. And in between her two older sisters she seems to let herself be carried. Like a child who lacks energy to walk. and is dragged along the road in spite of herself. But in reality it is she who moves the other two. And who carries them, and who moves the whole world. “
“The Portal of the Mystery of Hope”, Charles Peguy
Do the victory dance of HOPE! Can you see that you are something beautiful?
H. (hold) O. (on to a) P. (perspective) E. (eternal)
linked with Walk With Him Wednesday
through Him with Him in Him... 