Prayer for Peace

Today has been an introspective kind of day.  One of those days where I’m just not feeling it.

This beautiful prayer speaks to me…it all comes down to love and selflessness.  Thought I would share it with you.

 

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

To be understood, as to understand;

To be loved, as to love;

For it is in giving that we receive,

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

 

–St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226)

Advertisement

Scrubbed Clean

It was a little too long since the kitchen floor was scrubbed.  In the meantime, I had been wiping up the little stains that kept appearing, trying to keep it looking “clean enough”.

Finally, the big day…I scrubbed that baby CLEAN.  Being very happy with myself, feeling the clean smoothness under my feet, and smelling lemon in the air, I started a pot of coffee.

Not sure how it happened, but my cup of coffee ended up on the floor.  Did I just do that??? I started wiping it up…

Isn’t that the way it works with our sinful nature?  We confess and repent of our sins, and feel so clean.  We even start feeling that maybe the sin has been overcome.  Then just like the coffee spilling onto the clean floor, our sin spills over our clean soul…and it becomes smudged again.  And this happens over and over again.

Never lose heart!  Never give up!  Never, repeat, NEVER think that Jesus will abandon you.  Jesus is waiting for you to confess again and again, and turn your sin over to Him.  He is always there with you, to scrub your heart and soul clean, with His love and grace.  Enjoy, and bask in His unlimited mercy and love!

1John 1:8-10    ⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.¹⁰ If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Your Choice

Today I was sitting outside during my lunch break.  It was one of those perfect days, where the sun is shining and there is a gentle breeze.  Lots of ideas and thoughts were churning in my head.

So, I was just relaxing and looking around, and my eyes focused on a dandelion puffball, that was spreading its seeds with each breeze.  One lone puffball, surrounded by beautiful, lush green grass, but all I could see is the dandelion.  It was thought provoking.

The first thing I thought of was the hard work and care my husband puts into our lawn.  He works and works to keep it green and healthy.  It doesn’t just happen.  In order for the grass to remain green and healthy, it needs to be nurtured with the correct amount of sunlight, water, fertilizer and regular mowing.  It also needs to be periodically thatched and aerated.  On the other hand, dandelions and weeds seem to thrive all on their own.  They spread and pop up everywhere; no special care needed.  Even in the middle of a drought, the lawn will be completely brown and dried out, but growing through a crack in the driveway or sidewalk will be a thriving dandelion.  I just know that happy yellow weed is smiling because it knows the pain it’s causing my husband!

Isn’t that the way evil works?  In order to thrive and grow as Christians, we need to be nurtured.  Daily prayer, Mass/Church Services, reading scripture and Christian books, are some of the ways to help us develop and strengthen our relationship with Jesus.  It takes work, dedication, and strong faith. If we start to neglect those things, little by little, the darkness will start to seep into our hearts, and we start rationalizing.  It’s uncanny how fast the evil is spread in our own hearts, and then to others, just like the seeds from that pesky puffball.

My question to you…are you like the green, lush grass, basking and growing  in the loving care of your Creator, or are you the dandelion, growing wildly and out of control,  spreading the seeds of confusion and doubt?  Your choice.

Open Heart

There is a world full of need out there.  All you have to do is read a few headlines or listen to some news, and you can quickly feel overwhelmed with the suffering, misery, and evil in the world.  How many times do you think, “that is just so horrible”, or “how could someone even think to do something like that?”  Sometimes you feel such compassion or empathy for the people involved, that you want to do SOMETHING.  Then you turn off the TV or click off your computer, and you kind of forget about it.

Does that sound familiar?  I think we are overwhelmed because of the sheer number of things we hear about every day.  Sensory overload.  It’s hard to focus because of the bigness of the need…after all, what could one person do that could even make a dent?

I think the first thing we can do is realize that we are watching a biased view of reality.  We are mostly seeing only the negative, because that’s what makes for “interesting” news.  Right at this moment, there are countless acts of love being showered on people in need.  You might hear of some of these acts of kindness, but I can guarantee that the numbers are much higher than you think.  Because of this sharing of love, many sad and hardened hearts will be opened to the pure healing power of Jesus.  There are so many ways the Lord moves to touch the hearts of those who are lost.  Remember, He is the Good Shepherd – He will always find a way to pull in His lost sheep.

Are you ready to be used by your loving God?  Have you made the choice to open your heart and soul to Jesus, allowing Him to work through you? Do you feel a tugging at your heart…a feeling that you are being called in some way but you just can’t figure what it is?  God is calling you to share His love.

God created you because you play an intricate part in His plan.  You can touch certain people in a way no one else can – you possess gifts and talents that are unique to you.  You were given exactly all that is needed for your place in the Body of Christ.

Don’t let the world’s problems overwhelm you into doing nothing. Ask the Lord to direct you…to open your eyes so you can see the needs of those that are around you, and ears to listen to how you can help them.  You will know where the Lord is leading you; you will feel it in your soul.  It may be He is leading you to do something HUGE or it may be small acts of love and kindness.

The key is to take the first step, which leads to the next, and the next.  Once your eyes are open, you will be surprised how aware you become of the people right in your midst…who have been there all along, who are waiting for you to take that step, in love, toward them.

 

Luke 6:38   Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Philippians 2:2-4  ² fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. ³ Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. ⁴ Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others

Love…One Heart at a Time

Remember the old adage, “People need loving the most when they deserve it the least”?  When I hear or read those words, I understand the basic truth, but come on….isn’t this one of the most difficult things to put into action?  I mean, if a person’s general demeanor is negative, and does not care one bit if he offends or hurts me or anyone else, am I really expected to treat him lovingly?  The short, Christian answer is YES!

Let me first say that I don’t recommend spending time with an abusive person, when your very safety is involved.  However, there are other ways of loving.  We will get to that…

In my personal life, there have been family members, friends, co-workers who seem to relish the idea of making me personally feel uncomfortable, or maybe have an abrasive, negative personality toward everyone in general.  You know the kind of person – it’s the one who makes you cringe when she is walking toward you, the one who relentlessly gossips about most everybody, or who constantly shoots stinging remarks, instinctively knowing  how to push the proverbial button on everyone she comes in contact with.  It’s a human defense strategy to back away from people like this, and if you are at all like me, you put up a defensive wall to protect yourself from the pain or embarrassment this person may cause you.  I usually find a way to avoid these people.

So…people need loving the most when they deserve it the least…what does that mean to me?

I have learned that when people truly love, respect, and accept themselves – love, respect and acceptance will shine from them toward the people they interact with. Since they are aware of  their own personal  value, they tend to value each person in their lives.  They will still make mistakes and hurt people occasionally, however, when they are made aware of hurting someone, they are sorrowful and ask forgiveness.

On the other hand, when people do not love, respect and accept themselves, they are not happy deep inside, so they don’t have too much love to share.  Which leads me to the  “Somebody Loves Me” act of love for the day…

Make today the day to send love to that one person who just rubs you the wrong way; or that person who is so negative, you can hardly force yourself to spend time with him/her.  Love can be sent in many ways; I will share some that have worked for me.

The first and most important way to love is to PRAY for that person.  Yes, pray that the Holy Spirit fill his heart with total love, that he will feel the love of Jesus. Ask the Lord to send His Holy Angels to guide him toward Jesus, and to protect him from satan.  Also pray for healing for that person, whether it be physical, emotional, or spiritual.  As you pray for him, you will eventually feel a softening of your own heart toward him.

The second way to love is to ask questions.  Ask him about himself, get to know him.  Really LISTEN to what he says.  You may get a clue as to what he has experienced in life to bring him to the place he is now.  I have learned that the people I have the hardest time with have usually suffered and endured painful, horrendous things in their past.  Once I know a little of their story, I find more compassion in my heart for them.

Other ideas may be sending cards (even anonymously), little thoughtful or funny gifts, or simply flashing a genuine smile.

So, let’s make this the day to take a step forward in unselfish love.

Please share your ideas of ways to help a person know  “Somebody Loves Me”.   God will magnify your efforts!

Matthew 5:43-48      You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?  Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

1 John 4:7   Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

1 Peter 4:8   Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins

Your Loving Presence

Thought I would share a prayer with you!

 Lord, please fill me with your loving presence, for I am empty and lonely without You;

Ignite Your fire within my whole being, so that I may love as You love;

Open my eyes to your will and help me to see your Truth.

Please send your holy angels and saints to protect and guide me through the snares of the devil.

I offer to you all that I am.  Please take my strengths, weaknesses and sins and transform my mind, body, spirit and soul to your image – for your glory.

Strengthen my faith and allow your love to shine through me, to touch a world in need. Amen.

Where is God?

When something bad happens, especially when it’s something so shocking and painful that we can’t even comprehend the how and why, we tend to ask the big questions.  Why would God allow this to happen?  Where is God?

I can’t even attempt to answer those questions.  Only God knows why He allows evil, sickness, and pain to exist in our lives.  Sometimes, we may feel that if our faith is strong enough, if we just pray hard enough, we are ensured  a peaceful, happy, successful, and financially secure life, without ever experiencing pain.  We fall into the trap of praying for the specific want or need to be answered in a particular way, and forget to add the part that says “not my will, but yours be done”. *

Lately, I’ve begun to realize what it means to truly trust Jesus.  It means to completely let go, and trust Him with your very life.  That no matter what happens, you trust that “all things work together for good for those that love Him”. **  Your trust in Jesus no longer hinges on whether or not you get the answer you want.  You trust Him and know that all things work toward your good, and also the good of His Kingdom!  We are all in this together, and all play an integral part of the beautiful tapestry He is weaving.  Only our Lord can see the complete, beautiful tapestry of His plan…we are only capable of seeing a veiled, partial view. ***

I always longed for a true relationship with Jesus.  In the past, I based the relationship on whether prayers were answered, and what God seemed to be “doing for me”.  It was almost as though if I did not get the results I anticipated, that either I wasn’t praying correctly, or God just wasn’t listening.

What I learned to ask myself is – what am I doing for the relationship?  I expect God to always be there for me.  Am I there for Him?  Am I meditating, spending alone time with my God and listening for His loving whispers? Do I align myself with Him, and make necessary adjustments or do I go about my life, making the excuse “that’s just the way I am”.  Do I stand on the Truth of His Word, or do I listen to the deceit and lies of satan…..through modern culture, political correctness, and the entertainment industry.  Do I make the effort to  choose what is most pleasing in God’s eyes, or do I make choices that are most offensive to the ONE who loves me perfectly and unconditionally?

We all have sin in our lives.  The closer we pull to Jesus, and allow the Holy Spirit to enter our hearts, we will notice subtle changes. It becomes easier to pull away from sins that were strongholds for so long.  When we struggle and fall, we look to Jesus to cover us with His forgiveness and grace.  Sometimes, we feel overwhelmed by the burden of a sin that is so strong within us, even after prayer, confession, and repentence, that the only thing we can do is totally surrender it to our Savior.  He is always there for us, loving us and waiting for us to let Him in.  What are we waiting for?

So my simple answer to the question “Where is God?”… He is all around us, and the most wonderful and joyful reality is that He is in each heart that invites Him in.

*Luke 22:42  Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.

**Romans 8:28  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

*** 1 Corinthians 2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

The Revelation

This morning, I woke up with the same thoughts that go through my head every day, in the same order.  First, I thanked God for another day, and for all the blessings in my life.  That led me to thank Him for my most precious gift, my husband of 35 years, who was fast asleep next to me.  At that point, my heart is filled with love,  leading me to my life’s big question.  “Lord, what is my purpose…how can my life glorify You?” I have been waiting for God to reveal to me the BIG mission of my life for years, and today I had an enlightening revelation.

I believe we are meant to know God and share God’s love through each person that we interact with every day.  Each person, whether it be a spouse, family member, friend, or someone we pass casually as we go through our day, is an  opportunity to share love.

How many times have you seen a mother who is having an especially difficult time with her children and might need some tender words of support? Or maybe a family shopping for groceries who appears to be in need?  You see their shopping cart with just a few items in it…when it is apparent  the family needs much more.  A friend is depressed or an elderly neighbor is lonely…your heartstrings are tugging at you, but what can you do?  So many people are quietly suffering in their daily life, and you feel powerless because you don’t know what you can do for them.

What was my revelation?  It was as simple as this.  I heard God speaking to me.  “Are you ready to see?”  To me, that meant  “are you ready to really see the people around you?”

Don’t let the bigness of the world’s issues weigh you down and cause you to feel powerless.  Really look at the people around you.  Take the step toward DOING SOMETHING, no matter how small the gesture seems to you.  Say a prayer, then send a card or call your friend and let them know they are being prayed for and that someone “has their back”.  When you see someone who is looking sad or depressed, smile at them or stop to talk with them, and really listen to what they share with you.  If you know someone is in financial need, if you are able, send them some cash.  I have come to learn that sometimes the best way to help someone may be to help him or her anonymously.  If you handed your friend or family member cash, they would feel embarrassed or in debt to you.  If they receive it anonymously, they receive hope, and they cannot repay it to the giver!  Hopefully, they will pass it on to someone in need once they are back on their feet.

This blog is meant to open eyes and hearts to the little things we can do each day to share love, one heart at a time.  Sometimes, the only way a person can learn that God loves them, is by knowing that somebody loves them.  One little gesture just might be the key that is needed to open the door of a heart in need.

1 John 4:7  Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God