This blog is designed to create community for believers and provide support for seekers. I encourage all readers to share their faith in an effort to lift and encourage one another.
I don’t know about you, but it’s my independence that can keep me from a closer relationship with God. Thinking “I can do this” rather than yielding to God, can distance me from him. And isn’t my “I can do this” attitude really a sin of pride?
Good Thursday morning. May you always abide with our creator.
Lord, keep me humble. Keep me abiding in you, always yielding to your wisdom and love.
Softer than a breeze
rustling the cottonwood trees
Sweeter than a first kiss,
Your almighty hands cradle my soul.
The very hands that created the stars,
the moon, and the fiery sun,
That formed every animal—the fierce tiger,
the massive whale, the purring kitten,
That “knit me together in my mother’s womb,”
These hands cradle my soul.
As a mother cradles her baby, you cradle me.
Your hands guide, protect, and, yes,
like a mother with her baby,
Rock away all my doubts and fears.
Almighty God, creator of all, thank you for cradling my soul in the palm of your hand.
Good morning! I hope you all have a blessed Tuesday!
Today’s quote is one I could read and ruminate on over and over. So much wisdom and so much to consider. What do you take away from this quote?
“By greeting life’s pains with something other than denial, we may find something unexpected. By inviting God into our difficulties, we ground life—even its sad moments—in joy and hope. When we stop grasping our lives, we can finally be given more than we could ever grab for ourselves. And we learn the way to a deeper love for others.”
~Henri Nouwen~
Lord God, keep me always inviting you into my life, all of it. In the joys and sorrows, in the times of confidence and fear, and in the times of doubt and faith. Teach me to allow you in and to love others as you do.
This beautiful little tree stands just outside the front door to my church. Sunday morning, my husband and I stood outside the church, greeting worshippers as they entered the building. The lilac fragrance of the flowers wafted toward us on a gentle breeze. It was so delicious and made me think of the following verses.
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2
Lord, may my offerings and sacrifices to you be as sweet and fragrant as the lilac blooms on this beautiful tree. Thank you for surrounding us with your beauty and for the fragrant sacrifice of your son, Jesus Christ.
Psalm 11: 4
“The Lord is in his holy temple;
The Lord is on his heavenly throne,
He observes everyone on earth’
His eyes examine them.”
What need we fear when the Almighty, the Creator is on his throne? He is the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Praise God!
Thank you, Lord God, that you are on your throne and you see all of us. You are the mighty judge and will reward and bless your children.
How reassuring is this?
Father, thank you for providing all we need (not want) to live godly lives.
I wrote this back in 1999 after a tornado destroyed our church.
Wind: odorless, colorless, tasteless, yet we know it exists. Even though we cannot hold it in our hands, we feel it. We feel its gentle breezes cooling us in the heat of summer; we feel its icy blast stinging us in the chill of winter. Even though it has no voice, we hear it. We hear it rustling in the cottonwood trees; we hear it roaring across the plains. Even though it has no form, we see its effects. We see the grasses gently swaying and mighty oaks bowing low. In the mightiest wind we see telephone poles snapped, homes destroyed, and a beautiful church reduced to a pile of rubble. Yes, we know the power of the wind!
Faith: odorless, colorless, tasteless, yet we know it exists. Even though we cannot hold it in our hands, we feel it. We feel it in the depths of our hearts, knowing God will meet our every need; we feel it in the quiet confidence that we will live in His presence for eternity. Even though it has no voice, we hear it. We hear it on Sunday mornings proclaimed from the pulpit; we hear it in the quiet voices of prayer and in the reading of God’s holy word. Even though it has no form, we see its effects. We see the eyes of a trusting child holding her father’s hand; we see the peaceful countenance of our brothers and sisters who lean on God in times of need. We see improved relationships, changed lives, and a beautiful new church built to honor God. Yes, we know faith; we know faith is mightier than the wind.
Lord of my life, sometimes my faith wavers. Keep my faith strong, even when the winds of fortune blow against me.
Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Here’s a little food for thought for your Tuesday. Have a great day!
Two conflicting forces cannot exist in one human heart. When doubt reigns, faith cannot abide. Where hatred rules, love is crowded out. Where selfishness rules, there love cannot dwell. When worry is present, trust cannot crowd its way in.
Billy Graham
Lord, In place of doubt, give us faith. Let your love crowd out our hatred and selfishness. Keep us always trusting in you.
Happy Monday, everyone. May God richly bless you with his good gifts.
Father, we thank you for generously giving those good gifts to your children.
Blood of Christ
Blood of Christ course through my heart,
That I may love like thee,
Blood of Christ course through my brain,
That I may think like thee.
Blood of Christ, nourish my tongue,
That it may speak for you,
Blood of Christ nourish my eyes,
Let them see as you do.
Blood of Christ flow to my hands,
That they may do your tasks.
Blood of Christ flow to my feet,
That they may walk your paths.
“Blood of Christ fill all my veins;”*
Then You will live in me.
“Blood of Christ fill all my veins;”
Your blood has made me free.
*from “The Anima Christi,” a poem written by an anonymous Medieval writer
Growing Our Faith Together 