"For the heavens are as high above earth
as my ways are above your ways,
my thoughts above your thoughts."
I cannot pretend to know the will of God. I have to accept the will of God and realize that god is in control. I can do my best to live according to the laws of the scriptures and be content at that. It is about loving relentlessly and fearlessly. It is about never yielding to fear, about never worrying that the issues of this world are too great to overcome me, because I know I always have the love of God in me and through me. There is nothing but the now (which is the past and the present fused.) I am always ready to be transformed again and again through the love of the creator. When I keep this love at the forefront, at the center of my life, then I begin to know the ways and thoughts of God. "God is love and he who lives in love is rooted in God and God lives in him."
Monday, March 7, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Reflections on Isaiah 55
"...come to me,
listen and you will live"
Embrace God, that is the idea. When embracing God, I embrace love. When I embrace love, I yield my fears, anxieties, inefficiencies, frustrations, resentments, anger, jealousies, envies, lacks, wants, and deficiencies (or perceived deficiencies) and I embrace a spirit of never-ending universal love. I embrace complete and total possibility. A belief in the what could always be. i am not diminished by the reactions, responses of others, but seek to love others, show compassion for others and relentlessly embrace the power of God in my life.
When I trulyu embrace the power of God, when I come to the water, I am not burdened when I don't get what I want or thought I wanted because I realize that everything that occurs (painful, uncomfortable, distasteful) is part of the will of od. It is my job to stay close to God and to continue to love. To love fiercely and relentlessly. This love will calm me, guide me and give me peace. Peace and happiness. Today. Now.
listen and you will live"
Embrace God, that is the idea. When embracing God, I embrace love. When I embrace love, I yield my fears, anxieties, inefficiencies, frustrations, resentments, anger, jealousies, envies, lacks, wants, and deficiencies (or perceived deficiencies) and I embrace a spirit of never-ending universal love. I embrace complete and total possibility. A belief in the what could always be. i am not diminished by the reactions, responses of others, but seek to love others, show compassion for others and relentlessly embrace the power of God in my life.
When I trulyu embrace the power of God, when I come to the water, I am not burdened when I don't get what I want or thought I wanted because I realize that everything that occurs (painful, uncomfortable, distasteful) is part of the will of od. It is my job to stay close to God and to continue to love. To love fiercely and relentlessly. This love will calm me, guide me and give me peace. Peace and happiness. Today. Now.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Reflections on Isaiah 55
"Why spend money on what cannot nourish
and your wages on what fails to satisfy?"
Dear Lord, may I always remember the relationship in my life that truly is above all others and truly matters the most - my relationship with you. I know that if I am true to you and true to our covenant, than I will be happy and all my other relationships will flourish. I have finally realized that it is up to me to grow our relationship through daily devotion, focus, study, and prayer. All of this contemplation is nothing new. It is as old as humans ourselves and our need to be closer to the divine. I acknowledge that I am in the relationship every hour of my life, and it is up to me to draw even closer to you by simply living according to your will and your word. I can feel your presence in me and through me and when I take time to remember that you are always there, I am filled with comfort, even when I am in pain.
There is no human dynamic that is too great nor any situation that is too difficult that would exclude you, God. All I need to do is come to you and be with you. Do as you do and live according to your plan and commandments. If I do this, I will find peace and happiness.
and your wages on what fails to satisfy?"
Dear Lord, may I always remember the relationship in my life that truly is above all others and truly matters the most - my relationship with you. I know that if I am true to you and true to our covenant, than I will be happy and all my other relationships will flourish. I have finally realized that it is up to me to grow our relationship through daily devotion, focus, study, and prayer. All of this contemplation is nothing new. It is as old as humans ourselves and our need to be closer to the divine. I acknowledge that I am in the relationship every hour of my life, and it is up to me to draw even closer to you by simply living according to your will and your word. I can feel your presence in me and through me and when I take time to remember that you are always there, I am filled with comfort, even when I am in pain.
There is no human dynamic that is too great nor any situation that is too difficult that would exclude you, God. All I need to do is come to you and be with you. Do as you do and live according to your plan and commandments. If I do this, I will find peace and happiness.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Reflections on Isaiah 55
"Pay attention, come to me,
Listen and you will live"
If I truly pay attention to the way I ought to live, to follow the will of God and trust in the way of faith, hope, and love I will live and be happy. I will be able to spread the good news through my words and deeds. i have spent enough of my life not paying attention, not coming to God, and not listening. As a result, I was not fully living.
I am more alive today, right now, in this moment than ever before. i am more aware of the love of God in my life and God's dynamic presence than ever. I know it's up to me to continue to follow in the way, and to believe in the way. I know this is the essence of what it is to be happy.
Listen and you will live"
If I truly pay attention to the way I ought to live, to follow the will of God and trust in the way of faith, hope, and love I will live and be happy. I will be able to spread the good news through my words and deeds. i have spent enough of my life not paying attention, not coming to God, and not listening. As a result, I was not fully living.
I am more alive today, right now, in this moment than ever before. i am more aware of the love of God in my life and God's dynamic presence than ever. I know it's up to me to continue to follow in the way, and to believe in the way. I know this is the essence of what it is to be happy.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Reflections on Jn 15:1-9
"As a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself,
unless it remains part of the vine,
neither can you unless you remain in me."
This passage speaks hugely to me since I have spent a good part of my life being happy to do things on my own. I have battled a superiority complex where I have believed things like, "I'm right and you're wrong," and "No one can do it as well as I can, so I'll just do it myself." Although Jesus is talking about the importance of keeping the commandments and remaining part of the body of Christ, it is clear to me that he also makes a comment about the importance of humility and belonging in community. I have never been a patient person, and have always wanted change to occur on my terms and fast. In order for real change to occur and be lasting, it has to involve real buy-in from all the stakeholders involved, or at least a willingness to continue to dialogue through the change process.
There is no greater strength than that which is found in community. There is also no greater opportunity for personal growth than when people come together to solve problems. Just as significant is the content, i.e., the problem solved, is the process of solving the problem and the quality of the relationships that result. This truly gives glory to God, when we work in true community.
unless it remains part of the vine,
neither can you unless you remain in me."
This passage speaks hugely to me since I have spent a good part of my life being happy to do things on my own. I have battled a superiority complex where I have believed things like, "I'm right and you're wrong," and "No one can do it as well as I can, so I'll just do it myself." Although Jesus is talking about the importance of keeping the commandments and remaining part of the body of Christ, it is clear to me that he also makes a comment about the importance of humility and belonging in community. I have never been a patient person, and have always wanted change to occur on my terms and fast. In order for real change to occur and be lasting, it has to involve real buy-in from all the stakeholders involved, or at least a willingness to continue to dialogue through the change process.
There is no greater strength than that which is found in community. There is also no greater opportunity for personal growth than when people come together to solve problems. Just as significant is the content, i.e., the problem solved, is the process of solving the problem and the quality of the relationships that result. This truly gives glory to God, when we work in true community.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Reflections on Jn 15:1-9
"It is to the glory of my father that you should bear much fruit and be my disciples"
Our fruit is our love and our ability to spread that love. There is no limit to the amount of love that we can show toward others. As long as we breathe, we show love through our words and deeds. When we remember that we are branches on the vine, and that the vine sustains us, we know we can reach out and accomplish anything as we glorify God ("you may ask for whatever you please and you will get it.")
The understanding for me is that when my motives are true and pure, I will find the love necessary to sustain me and help me to sustain others. There is no limit to this love, I just have to reach out and access it. It's there for me - it always has been. There's no end to it.
Our fruit is our love and our ability to spread that love. There is no limit to the amount of love that we can show toward others. As long as we breathe, we show love through our words and deeds. When we remember that we are branches on the vine, and that the vine sustains us, we know we can reach out and accomplish anything as we glorify God ("you may ask for whatever you please and you will get it.")
The understanding for me is that when my motives are true and pure, I will find the love necessary to sustain me and help me to sustain others. There is no limit to this love, I just have to reach out and access it. It's there for me - it always has been. There's no end to it.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Reflections on Jn 15: 1-9
"If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
you may ask for whatever you please and you will get it."
With God all things are possible. With faith, hope, and love, all is possible. No obstacle is too great to be overcome by God.
This is a simple truth but it is all too easily forgotten in the daily experience of human life. When I pause to realize my love in God, my lightness, I am capable of anything. I let go of fear, despair, anxiety, and concern and I just am. When I truly just am, I am able to be myself and be happy. I realize that life in God is the life that I was destined to live, and that no greater way of being exists. It's so easy to access, but elusive to keep at the forefront of every interaction, every moment of my daily life.
Lord, may I keep you at the forefront of my life. May you be present in all I am, all I do, all I have. May I dwell on you and let your spirit shine in and through me always. Amen.
you may ask for whatever you please and you will get it."
With God all things are possible. With faith, hope, and love, all is possible. No obstacle is too great to be overcome by God.
This is a simple truth but it is all too easily forgotten in the daily experience of human life. When I pause to realize my love in God, my lightness, I am capable of anything. I let go of fear, despair, anxiety, and concern and I just am. When I truly just am, I am able to be myself and be happy. I realize that life in God is the life that I was destined to live, and that no greater way of being exists. It's so easy to access, but elusive to keep at the forefront of every interaction, every moment of my daily life.
Lord, may I keep you at the forefront of my life. May you be present in all I am, all I do, all I have. May I dwell on you and let your spirit shine in and through me always. Amen.
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