This is The Day
This is the day
That the Lord has made
I will rejoice
And be glad in it!
I pray you have reasons to rejoice, too.
Tell me one reason!
Thanks for visiting
See you tomorrow
Posts tagged ‘prayer’
Quote
Increased LOVE, like FAITH, takes EFFORT
I wrote this blog in 2012…
It is sooo pertinent to what I wrote today!
Check it out: via Increased LOVE, like FAITH, takes EFFORT
God’s Handiwork
God’s Handiwork
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Jesus Christ to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
What good work has God prepared for you to do today?
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Each day as I pray and meditate, read and study Scripture, and enjoy a plethora of devotionals, I ask God,
- What do You want me to do today?
- Who do You want me to meet?
- What do You want me to say?
- How can I reflect Your love?
I plan my day before I leave and walk down the circular staircase into the “real world.”
BUT, I remain open to God’s nudges and His leading…
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I know God has prepared good works for me to do today. What are they?
And what do you think He has planned for you??
Thanks for visiting.
Leave me a comment about your
plans for Good Works today, okay?
See you tomorrow.
What Do You Yearn For?
What Do You Yearn For?
Today’s letter in the A-Z series
on Finding More Meaning
and Greater Purpose
in Life
is “Y”
The Word is “Yearning”
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When you look at this picture, what do you see?
I see more than a dog and a girl and a tall, dark tree –
I see more than a grove and a road to light –
I see something for which I pray each night.
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I see the peace for which I yearn –
the Lord, to whom I turn –
I see a road that lets me in –
And the path where I begin.
In their song, “Somewhere Only We Know,”
the Sons of Serendip sing of this place:
“Why don’t we go somewhere only we know?”
Some of the lyrics say, “I found the earth at my feet…
Walked by a river and it made me complete…
There’s a place we used to love;
Is this the place I’ve been dreaming of?”
I’m dreaming today of that place on earth
Where only peace abides;
Where folks can hear differing opinions
And find no need to take sides.
.
I pray to find at the end of the tunnel
The Love of Christ everywhere on earth,
The peace that passes understanding
That was our gift when Mary gave birth.
.
I yearn to place my feet, my soul
On the spot where only love can grow,
Where labels end and hate is gone,
Where love and compassion are all we show.
In their book, Spiritual Literacy,
Frederic & Mary Ann Brussat
wrote this about Yearning:
“Follow your heart’s boundless desire.
It takes you out of yourself
and fosters an appreciation for
the multidimensional pleasures of life.”
What do YOU yearn for?
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See you tomorrow… the Z Day of this series!
Receptivity is Key
In my introduction to this
A-Z series,
I wrote the following:
I want a greater understanding of:
- who I am,
- how to decode the world around me,
- what my purpose is here on earth,
- and how I can live more intentionally to fulfill that purpose.
You are here because, hopefully, you have embraced the journey, the exploration of ways to add more meaning to life. Thank you for joining me!!
Today’s letter is “R”
I have chosen the word “Receptivity”
The picture below is Logan Crowley, my darling neighbor,
with me. She received a scholarship
award of $1000 to assist her venture into college at
Montana State University next school year.
EAA stands for Ennis Arts Association,
of which I am an active member.
Seeking, applying, striving for what we need,
and being receptive when gifts come our way
are important qualities for
adding more meaning
and finding greater purpose
in life.
Everyday Receptivity
It is easy to be receptive every day when someone is giving you a thousand bucks, right?
But what about other areas of everyday receptivity? How do we remain open to all that’s out there for us?
Tune in to Inspiration
Today I listened to a podcast on Bob Goff’s “Love Does” website:
https://dreambigframework.com/podcast-1/amygrant
Bob is a wonderful, whimsical lawyer/author/inspirational speaker who has written three best-selling books, Love Does, and Love Does For Kids, as well as Everybody Always. His Facebook website, https://www.facebook.com/bobgoffis/ , will introduce you to his “Dream Big” workshops and lead you to the podcasts that are so heart-warming.
In a recent podcast, Bob was interviewing very talented and lovely Amy Grant. Amy is a Grammy Award-winning Gospel singer who was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and has written a book, Mosaic: Pieces of My Life So Far.
The podcast, “What If We…?” was so full of wisdom that I listened to it several times and wrote to Bob Goff asking permission to quote some of the most poignant statements. I received an affirmative response. I posted on Amy’s Facebook page telling her of this blog and hoping it’s okay with her, too, that I quote some of her delightful comments.
One of the messages that rang clear was:
Be Open to Vulnerability Every Day!
Everyday receptivity involves the concept
Bob referred to in this podcast
when he said,
“Be where your feet are!”
Bob Goff and Amy Grant were talking about the subjects of vulnerability and community.
You need to be wiling to be receptive,” Amy suggested. “It takes the hard things in life to pull you into the community that then gives you connections to pursue something beautiful.”
Bob affirmed,
“Vulnerability to say ‘I have a need’ leads you into community…
Some of the best advice I’ve ever gotten has been a hug!”
Be Receptive to Dreams
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“If you have a dream or an ambition,” Bob Goff said,
“let everyone know about it …
Imagine everyone in heaven leaning over the railing,
watching and wondering what’s next!”
I love that image! I have several dreams for my future and the future of my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I want to capture them in my dream catcher, and then imagine that heaven’s angels are leaning over the railings cheering us on!
Goals/dreams are an important part of living a full and meaningful life. They provide the seeds for our journey toward meeting our life’s purpose.
Amy Grant said, “Make room for the seeds that matter most to [you] to be watered and grown.”
Photo by Anthony on Pexels.com
Add Clarity to your Receptivity
“As soon as you have clarity
on why you’re doing what you’re doing,”
Bob Goff said,
“you’ll find the opportunity to actually go for it!”
Go for it! But what is IT?
“It” is the activity that gives you joy!
“It” is the thing you do that moves you in the direction of your ultimate goal.
“It” is finding out what that goal is!!
Bob suggested if we wish to find fulfillment in receptivity to opportunities, we must first:
- Find the right kind of mischief (he’s all about having fun while we search for meaning and purpose)
- Find what brings you joy
- Be receptive to whimsy (Read his book, Love Does, and learn all about whimsy!)
- Look for opportunities (You’ll find what you’re looking for)
- Be purposeful, and
- Celebrate!
Celebrate!
In their conversation, Bob shared that he gave Amy a bell some time ago. She told him that she has it on a post in her back yard (at least I think that’s where she said she posted it).
Amy said, “I think of you each time I see that bell. I ring it every time I move in the direction of a goal.”
Bob asked her about her ultimate goal, and she responded, “I want to die being a fire hose of generosity.”
I love that … not just a garden hose, but a fire hose, spraying out to others the gifts we’ve been given. Celebrate your gifts by giving them generously and freely to others. Yes!
Be Receptive to God’s Guidance and the Wisdom of His Followers
Amy noted that her first mother-in-law was a woman of great wisdom who lived her faith. Once, when Amy was feeling overwhelmed with trying to balance life as a mother of young children with the life of a recording artist who was traveling the world, her mother-in-law told her, “You only need one prayer a day.”
“One prayer?” Amy asked. “What would it be?”
“God, lead me today to those I need –
and to those who need me –
and let something I do today
have eternal significance.”
Bob reacted saying,
“Yes, it’s not just ‘What do I want?’
It’s ‘Who needs something I’ve got?’ “
Ask God to guide you to those who need you.
Ask God to guide you to those you need.
And ask God to help you find meaningful tasks
that might have eternal significance.
Listen to the wisdom of others, and
Be receptive to God’s guidance!
Receptivity and Understanding are the Keys
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Be receptive to the voice of reason within you.
“You need to understand what you want,”
Bob Goff said in this podcast,
“and not just be limited by what you want,
but look at what other people want.
Look for the opportunity to do something
about it in your life and in their lives –
in a hundred creative ways –
then stand back and let God do His thing!”
Stand back, my friends,
be receptive,
and watch God do His thing!
See you tomorrow!
Naomi’s Nurturing News
Welcome to Day #14
of my A-Z series:
Adding Meaning
and
Finding Purpose
in Life
Today’s letter is “N”
The title, “Naomi’s Nurturing News” is inspired by the Biblical account of Naomi, a destitute widow. The story is told in the book of Ruth.
We all have a lot to learn from Naomi and God’s steadfastness in her life.
When a famine occurred in her home area of Bethlehem, the widow migrated with her two boys to Moab, where she intended to ride out the famine – and then eventually return with them – where she imagined her sons would marry hometown girls. She dreamed of living a productive and happy life near them, filled with grandchildren.
However, her dreams were shattered when her sons married Moabite women, produced no grandchildren, and then both sons died. She did eventually return to Bethlehem, but she was a beaten-down woman who told her old friends who greeted her by name to call her “Bitter” instead.
With God working behind the scenes, a few chapters later, we see a transformed Naomi, filled with joy and a new zest for life. Yes, our God is an awesome God. The Good News from Naomi’s story is the power of nurturing love to bring life’s true meaning and purpose to fruition.
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Naomi’s Nurturing News
Naomi is a woman whose story
Inspires me to want to know
How to develop her nurturing spirit
And watch my family’s greatness grow.
Naomi moved from Jerusalem
To Moab with her two sons.
She dreamed that they would marry
Israelite women – but they were not the ones
The boys selected for their wives –
Instead Moabites were chosen
And when her sons both died,
Naomi’s life seemed hopelessly frozen.
She told her daughters-in-law that
Jerusalem was calling her home.
“Stay here and remarry,” she encouraged.
“Don’t come with me to roam.”
But one of those lovely ladies,
(Ruth was her name, we read),
Told Naomi she would go with her
And take care of her every need.
In spite of Naomi’s objections,
Ruth did exactly that – she went –
And stayed with Naomi faithfully;
Loving her back with every second spent.
Naomi’s nurturing spirit
Helped Ruth find Boaz, her new love,
And eventually came the baby, Obed,
A gift from God above.
Instead of dying bitter and alone,
Naomi’s life was full, not hollow.
Her nurturing spirit invited love –
Her faith is an example we can follow.
Don’t let life’s troubles stop your heart
From reaching out to others in love.
The more you give, the more you’ll get,
In blessings galore from our God above.
Luke 17:6 teaches us, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”
Naomi’s story reminds me that life is not always fair. Our dreams do not always come true. We will have days (maybe even months or years) of questions, wrestling, and searching for answers. But, God has room for our questions and our searching. God is with us during our periods of bitterness, our uncertainty, and our doubting. God does not give up on us.
To find more meaning and to ultimately fulfill our purpose in life, we need Naomi’s mustard seed faith. We must trust God and cling to Him. Develop consistent prayer time … regular, open, heart-felt conversation with God. He will give us what He gave to Naomi: a new zest for life.
Trust – and work with our nurturing God as He writes a new chapter in your life.
He has promised to protect and provide for you all your life. Pick up your mustard seed faith – and watch Him fulfill His promises in you!
See you tomorrow.
Adding Meaning to Life … B = Beauty
B = Beauty
How does
paying attention to
and creating beauty
add meaning to your life?
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- What IS Beauty?
-
One dictionary says,
1) the quality present in a thing or person
that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind,
whether arising from the sensory
(as shape, color, sound),
a meaningful design or pattern,
or something else (as a personality
in which high spiritual qualities are manifest),
or 2) a beautiful person or thing
(as work or art or building),
or 3) something excellent of its kind
(My old car was a beauty) -
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-
In their book, Spiritual Literacy,
with a sub-title of “Reading the Sacred in Everyday Life,”
authors Mary Ann and Frederic Brussat wrote:
“Walk the path of beauty.
Relish and encourage its inward and outward expressions.
Acknowledge the radiance of creation.”
Find Beauty in Others
- Observing and appreciating beauty
is a spiritual practice for me.
It enhances my ability to see the world
through Jesus glasses! - There is beauty in each of us.
Look for the beauty in others - and watch your happiness factor increase.
Find Beauty Within
Last weekend my grandson, Chris, and I went to see “Breakthrough.” It’s a new movie starring Chrissy Metz, a true story of a high school-aged boy who fell through the ice in a lake and was underwater for ten minutes before being pulled out. Presumed dead after a long and arduous attempt to resuscitate him, the story focuses on the power of prayer and the results of a loving, passionate mom who would not give up. The beauty of Chrissy Metz as she superbly played the role of the mom was undeniable.
(You may recognize her… she starred in the TV series, “This is Us” and told her personal story in the April edition of Guideposts Magazine.)
When we see compassion and love in the eyes of another, in the behavior of another, we see the inner beauty that shines through. We are encouraged to emulate that behavior.
- Chrissy’s ability to passionately demonstrate the power of
- unconditional love and an unwavering faith
- showed us what beauty there is
- in the treasure of life.
Find Beauty in Nature
While looking for greater meaning in life, I find inspiration in the beauty of nature. A week ago as we were experiencing snow in April, and last Sunday when our Sunrise service was drenched in rain and no sun was visible, I wondered if spring would ever come to my part of the world. Yesterday we had a gorgeous sunny day. Hooray! This morning, look what I found outside my kitchen window:
Yes, this is a sign of spring… it’s here! Never give up hope!
Enjoy the beauty of nature
Let it remind you of God’s unfailing love for our earth and for us!
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Remember, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
What beauty catches your eye – and adds meaning to your life?
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Written
on June 1, 2019