I had the honor of assisting with a marriage retreat this past weekend. Twenty-one couples committed the time to each other to nourish the roots of their relationship. The best part of the weekend was not the material Jo, Fred and I presented, but the stories and sharing the couple themselves told. Stories that brought both laughter and tears, but always drenched in love.We shared inspirational quotes throughout the weekend and reflecting on these wonderful sayings this morning, reminded me of our other most important relationship – with God.Strengthening a marriage relationship involves more listening than talking, intentionally spending time together, and connecting. These can also serve as ways to open our heart to God. Lent is a great time to nourish our roots with God. May these quotes prime your prayers and light your love as you linger with our Lord.To love another person is to see the face of God. – Victor HugoLove does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking … [Read more...]
God is All in All – Quote of the Week – Thomas Merton
"Let me seek, then, the gift of silence, and poverty, and solitude, where everything I touch is turned into prayer: where the sky is my prayer, the birds are my prayer, the wind in the trees is my prayer, for God is all in all." Thomas Merton inThoughts in Solitude Thanks Colleen for bringing this great quote to ponder to my attention. … [Read more...]
Grateful for Ordinary Days – Quote of the Week
Normal day, Let me be aware of the treasure you are!Mary Jean Irion … [Read more...]
Using Your Gifts – Quote of the Week – Henry Van Dyke
“Use the talents you possess, for the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except the best."Henry Van Dyke … [Read more...]
Anticipating Spring in February – Quote of the Week
"Every gardener knows that under the cloak of winter lies a miracle ... a seed waiting to sprout, a bulb opening to the light, a bud straining to unfurl. And the anticipation nurtures our dream." Barbara Winkler … [Read more...]
God’s Remodeling Project – Quote of the Week by C. S. Lewis
"Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised.But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself." C. S. Lewis (Mere Christianity) … [Read more...]
Seasonal Reflection – Quote of the week – Andrew Wyeth
"I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure in the landscape-the loneliness of it - the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it - the whole story doesn't show."- Andrew Wyeth … [Read more...]
Creating Space for God – Quote of the Week – Henri Nouwen
In the spiritual life, the word 'discipline' means 'the effort to create some space in which God can act'. Discipline means to prevent everything in your life from being filled up. Discipline means that somewhere you're not occupied, and certainly not preoccupied… to create that space in which something can happen that you hadn't planned or counted on.Henri Nouwen … [Read more...]