Grant to us, O Lord, the royalty of inward happiness, and the serenity, which comes from living close to thee.Daily renew in us the sense of joy, and let the eternal spirit of the Father dwell in our souls and bodies, filling every corner of our hearts with light and grace; so that, bearing about with us the infection of good courage, we may be diffusers of life, and may meet all ills and cross accidents with gallant and high-hearted happiness, giving thee thanks always for all things.Robert Louis Stevenson … [Read more...]
Happiness is a Choice – Happiness Happens Month
What is happiness? "Jean Anne is such a somber child." I overheard this statement from one of my mom's dear friends. She was talking about the 7 year old me. I never forgot it. Childhood experiences and beliefs attached to our minds and hearts like superglue. Many times we aren't even aware of their power. As an adult I am amazed that I continue to get to know myself better. "Is that really like me?" I will ask my hubby or close friend when realizing some characteristic about myself with new insight. I need a trusted outsider to confirm it. My blind ego stumbles upon a new awareness that I never saw before and I am shocked with surprise. Somber? Me? As an adult I made the decision to choose happiness. My default switch is set on pessimistic so I have to actively push it towards optimism. Sometimes I feel like I am swimming against the waves of gloominess and being too serious in order to splash in the clearer waters of joy. "Some people think it is … [Read more...]
Jesus Loves Me – Hymn Story
Jesus loves me - what a neat song. The young kids in our Sunday School sang two weeks ago. You just had to smile listening to sweet fresh voices chime in with "Yes, Jesus loves me." I think God smiled too. Occasionally we sing this old favorite as one of our hymns of the day. Adults sing the words with reverence and awe. It is powerful to express out loud - "Yes! Jesus loves me." Jesus Loves Me - the Story Anna Barlett Warner wrote Jesus Loves Me to be included in her sister's novel. Often they would work together on a project. Her sister ask if Anna would compose a children's song that would be sung by a character in her story, to comfort a dying child. Anna responded to this request with the lyrics of the now famous Jesus Loves Me. The book was published in 1860. Missionaries adopted the song, spreading its fame across the world. I read one place that said Jesus Loves Me has been translated into more languages than any other spiritual song. Dr. Hawn is professor of … [Read more...]
E M Bounds – Quote of the Week
“I think Christians fail so often to get answers to their prayers because they do not wait long enough on God. They just drop down and say a few words, and then jump up and forget it and expect God to answer them. Such praying always reminds me of the small boy ringing his neighbor’s doorbell and then running away as fast as he can go.” E. M. Bounds … [Read more...]
Possibilities and Permissions: Richard Rohr
I have been enjoying a DVD series from Richard Rohr titled "Following the Mystics Through the Narrow Gate." The recording took place at a conference and is material that I listen to a small portion, then need to pause, ponder and pray. The following is an example of this in-depth and inspirational wisdom: "If you keep listening to the love, if you keep receiving the love, trusting the love - even with all your limitations, with all your unworthiness, with all your limited intellect or whatever you feel holds you back - you start to experience within yourself a sense of possibility. Whatever life is inviting you into, you have this sense that is still okay and even better, that you can do it. As Mother Teresa loved to say, “The only real success is faithfulness.” To be faithful to this inner love is in itself the greatest success. It is of itself the major possibility. No outer successes are henceforth necessary to be … [Read more...]
Lord Have Mercy – The Mercy Prayer – A Book Review
A breath prayer is a simple prayer we can say over and over again in a single breath."Lord, have mercy." is one example. This prayer from the heart can be expanded also to be, "Lord, Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." or any variation of those words.Since this is a breath prayer that has provided me comfort and strength in the past, I was excited to review the new book, The MercyPrayer - The One Prayer Jesus Always Answers by Robert Gelinas, to be released on July 30.Here are a few tidbits I learned from this book that provides a rich background to this prayer:· Lord have mercy is the most prayed prayer in the Bible· Kyrie eleison means Lord have mercy· The Greek word, elaion, sounds like eleison and means olive or olive oil. Makes one wonder about a play on the words. If we would say kyrie elaion we would be praying "Lord have medicine on me" or bring healing into my life. The author includes Bible stories and references, personal stories and … [Read more...]
Choosing the Better Part – Lectio Divina
Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying.But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.”But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”Luke 10:38-42 (NRSV)Mary has chosen the better part.Lord I love this story about your friends, Mary and Martha.Often I feel like I am both of them.I welcome you into my home. I open the door of my heart to you, excited to be with you, then I busy myself with the details of life, ignoring your presence.Sidetracked by my to do lists, detoured by my doubts, focused only on my ego driven wants and desires, and … [Read more...]
Disturb Us Prayer – Quote of the Week
Disturb us, Lord, whenWe are too well pleased with ourselves,When our dreams have come trueBecause we have dreamed too little,When we arrived safelyBecause we sailed too close to the shore.Disturb us, Lord, whenWith the abundance of things we possessWe have lost our thirstFor the waters of life;Having fallen in love with life,We have ceased to dream of eternityAnd in our efforts to build a new earth,We have allowed our visionOf the new Heaven to dim.Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,To venture on wider seasWhere storms will show your mastery;Where losing sight of land,We shall find the stars.We ask You to push backThe horizons of our hopes;And to push into the futureIn strength, courage, hope, and love.This we ask in the name of our Captain,Who is Jesus Christ.Francis Drake, 1577 … [Read more...]