my faith

Faith is to believe what we do not see, 
and the reward of faith is to see what we believe.” 
~ St. Augustine 

One good deed

One good deed can shift the balance of the whole world.

Never underestimate the power of your goodness and kindness.

 

Gratitude

 “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.  It turns what we have into enough, and more.  It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion to clarity.  It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.  Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”  

Choices 2

“It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” 

Choice

Every person, all the events of your life, are there because you have drawn them there.  What you choose to do with them is up to you

Opportunities

Difficulties are opportunities to better things, they are stepping stones to greater experience.  Perhaps someday you will be thankful for some temporary failure in a particular direction.  When one door closes, another always opens. 

Offerings

If you desire something, offer something.  Offerings can come in many forms:  a gift, a prayer, a smile, flowers, food.  Offer something from your heart. 

flesh and bone.

God is glad that you are you. Sure, we all have things we want to change, to improve about ourselves. But underneath the flesh and bone, you are an immortal and perfect soul. Always remember that...

Give Glory to God

In a world where there are many things competing for your devotion and worship, God is the only one that delivers and doesn't disappoint. Putting anything above God will ultimately let you down and leave you feeling empty.

So sing praises, lift your hands in the air and give glory to God. It's good for you!

Peace

Peace is yours.

Storms might be raging around you,

but you can still find peace in your own heart.

because the God of Peace reigns within you.

Helping Hands

If you ever need a helping hand,

you will find one at the end of your arm.  And a time always comes when you discover that you have two hands:

one for helping yourself,

and one for helping others.

Do not shut love out.

Do not to shut love out of your life by saying it is impossible to find and keep.  The quickest way to find love is to give love.

If you want it too badly, you will not find it.  The most secure way to keep love is to give it space and care.  If you hold it too tightly, you will lose it.

How Beautiful ~ Twila Paris

How Beautiful the hands that served

The Wine and the Bread and the sons of the earth

How beautiful the feet that walked

The long dusty road and the hill to the cross

How Beautiful, how beautiful,

               

How beautiful is the body of Christ.

How Beautiful the heart that bled

That took all my sins and bore it instead

How beautiful the tender eyes

That choose to forgive and never despise

How beautiful, how beautiful,

how beautiful is the body of Christ.

And as He lay down His life

We offer this sacrifice

That we will live just as He died

Willing to pay the price,

Willing to pay the price...

How Beautiful the radiant bride

Who waits for her groom 

with His light in her eyes.

How Beautiful when humble hearts give

The fruit of pure love so others may live

How beautiful, how beautiful,

how beautiful is the body of Christ.

Hands

God, as our creator of those both great and small,  Made each of us an equal,   He loves us one and all. He created hands to to build a future, hands to learn and teach.  Loving hands to hold and comfort someone out of reach.  The hands of a newborn infant, so new and innocent.  Hands stained and worn this labor, of a lifetime spent.  He made hands with great abilities, hands crippled over the years.  Hands to clap with joy and delight, hands to wipe another's tears.  Whatever hands God has given you, whatever they may do,  Two hands reverently folded in prayer will bring His peace to you.

You are not alone.

... You are not alone.  God is always with you, seen or unseen, saint or sinner.  Giving you air, supporting your footsteps, nourishing you with sunshine, God is here with you.  The separateness you sometimes feel is an illusion, in truth you are never alone.

Pray and then Practice

... that to worship God you must go beyond words to speak with your heart.  You can mouth the words of a prayer all day long and just waste your time, unless you also speak with your heart.  And to speak with your heart means to embody first.  If you pray for love, be loving.  If you pray for wealth, be generous.  If you pray for health practice health  yourself.  What is your favorite prayer... How can you begin to embody it...

Living

There are only two ways to live your life:  One is as though nothing is a miracle.  The other is as if everything is.  Don't wait for miracles, your whole life is a miracle.