Showing posts with label Blessings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blessings. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
The Miracle of Multiplication...
The opposite of a scarcity
mentality is an abundancy mentality. With an abundancy mentality we
say: "There is enough for everyone, more than enough: food, knowledge,
love ... everything." With this mind-set we give away whatever we
have, to whomever we meet. When we see hungry people we give them
food. When we meet ignorant people we share our knowledge; when we
encounter people in need of love, we offer them friendship and affection
and hospitality and introduce them to our family and friends.
When we live with this
mind-set, we will see the miracle that what we give away multiplies:
food, knowledge, love ... everything. There will even be many
leftovers.
Henri Nouwen
Thursday, October 25, 2012
If you...
In other words, we are blessed...and with these blessings should come gratefulness and generosity! "To whom much is given, much is expected..." Luke 12:48
Monday, November 14, 2011
Climb Every Mountain...
I can remember the first time I saw the "Sound of Music"...in the movie theater (yes, I am that old)...I loved it from the first, as did most young girls of my generation. Julie Andrews has always been a favorite but it was the recording of "Climb Every Mountain" that brought tears to my eyes...
While this song has been sung beautifully by some of the premier sopranos of our times (Kiri Te Kanawa and Leontyne Price to name two) the one from the movie is still my favorite. Mother Superior's blessing of Maria and her choice brought home to a young girl that one doesn't have to live within convent walls to show Christ's love...it's still a powerful image.
While this song has been sung beautifully by some of the premier sopranos of our times (Kiri Te Kanawa and Leontyne Price to name two) the one from the movie is still my favorite. Mother Superior's blessing of Maria and her choice brought home to a young girl that one doesn't have to live within convent walls to show Christ's love...it's still a powerful image.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
A laundry list of Blessings
Lest we forget...
“If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.
If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.”
“And if you get this on your own computer, you are part of the 1% in the world who has that opportunity.”
“If you woke up this morning with more health than illness…you are more blessed than the many who will not even survive this day.”
“If you have never experienced the fear in battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation...you are ahead of 700 million people in the world.”
“If you can attend a church without the fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death, you are envied by, and more blessed than, three billion people in the world.”
“If your parents are still alive and still married...you are very rare.”
“If you can hold your head up and smile, you are not the norm, you're unique to all those in doubt and despair.......”
“And if you get this on your own computer, you are part of the 1% in the world who has that opportunity.”
“If you woke up this morning with more health than illness…you are more blessed than the many who will not even survive this day.”
“If you have never experienced the fear in battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation...you are ahead of 700 million people in the world.”
“If you can attend a church without the fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death, you are envied by, and more blessed than, three billion people in the world.”
“If your parents are still alive and still married...you are very rare.”
“If you can hold your head up and smile, you are not the norm, you're unique to all those in doubt and despair.......”
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Feast Day...
Pope John Paul II took hold of the minds and hearts of people all over the world...and not just those who are Catholic. I have read and listened to his teachings and marvelled at the way he seemed to speak to each person as an individual.
On May 1 of this year, he was beatified (given the title of "Blessed"), which is the last step before sainthood. Because of this title, he is also given a Feast Day...October 22 (the anniversary of his inauguration as Pope in 1978). When he was named Pope, he took the world by surprise...and continued to do so for 27 years.
Below is a trailer for a 10 part DVD series about his life and teachings...but the trailer itself reminds us of the many things he was to his followers...
On May 1 of this year, he was beatified (given the title of "Blessed"), which is the last step before sainthood. Because of this title, he is also given a Feast Day...October 22 (the anniversary of his inauguration as Pope in 1978). When he was named Pope, he took the world by surprise...and continued to do so for 27 years.
Below is a trailer for a 10 part DVD series about his life and teachings...but the trailer itself reminds us of the many things he was to his followers...
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Gaelic Blessing
Something soothing for your Wednesday afternoon...no one does it quite like John Rutter...
Deep peace of the running wave to you
Deep peace of the flowing air to you
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you
Deep peace of the shining stars to you
Deep peace of the gentle night to you
Moon and stars pour their healing light on you
Deep peace of Christ, of Christ the light of the world to you
Deep peace of Christ to you
Deep peace of the running wave to you
Deep peace of the flowing air to you
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you
Deep peace of the shining stars to you
Deep peace of the gentle night to you
Moon and stars pour their healing light on you
Deep peace of Christ, of Christ the light of the world to you
Deep peace of Christ to you
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Starting the day
I have never been a morning person. No matter how desperately I want to be and regardless of the fact that for the last 20+ years I've had to arrive at my "real job" before 7am, I just cannot get in the habit of rising early on my days off.
St. Francis de Sale gives us guidance for starting the day the right way and thankfully, he doesn't say what time you day has to begin:
1. Give Thanks
Adore God profoundly and thank Him for the grace of preserving you during the preceding night, and implore His pardon if you committed any sin during the course of it.
2. Recall the goal
Remember that the present day is given to you in order to gain the future day of eternity, and make a firm purpose to employ the day well for this intention.
3. Make a plan
Anticipate what tasks, transactions and occasions for serving God you may meet on this day and to what temptations of offending Him you will be exposed, whether by anger, vanity or some other irregularity. By a holy resolution prepare yourself to make the best use of the means that will be offered to you to serve God and advance in devotion. On the other hand, carefully prepare to avoid, resist and overcome whatever may be encountered that is opposed to your salvation and God's glory. It is not sufficient simply to make this resolution; you must also prepare means of putting it into practice.
4. Ask God for help
This done, humble yourself in the presence of God and acknowledge that by yourself you can do none of the things you have decided on, whether of avoiding evil or of doing good. As though holding your heart in your hands, offer it along with all your good purposes to His Divine Majesty, beseeching Him to take it under His protection and strengthen it so that it may turn out successfully in His service. Do this by such unspoken words as the following or their like: "Lord, here is this wretched heart of mine, which through your goodness has conceived of many good affections. Alas, it is too weak and miserable to do the good that it desires to do unless You impart your heavenly blessing. For this purpose I humbly beg your blessing, O merciful Father, through the merits of the passion of your Son, in whose honor I consecrate this day and all the remaining days of my life."
As a footnote, St. Francis writes the following:
All these spiritual acts must be made briefly and fervently and if possible before leaving your room, so that by means of this exercise, whatever you do throughout the day may be watered by God's blessing. I beg you never to omit this exercise.
St. Francis de Sale gives us guidance for starting the day the right way and thankfully, he doesn't say what time you day has to begin:
1. Give Thanks
Adore God profoundly and thank Him for the grace of preserving you during the preceding night, and implore His pardon if you committed any sin during the course of it.
2. Recall the goal
Remember that the present day is given to you in order to gain the future day of eternity, and make a firm purpose to employ the day well for this intention.
3. Make a plan
Anticipate what tasks, transactions and occasions for serving God you may meet on this day and to what temptations of offending Him you will be exposed, whether by anger, vanity or some other irregularity. By a holy resolution prepare yourself to make the best use of the means that will be offered to you to serve God and advance in devotion. On the other hand, carefully prepare to avoid, resist and overcome whatever may be encountered that is opposed to your salvation and God's glory. It is not sufficient simply to make this resolution; you must also prepare means of putting it into practice.
4. Ask God for help
This done, humble yourself in the presence of God and acknowledge that by yourself you can do none of the things you have decided on, whether of avoiding evil or of doing good. As though holding your heart in your hands, offer it along with all your good purposes to His Divine Majesty, beseeching Him to take it under His protection and strengthen it so that it may turn out successfully in His service. Do this by such unspoken words as the following or their like: "Lord, here is this wretched heart of mine, which through your goodness has conceived of many good affections. Alas, it is too weak and miserable to do the good that it desires to do unless You impart your heavenly blessing. For this purpose I humbly beg your blessing, O merciful Father, through the merits of the passion of your Son, in whose honor I consecrate this day and all the remaining days of my life."
As a footnote, St. Francis writes the following:
All these spiritual acts must be made briefly and fervently and if possible before leaving your room, so that by means of this exercise, whatever you do throughout the day may be watered by God's blessing. I beg you never to omit this exercise.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Before you...
Before you say an unkind word...think of someone who cannot speak at all
Before you complain about your food...think of someone who has nothing to eat
Before you complain about your spouse...think of someone crying out to God for a
companion
Before you complain about your children...think of someone who is barren and desperate
for children
Before you complain about your dirty house...think of someone living on the streets
Before you whine about the distance you drive...think of someone who walks everywhere
Before you complain about your job...think of someone who is unemployed or disabled
Before you think about condemning another...remember none are without sin
When your thoughts depress you, always, always, always consider your blessings.
Before you complain about your food...think of someone who has nothing to eat
Before you complain about your spouse...think of someone crying out to God for a
companion
Before you complain about your children...think of someone who is barren and desperate
for children
Before you complain about your dirty house...think of someone living on the streets
Before you whine about the distance you drive...think of someone who walks everywhere
Before you complain about your job...think of someone who is unemployed or disabled
Before you think about condemning another...remember none are without sin
When your thoughts depress you, always, always, always consider your blessings.
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