My Name is "I Am"

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelations 1:8

I am the Lord, my name is “I am.”

Yesterday is gone, never to be again,

One cannot change what has already been.

My name is not “I was”… My name is “I am.”

Tomorrow is the future yet to come

Don’t let your thoughts be worrisome.

My name is not “I will be”… My name is “I am.”

“I am” here with you, just for today

“I am” walking beside you each step of the way.

“I am” rest for your journey

“I am” strength for the way

“I am” the Light that shines through the dark and the day.

“I am” the One who loves you just as you are

Reach out and you’ll find me

“I am” never far.

I am the Lord, my name is “I am.”

C Robinson - Oct 2008

It's That Time Again...

Loved this comic! Yes, it's that time again - a New Year and new commitments to a BETTER ME! Although I agree with the grandson...seems easier if others would make those changes instead! But there are the things I need to work on this year for a BETTER ME.

I know that if I write them down, I am more likely to make the commitments!
So here they are - in writing:

Being, as my dad liked to say, Plenty-nine,

I need to make some changes for Healthy Living.

You know ~ all the usual things;

I need to eat healthier and exercise more and

pay closer attention to my blood sugar levels

and my MS symptoms.

So I commit to a new, sensible diet.

I commit to simple things like

stretching and walking and using my cycler.

I commit to testing my blood sugar and

getting the check-ups that I need.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

I seem to have a habit of judging others...and that's something I need to change.

So I commit to keeping an open mind and heart.

I commit to seeing the heart of a person.

I commit to dropping prejudices and hatreds.

I commit to listening quietly and patiently.

Romans 14:13 "Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in another's way."

Oh yes! I need to make sure my words are sweet!

I commit to refrain from profanities...definitely NOT sweet words!

And I commit to not snapping at the people I love the most!

I commit to not talking about others ~ you know that ugly word ~ gossip!

I commit to keeping the good memories and letting go of the hurts.

James 1: 19 – 21 "Remember this, my dear friends: be quick to listen but slow to speak and slow to rouse your temper; God’s righteousness is never served by one’s anger; so do away with all the impurities and bad habits still left in you – accept and submit to the Word which has been planted in you and can save your souls. "

I want to be more kind and loving.

Guess this one goes with the commitment above ~

So I commit to being as kind and loving to others as I can be.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 - “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

I need to remember there are no guarantees about the future. Things change so quickly and I can never go back.. Life doesn't have a "rewind," only a "pause" and a "forward." So I commit to making sure each and every day counts!

James 4:14 - "Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow: you are no more than a mist that is here for a little while and then disappears. "

"Better to lose count while naming your blessings than to lose your blessings to counting your troubles." M.D. Babcock

And many are the blessings in my life! So I commit to not only counting those blessings, but to sharing them with others!

1 Thessalonians 5: 16 - 18 - "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

I love the "Mirror Prayer" and its very simple...You place a favorite little picture of Jesus near the mirror you use first thing in the morning. Then you say, "Lord, may I reflect YOU to all who see me today."

I commit to reflecting the Light of Christ each and every day.

Psalm 27:1 - "The Lord is my Light and my Salvation; of whom shall I be afraid?"

__________________________________________________________________

So these are the things I will work on as the New Year progresses. I will work on them a few at a time; but I will work on them all the time! To this I commit...

What are your plans?

A Simple Attitude of Gratitude

Be joyful always; pray continually; give THANKS in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. ~I Thes. 5:16~

Its Thanksgiving ... and so much to be truly thankful for!

For wonderful family and friends, near and far. For a warm home and plenty of food on the table. For enough work to keep the bills paid. For our freedom and the right to voice our opinions. For our faith and an amazing church family to worship with. For the gift of music to feed our spirits and souls. For our health. For an abundance of blessings ~ enough to share with others.

Meister Eckhart said, "If the only prayer you ever say in your life is 'Thank you,' that would be enough."

So that is my simple prayer for this Thanksgiving ~ Thank you! Amen

We're Never Alone

"By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life."
Psalm 42:8
“Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.”
Psalm 73:23





We're Never Alone...
Just a quick thought for the day ~
I saw this Buckles this morning and thought how great it is that God has promised to ALWAYS be with us - even in the dark of night. What a great PROMISE that is!!


God, my Companion,
Thank you for always being there! Help me trust in your promises!
Amen

A Quail or a Dove?

"Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?
Matthew 6:26

I really liked the column from Fr. Joe Annese in the bulletin this morning! Wise words to reflect upon:

"I begin my day with a cup of coffee while sitting on my patio. After the coffee, an 'exciting' bowl of bran, then I pray morning prayer from the breviary. All during these morning rituals, I am being observed by some thirty quails. Yes, thirty quails, they are waiting for me each morning. Not that I am the most exciting person in their day, but because I supply their daily breakfast, that being a loaf of white sliced bread cut into about two-hundred pieces. These little feathered friends wait for me with precise timing, 6:45 each morning.

I have come to the conclusion that one of our Creator's most vicious species is that of the quail! I have never witnessed such diabolical conduct in the aviary world as that of the quail. Now mind you, I have cut that loaf of bread into 200 - 225 pieces. There is enough bread for all. But no! These little creatures manifest such selfishness as to push, shove, snap, and chase each other over their breakfast.

I believe that there are a few bullies among them who are just not satisfied with what is before them, so they try to prevent others to eat while they themselves gorge on whatever is in their sight. I have actually seen some of the more corpulent quails throw flying blocks at others, only to see them cascade down a four foot wall. Others will chase those who have a morsel of bread in their beaks and swipe the bread away with a slight twist of the head. Why are quails so selfish, why have they not learned that there is enough food for all? Why can't they just get along and enjoy the breakfast that I graciously prepared for them?

Then about five doves land in the middle of this chaos. The doves go about their business gently and gratefully eating whatever is closest to them. They do not fight, push or snap at each other. They politely have their fill and graciously allow other doves, and also the quails, to have their share.

After viewing this drama each morning, I cannot help realizing that I am experiencing a visual metaphor before me. We all have lived in this world long enough, so we ask ourselves, why can't all people be like doves?

Are we doves or quails?
~Fr. Joe Annese~


Wise words to reflect upon...

God of all Gifts,
You have provided for all of my needs, and it is enough. Help me to recognize my blessings and not struggle for more! Let me be satisfied with what I have been given.
Amen

The Two Wolves - A Cherokee Tale

Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it ~Psalm 34:14~

No one can serve two masters: he will either hate the one and love the other, or treat the first with respect and the second with scorn.
~Matthew 6:24~

A Cherokee Tale of Wisdom:

A grandfather from the Cherokee nation was talking with his grandson. “A fight is going on inside of me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.”

“One wolf is evil and ugly: I call this the Dark Wolf. He is anger, envy, war, greed, selfishness and arrogance.”

“The other wolf is beautiful and good: I call this the White Wolf. He is friendly, joyful, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, justice, fairness, empathy, generosity, true, compassion, gratitude, and deep vision.”

“This same fight is going on inside you and inside every other human as well.”

The grandson paused in deep reflection because of what his grandfather had just said. Then he finally cried out,

“Oyee! Grandfather, which wolf will win?”

The grandfather replied, “The wolf that you feed.”

Wisdom indeed! Which wolf will you feed?

This old Cherokee tale was sent from my friend, Mr. James V. Lewis in Bedford, VA.

God of All Wisdom,
Help me to recognize the path of goodness. And then, please walk it with me!
Amen