Through it All

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair. (2 Corinthians 4:8)


One of our cars was totalled today.  Thankfully, the driver is okay.

TV~
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. [Romans 15:4]

Rising Early

A successful business man that I know says, "Nothing good happens after ten o'clock at night."

In keeping with this is the old adage, "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise."

Getting up early is not possible unless one gets to bed early...


TV~  (Today's Verse)
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. [Mark 1:35]

When You Don't Know What to Do

1. Don't worry.
2. Pray for wisdom.
3. Seek Godly counsel.
4. Pray again for wisdom.
5. Make the best decision you can, in keeping with scriptural principles.
6. Trust God for the future.
7.  Keep praying.

TV~  (Today's Verse)
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. [James 1:5]

A Big Blow-up

She wrote, "There was a big blow-up last night..." 

What to do if there is a big blow-up? 

1.  Step away and find time to pray and wait on the Lord.
2.  Ask Him to give you His heart for your spouse.
3.  Ask Him to show you how you are contributing to the conflict.
4.  If you are fearful, ask Him to show you what is causing the fear and ask for His perfect love to cast out   that fear.
5.  When the time is right, go and ask forgiveness for what you did to contribute to the conflict.

TV~ (Today's Verse)

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. [James 3:17]

Tenderness, Compassion, Sympathy and Tolerance

"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these." 

- George Washington Carver

My experience is that one has to live many years before becoming fully capable of tenderness, compassion, sympathy and tolerance.  Even then, it is only Christ in us that produces these qualities.

TV~ (Today's Verse) 

He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.  [Luke 10:34]

The Great Litany

Today is the first Sunday of the church year, the first Sunday of Advent.  Advent means "the coming" and is a time of expectant waiting for the entrance of our Savior into the world. 

On this first Sunday of Advent, the Great Litany is recited.  This lengthy responsive prayer was compiled in the 1500s from a combination of litanies by Thomas Cranmer, St. John Crysostom and Martin Luther.

It is worth reading and praying.  When sung responsively in church, it feels holy and powerful.

http://www.bcponline.org/GreatLitany/Litany2.html

TV~  (Today's Verse)
Hear me, LORD, my plea is just; listen to my cry. Hear my prayer...  [Psalm 17:1]

Third Order Carmelite

I never knew there could be lay-person nuns.  The iconographer that I met the other evening is a "Third Order Carmelite."  This appears to be a way to dedicate one's normal, every-day life to prayer and pursuit of God, but within an organized order.

"Lay Carmelites, filled with the spirit of the Order, seek to live their own vocation by silently listening to the Word of God (Lectio Divina). According to the constant tradition of Carmel, they will especially cultivate prayer in all its forms...
 

In the midst of their normal family lives, in the work place, in their social commitments and relationships with other people, Carmelite Third Order members seek out the hidden image of God. They try to live in the spirit of the Beatitudes, humbly and consistently exercising the virtues of honesty, justice, sincerity, courtesy and fortitude, without which no Christian or human life is possible."   (http://ocarm.org/en/content/ocarm/third-order)

TV~  (Today's Verse)
Take the... sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people.