“You say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing and grace before I dip the pen in the ink.” ~G.K. Chesterton
May I
“I am grateful that I am not as judgmental as all those censorious, self-righteous people around me” ~ Unknown
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ ~ Luke 18: 10-13
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“So often we dwell on the things that seem impossible rather than on the things that are possible. So often we are depressed by what remains to be done and forget to be thankful for all that has been done.” ~ Marian Wright Edelman
God has given me an early Easter remembrance ~ my dogwoods are blooming!
As legend has it, the cross on which Jesus was crucified was made from a dogwood tree.
God decreed that the dogwood tree would from that day
forth never grow large enough to be used to make a cross.
Thus, the dogwood tree is a small tree.
The flower of the dogwood has four petals which makes the shape of a cross.
The center of the flower resembles the crown of thorns with bright red,
clustered fruit in the center representing the blood of Christ.
The dogwood blooms in April when Easter Sunday
marks the resurrection of Christ after the Crucifixion.
“Social responsibility becomes an aspect not of Christian mission only, but also of Christian conversion. It is impossible to be truly converted to God without being thereby converted to our neighbour.” ~ John R.W. Stott
Lord, lead us to our neighbors wherever they might be, that we might share your love for their lives. Our neighbors who surround us where we live, our neighbours who work with us, our neighbours who drink with us, our neighbors who pass us on the street or sit next to us on bus or train. May we be the smile that greets, the reassuring word, the helpful comment, the willing ear, the shoulder to cry on, the gift that blesses their life this day. Amen
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. -Psalm 119:105
I choose kindness… I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me. – Max Lucado
Lord, your love breaks through, demands to be noticed, exposes that which has been hidden, reveals the truth that has been concealed within the heart. We pray for those who exploit the poor, those whose business is slavery or persecution and those who hold power over life or death. We pray that your word, your love might bring change, and bring light into hearts darkened by sin.
Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light for my path.
Amen
May you know …
The peace of God …
The love of God …
The justice of God …
The healing and mercy of God …
This day and all days
Amen
A child whispered, “God, speak to me”
And a meadowlark sang. The child did not hear.
So the child yelled, “God, speak to me!”
And the thunder rolled across the sky
but the child did not listen.
The child looked around and said, “God, let me see you”
and a star shone brightly.
but the child did not notice.
And the child shouted, “God, show me a miracle!”
And a life was born but the child did not know.
So the child cried out in despair,
“Touch me, God, and let me know you are here!”
Whereupon God reached down
And touched the child.
But the child brushed the butterfly away
And walked away unknowingly.
By: Anonymous
“It is easy to think Christmas,
and it is easy to believe Christmas,
but it is hard to act Christmas.”
Gratitude is an Attitude! 