Spots Or Wrinkles

Spots Spots Spots! My teenage daughter sees things I cannot see. She’s certain that the moment one spot goes away there’s another lurking somewhere deep from within, ready to leap out. But I tell her truthfully; I can’t see any on her beautiful complexion.

‘Oh Daddy!’ she’ll sigh. And on it goes; typical of a self-conscious teenager.
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It’s no different for adults. There’s a bevy of things for us to worry about. For example, watch the news for ten minutes. Or closer to home, take a look in the mirror: It's either pimples or wrinkles! You finally get rid of the one and then it’s time for the other to start showing up and unfortunately wrinkles don't go away, they just invite all their friends!
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Trials and tribulations, irritations, and aggravations: That's life, but only one side of it. Because hidden inside every trouble and every aggravation is an opportunity just waiting to be noticed and taken hold of.
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They’re an invitation from God to let go of what doesn't matter or doesn't work, and to search for what does matter and what can bring us joy and freedom. It’s His invitation to focus on straightening out what's behind the face, what's inside the head and deep within your heart.
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Sometimes there are pains or frustrations that must be lived with; we can't make them go away. What's the opportunity there? Perhaps it's an invitation to relax in the Lord; to give ourselves over to Him at long last. Perhaps it's an invitation to let go of our obsessive perfectionism or our excessive need to control and focus on what really matters.
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Each of us has our own special collection of stresses and hurts, and we know them well. But have we looked behind them? Have we searched in faith for the invitation God has wrapped inside them?
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If we haven't, we're wasting a lot of time on pain and disappointment. That isn't what God wants for us. He is offering us joy and freedom for the taking, here and now. Look a little deeper and you'll find it, wrapped discretely inside your troubles.
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If you look, you'll find it. I promise you it's there!.

Loving Father, it’s so easy to become laboured with life’s wrinkles. Teach us to accept what we cannot change. Grant us the wisdom to see beyond ourselves, that we may reach out to others and bring Your world closer. Amen
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Thank You Sarah!

Music is a Gift from God

The Book in the Attic

Perhaps All We Need is a Little Faith in DOG!

Dining Alone

I’ve just received a call from a friend. Her husband died several months ago in an accident. I can hear the pain in her voice, now mixed with those tones of emptiness and loss that so often overwhelm people in these circumstances. I’m glad I could be an ear for her. And I’ll make plans to visit her this week.

At times life can rest heavily upon us, not only the troubles that make their way into every life, but also our own personal sins and failures. More than once St. Paul expressed his own frustrations with himself. On the one hand, he knew Jesus so well and knew what following Him means, and on the other hand he stumbled on that path and at least temporarily wandered in other directions. It distressed him mightily, for the more sensitive and principled a person is, the more those falls can hurt.

The often-oppressive reality of our own limits and failings can at times cause us to wonder how could God really like us, or be willing to give us another chance - much less take us into His own heart. The Lord didn’t give us a spirit of slavery to send (us) back into fear, but a spirit of adoption through which we cry out, ‘Father!’ The Spirit Himself gives witness that with our spirit we are all children of God.’

Trust that Spirit who dwells within you and especially on those days when you feel you're weary; remember to cry out with all your heart, ‘Father!’.

Father in Heaven, we are never alone when we invite You into our lives. lift us when we are weary. Embrace us with the comfort of Your love. Teach us to reach out to our brothers and sisters and support one another throughout the day. Amen

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Meet Me at The Plaza!

Music is A Gift From God

A Guide to Tipping in New York City

Wanted Part-Time Wife

Giving Gifts

The apostle Paul wrote rather pointedly: 'None of us lives as his own master and none of us dies as his own master... Both in life and in death we are the Lord's.'
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None of us possesses either our life or our gifts as absolute possessions, but as loans from a generous God who gave us both life and gifts for a specific purpose, namely, to be shared with His family.

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To decline to share our life and to carry our gifts to those who need them is not only bad stewardship, it is stealing from those for whom the gifts were intended in the first place.

So where do you stand on the gift continuum? Are you sitting on your gifts and hoarding them for some unnamed rainy day, or are you learning the God-like joy of giving your gifts and talents away? 
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Where you stand on this most basic question is probably the key to how and where you'll be spending your eternity, so it will be wise to consider your answer well.

Gracious Lord, You have bestowed us with the greatest gifts of all. Help us to use our talents and gifts wisely and to share them with joy and compassion. Amen

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Advent - Moving From Darkness to Light

The Power of Words

There's More Than Just Courage

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Red Balloons

It was another busy day on the London Underground. As the doors of the tube opened, a single mother with a Downs Syndrome child pushed her way in. At the other end of the same carriage another mother with two small boys, each holding red balloons, also managed to get inside.

Despite the mother's best efforts, the child with Downs was screaming and shouting. Nobody moved to offer them a seat. Backs were turned, books and newspapers were raised; everybody kept their heads down.

Then I noticed the other mother speaking to her two boys. Seconds later the two boys, with their red balloons, made their way through the crowded carriage towards the distraught child. When they reached her, somewhat reluctantly, they handed the mother and her child their two balloons.

At that moment, the child stopped crying and struggling in her mother's arms. She took hold of the balloons and a huge smile came to her face. Two red balloons - an unexpected and unsolicited gift - calmed the tormented child.

As the boys rejoined their mother, heads were raised. People began to clap and to thank the boys for their kindness. For a moment there was a real sense of community in that carriage.

It took a simple act of generosity to calm a mother and her child. It took that act to free the rest of us from our inhibitions and fears of becoming involved.

It took the exchange between those two little boys and a tormented child to help us discover for a moment, the true meaning of what it means to be alive and together in community.

Lord, into our loneliness and pain this day, pour Your compassion and Your love. Amen.

Posted for Fr

Go Ahead Take Your Best Shot

Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?

Who Are We Forgetting?

Anglicans

I Choose You!

Isn't it wonderful when God answers prayer? When you know there is nothing in the world that could change a situation, and God steps in and does something amazing. When we have come to the end of ourselves is usually when it happens - have you noticed that? When we have tried everything in our power and given up!

"I lift up mine eyes to the hills from whence cometh my help, my help comes from the Lord." Oh how true! How sweetly, sweetly true!

Lord in Heaven, I choose You this day, I choose to worship You. I choose to give You everything I am. All that You have given me I choose to offer for Your service. I choose to love You, and offer up my life to be Your humble servant. Guide me, Oh Lord, in Your light. Now and forever. Amen

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. Jeremiah 33:3

Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?