Happy St. Patrick's Day!
This prayer is such a powerful tool!
I have printed it out, and decided that I will pray this every day for the rest of March - if not longer!
Prayer of Saint Patrick
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, and in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
Amen
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
If Only Everyone Could Just "Be Nice!"
I feel like I am always telling my children to, "Just Be Nice!"
It's biblical after all...Christians are supposed to be NICE!
That's not all there is to being a Christian, like some people believe - but it sure is important!
We are called to love one another, forgive others when they hurt or wrong us, and leave the judgment to our creator and Lord.
The Bible says we should correct our neighbor if they do something wrong, but not to judge them. This is so very difficult. It is much easier to form judgment, and hold
wrong-doings against our neighbors. However, God tells us to point it out, so we will not be held guilty, but then to forgive and leave the judging up to the One and Only Judge who matters!
Dear Lord,
I pray that we will be able to focus on being nice to our neighbors, and to leave the judgments up to You. We are called to be good neighbors to all, even those who commit wrong-doings. We all sin, and it is not our prerogative to judge everyone around us, but rather to be nice, neighborly, and forgiving.
Please help us, Lord, to forgive, and love our neighbors.
Amen
This has been weighing heavily on my heart for at least 2 weeks. I had to read the following passage as a Lector at church..and it also came up in my bible study a few days before that!
Leviticus 19:15-18
"Do not make something that is wrong appear to be right. Treat poor people and rich people in the same way. Do not favor one person over another. Instead, judge everyone fairly.
Do not go around spreading lies among your people.
Do not do anything that puts your neighbor's life in danger. I am the Lord.
Do not hate your brother in your heart. Correct your neighbor boldly when he does something wrong. Then you will not share his guilt.
Do not try to get even. Do not hold anything against one of your people. Instead, love your neighbor as you love yourself. I am the Lord."
This passage is so overloaded with really important messages from our Lord...but being "nice" covers most of it!
It's biblical after all...Christians are supposed to be NICE!
That's not all there is to being a Christian, like some people believe - but it sure is important!
We are called to love one another, forgive others when they hurt or wrong us, and leave the judgment to our creator and Lord.
The Bible says we should correct our neighbor if they do something wrong, but not to judge them. This is so very difficult. It is much easier to form judgment, and hold
wrong-doings against our neighbors. However, God tells us to point it out, so we will not be held guilty, but then to forgive and leave the judging up to the One and Only Judge who matters!
Dear Lord,
I pray that we will be able to focus on being nice to our neighbors, and to leave the judgments up to You. We are called to be good neighbors to all, even those who commit wrong-doings. We all sin, and it is not our prerogative to judge everyone around us, but rather to be nice, neighborly, and forgiving.
Please help us, Lord, to forgive, and love our neighbors.
Amen
This has been weighing heavily on my heart for at least 2 weeks. I had to read the following passage as a Lector at church..and it also came up in my bible study a few days before that!
Leviticus 19:15-18
"Do not make something that is wrong appear to be right. Treat poor people and rich people in the same way. Do not favor one person over another. Instead, judge everyone fairly.
Do not go around spreading lies among your people.
Do not do anything that puts your neighbor's life in danger. I am the Lord.
Do not hate your brother in your heart. Correct your neighbor boldly when he does something wrong. Then you will not share his guilt.
Do not try to get even. Do not hold anything against one of your people. Instead, love your neighbor as you love yourself. I am the Lord."
This passage is so overloaded with really important messages from our Lord...but being "nice" covers most of it!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Following God's Spirit to Power, Love, and Self-Discipline
If God's Spirit gives us power, love and self-discipline, I need to follow God's Spirit more often!
I have succumbed to many temptations, since I am human after all.
Our free will, also a gift from God, leads us down many paths that require us to seek God's spirit to make it through alive and in a way that gives glory to God.
I am guilty, unfortunately, of not channeling God's Spirit in times of need. Some of my most serious sins have been the direct result of ignoring the Spirit, and giving in to temptation.
We all do it. That does not make it right.
The Lord's Spirit provides us with His Power to overcome temptation, and to survive our current society.
His Spirit also gives us Love. He has told us to love our neighbors as ourselves. We can love not only our neighbors, but also those who seek to harm us, through God's Spirit.
That same amazing Spirit gives us self-discipline - to avoid that which is not glorifying to God.
I don't know about you, but I need that Spirit. All of these gifts provide me with a sense of purpose, dedication, and a spirit willing and capable to glorify God in all I do
When I clean my house, do the laundry, or wash dishes, I can call upon the Spirit of God to bless my family through my own self-discipline.
Dear Lord,
Please help me to seek your Spirit and wisdom in all I do. The power to overcome temptation, love for all my neighbors, and the self-discipline to complete all of the tasks that come my way, come from You, through Your Spirit.
Thank you Lord, for these gifts, and for sending your Spirit into my life.
Amen
"For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7
I have succumbed to many temptations, since I am human after all.
Our free will, also a gift from God, leads us down many paths that require us to seek God's spirit to make it through alive and in a way that gives glory to God.
I am guilty, unfortunately, of not channeling God's Spirit in times of need. Some of my most serious sins have been the direct result of ignoring the Spirit, and giving in to temptation.
We all do it. That does not make it right.
The Lord's Spirit provides us with His Power to overcome temptation, and to survive our current society.
His Spirit also gives us Love. He has told us to love our neighbors as ourselves. We can love not only our neighbors, but also those who seek to harm us, through God's Spirit.
That same amazing Spirit gives us self-discipline - to avoid that which is not glorifying to God.
I don't know about you, but I need that Spirit. All of these gifts provide me with a sense of purpose, dedication, and a spirit willing and capable to glorify God in all I do
When I clean my house, do the laundry, or wash dishes, I can call upon the Spirit of God to bless my family through my own self-discipline.
Dear Lord,
Please help me to seek your Spirit and wisdom in all I do. The power to overcome temptation, love for all my neighbors, and the self-discipline to complete all of the tasks that come my way, come from You, through Your Spirit.
Thank you Lord, for these gifts, and for sending your Spirit into my life.
Amen
"For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7
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