Tag Archives: life

Who is He?

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While little ones are scampering to fill their baskets with coloured eggs  left by that rascally bunny;  while tiny, yellow, peeping chicks are being fondled, and while hot-cross buns are being enjoyed along with that first cup of steaming coffee…let us not forget Him.

He was born to save us. (Matthew 1:21)

He lived to save us. (Luke 19:10)

He died to save us. (John 3:16)

He lives again to save us. (Romans 19:9)

Who is He?

He is Jesus.

He is the reason for the season!

Wishing everyone a blessed and happy Easter Day.

Life is for Learning

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Here is something I found in one of my journals. Unfortunately I didn’t make note of the source, but think it is worth sharing.

Your life is a learning process–you can become wiser only by learning. Sometimes you might have to attract making a painful mistake to learn something important, but after the mistake, you have far greater wisdom. Wisdom cannot be bought with money–it can only be acquired by living life. With wisdom comes strength, courage, knowing, and an ever increasing peace.

This post is a duplicate of one titled About Wisdom posted on August 19, 2014. I didn’t do this intentionally, but I think I’ll let it stand, mainly because Solomon’s wisdom has been a recent topic.

 

 

Life in the Fast Lane

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What does it mean to live life in the fast lane?

To me it means coming through the birth canal and onto the highway of life: learning to walk and talk, living through childhood, teens, marriage, motherhood, entrepreneurship, mid-life, retirement…and suddenly…without warning…seventy-eight years have gone by and the big 80 is staring me in the face two years down the road!

That, my friends, is life in the fast lane!

Why Should I Get Involved?

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The second prayer in Ten Prayers God Always Says Yes To is God, Make Me An Instrument. The chapter is called Why Should I Get Involved, and talks about the many ways God sends suffering people our way when we say this prayer. Here is an excerpt from this chapter:

When you say to God, “Make me an instrument,” all God really has to do is channel some of these folks in your direction. There’s no need for him to perform any great miracles. No need for him to part the Red Sea. No need for him to send angels. He simply has to steer them your way. Like a conductor in a railway station who pulls a lever in order to make the tracks switch, God simply pulls a lever in heaven, and a veritable trainload of suffering people will automatically be rerouted in your direction! Then it’s up to you. You’ll have to figure out the best way to help them. It may be as simple as offering a kind word of advice or lending them a few dollars; it may be as difficult as donating a kidney or saving their life in a fire. Whatever you have to do, though, you can be sure that you will be able to rise to the occasion. If God sends you someone to assist, he is also going to give you the time, the resources, and the wherewithal to do it.

It was 1999 when forced retirement found me with so much time on my hands, I said a similar prayer, but instead of “God, make me an instrument” my words were more like “Please send me someone to help.” Looking back, I can see where that prayer led me to volunteer work in a long term care facility, and in 2000 into caring for my own life partner who developed Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s. That was the peak experience of my being an “instrument”, as it eventually became a 24/7 caregiving assignment until his death in 2007. Today I am a member of the Pastoral Care Team at church, and God has sent several people my way who need either a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen or just a hug. I love being “an instrument” even though I never considered myself as such.

Monday: What’s In It for Me? … God, Outdo Me in Generosity

 

A Wonderful Analogy

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The following is a Face Book post sent to me by one of my granddaughters. It is attributed to Utmutato A Leleknek and is definitely worth sharing as others who have read it have pointed out. One of the Face Book posts shows the photo copied at the bottom of this page.  Enjoy the read.

In a mother’s womb were two babies. One asked the other: “Do you believe in life after delivery?” The other replied, “Why, of course. There has to be something after delivery. Maybe we are here to prepare ourselves for what we will be later.”
“Nonsense” said the first. “There is no life after delivery. What kind of life would that be?”

The second said, “I don’t know, but there will be more light than here. Maybe we will walk with our legs and eat from our mouths. Maybe we will have other senses that we can’t understand now.”

The first replied, “That is absurd. Walking is impossible. And eating with our mouths? Ridiculous! The umbilical cord supplies nutrition and everything we need. But the umbilical cord is so short. Life after delivery is to be logically excluded.”

The second insisted, “Well I think there is something and maybe it’s different than it is here. Maybe we won’t need this physical cord anymore.”

The first replied, “Nonsense. And moreover if there is life, then why has no one has ever come back from there? Delivery is the end of life, and in the after-delivery there is nothing but darkness and silence and oblivion. It takes us nowhere.”

“Well, I don’t know,” said the second, “but certainly we will meet Mother and she will take care of us.”

The first replied “Mother? You actually believe in Mother? That’s laughable. If Mother exists then where is She now?”

The second said, “She is all around us. We are surrounded by her. We are of Her. It is in Her that we live. Without Her this world would not and could not exist.”

Said the first: “Well I don’t see Her, so it is only logical that She doesn’t exist.”

To which the second replied, “Sometimes, when you’re in silence and you focus and you really listen, you can perceive Her presence, and you can hear Her loving voice, calling down from above.” – Útmutató a Léleknek

“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)

In Honor of Audrey

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I attended another funeral yesterday. We lost thirteen members of our church in 2014, and so far two more this month. It has kept our Pastor pretty busy. He always does a wonderful service but this was one of his best ever.

The guest of honor had been a member of our church and choir for over fifty years, and had a special bond with our Pastor, having known his grandmother from a previous church congregation. Audrey’s pet peeve was that Duncan seldom wore his robe, preferring a clerical jacket and collar. I don’t think I have ever seen him in a robe.

Yesterday he mentioned the fact that he now knew that Audrey had always lamented that his sermons could have been better if he had only worn the robe. During his meditation, he stopped mid-sentence, peeled off his jacket and donned the clergy robe…in honor of Audrey.

It is the first time I have heard a round of applause at a funeral.

(Thanks, Alan, for suggesting this blog.)

The Bible on Birth (or God’s DNA?)

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Many years ago I was asked this question: “If we are God’s children do we have his DNA?” I have grappled with the question over the years and finally found some answers in the Bible; not necessarily DNA answers but God’s participation in our birth.

No one who is born of God will continue to sin because God’s seed remains in him. 1 John 3:9

…You brought me forth from my mother’s womb. From birth I have relied on you. Psalm 71:6

…Your redeemer who formed you in the womb: Isaiah 44:24

Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast. From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God. Psalm 22:9, 10

…You whom I have upheld since you were conceived and have carried since your birth. Isaiah 46:3

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. Psalm 139:13

All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:16

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…Jeremiah  1:5

Did not he who made me in the womb make them? (slaves) Did not the same one form us both within our mothers? Job 31:15

Your hands shaped me and made me. Job 10:8

You gave me life and showed me kindness. Job 10:12

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1

And that concludes my search for “the Bible on birth” to date. I don’t know if I have God’s DNA but I do know that he is my Father.

The Year That Was

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My Precious Life, the book was the highlight of my year. It came to fruition on June 26, 2014, the day it was published by Westbow Press. It is  available on many online book stores; Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, etc. and can be ordered through any retail book store. It is a book of inspiration and life lessons.

My Precious Life, this blog, was another highlight. It began on April 5th and has just reached two-hundred and three posts, with nearly as many followers and almost seventy-five hundred views; not a huge number, I know, but not too bad for a beginner. However, the best part of this venture is the people I have met in the blogging world: very prolific and interesting people, from whom I have learned much. Thank you.

The year that was saw a granddaughter get married, another become engaged, two grandchildren realize their modeling dreams, and others seeing their dreams coming closer to fruition. My family, has and always will, be the best highlight of all my years.

The year had its ups and downs, but the ups were definitely the winners.

In the world there was, and is, sadness and despair but there is also hope.

“…In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

And on that note I extend heartfelt wishes for happiness, comfort, peace, prosperity (both spiritual and monetary), healing, health and well-being.

Happy New Year.

Patricia Ann Boyes

 

 

Ninety-Nine and Counting

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On Sunday I had the privelege of being a part our congregation’s congratulations to one of our members on his ninety-ninth birthday.

He sits tall in his second row pew every Sunday morning, and two weeks ago helped one of his daughters celebrate her seventienth birthday.

Does it get much better than that?

Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he who will sustain you. Isaiah 46:4 NIV

Where is Love?

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Love is always present in life, in all of our wonderful experiences—and even our tragedies. Love is what gives our days their deep meaning, it is what we are truly made of. Whatever we may call it—love, God, soul—love is alive and tangible, living within us all. Love is our experience of the divine, of sacred holiness. Love is the richness all around us. It is ours for the taking.

The above is an excerpt from Life Lessons by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler.

Where is love? Everywhere—let’s not lose sight of it. Give someone a hug right now and if there’s no one to hug, hug yourself, and feel the love.