My saving grace is knowing that wherever I am, God is. There is no escaping God’s flashlight. Happy Sunday.
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. (Psalm 139:7-8)
Matters of the heart can mean many things, one being an actual heart attack where the heart is physically endangered and/or damaged. It can also mean that from the heart flows life, not only physical but emotional life…and life is definitely an emotional experience.
Here is some biblical advice concerning the heart:
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23 NIV
Create in me a pure heart, oh God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 NIV
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26 NIV
As water reflects a face so a man’s heart reflects the man. Proverbs 27:19 NIV
…love one another deeply, from the heart. 1 Peter 1:22 NIV
There are so many more to do with loving the Lord and each other, but these few were weighing on my heart. There are so many lessons to be learned in life and I believe that having a loving heart opens us to each new learning experience whereas a closed heart, as the Bible says, a heart of stone, closes us to them.
I am definitely going to the house of the Lord with a happy heart today…not only a happy heart but a thankful heart; thankful for all my many blessings and especially for the eighty-one years (yesterday) God has given me to be thankful for. If today is your birthday, enjoy! Happy Sunday.
Many years ago I learned a quote, “You can’t do wrong by doing right.” Today, I learned it was from a recording by Phil Harris in 1949. And doesn’t it just make so much sense when given some thought; maybe it should become a motto for this new year. Trying always to do the right thing instead of the wrong thing could be a first step towards a better world.
Trouble is too many of us think we’re right when we know we’re wrong. There’s a great scripture that reflects on this very thing: Romans 12:2…Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. How many leaders do we know that need to heed this advice? How many of us need to heed this advice? It made a huge difference in my life when I put it into practice in the 1970’s and I’m still working on it.
Here’s another quote that deserves to be taken into consideration…”always show people you care”…is that right or wrong?
What more can I say? Happy Sunday
What do you think of when you think about power? Do you think of those who hold high places in government? Do you think of the rich and famous? Power is only powerful when used for the benefit of all. Here is what the Bible has to say about power:
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 KJV
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, Acts 1:8 ESV
For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. 1 Corinthians 4:20 ESV
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, Ephesians 3:20 NIV
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV
being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, Colossians 1:11 NIV
And from my poem “All Things Are Possible”…When you call on the power that’s inherent in you…
So, what do you think of when you think about power? Do you think of you?
There seems to be an abundance of anxiety in our society today, taking away our right to contentment and happiness. Here are a few scriptures to help combat this unfortunate state of mind. I hope they will help to bring you a happy Sunday.
This photo reminds me of Psalm 121: “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills…” Today, let us lift up our eyes and see beyond what we normally see. Happy Sunday.
Whatever we are up to this Sunday, as we give thoughts to your plans and activities, may our thoughts turn to God in the midst of this day that he has made for us. Happy Sunday.
Well, the world, and Canada in particular, has lost another one of its stellar people. At the age of fifty-three, Gord Downie, frontman for the Tragically Hip music group, succumbed to the brain cancer that had been a part of his life for the past two years. But before Gord left he made sure to leave a lovely legacy of love with us. His music, poetry, writings, quotes, and general “live for love” attitude will long remain in the minds of those who knew him or of him in his lifetime.
Here is a short clip from a Tragically Hip statement on Gord’s death:
Gord knew this day was coming – his response was to spend this precious time as he always had – making music, making memories and expressing deep gratitude to his family and friends for a life well lived, often sealing it with a kiss… on the lips.
Gord said he had lived many lives. As a musician, he lived “the life” for over 30 years, lucky to do most of it with his high school buddies. At home, he worked just as tirelessly at being a good father, son, brother, husband and friend. No one worked harder on every part of their life than Gord. No one.
There are those of us who have lived a lengthy life and are ready to ready to make that next step.
And then, like Gord Downie, there are those of us whose lives are brought to a close long before we think our time is up.
It’s a matter of how well we live our lives that counts, how much good we do, how much love we share while we are here that counts because in the end every single one of us will experience the matter of dying. Gord did it so well.
RIP Gord Downie.
Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4 NIV
My Precious Life 