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Post by BW on Dec 28, 2013 16:13:55 GMT -5
God of the seasons, there is a time for everything; there is a time for dying and a time for rising. We need courage to enter into the transformation process.
God of autumn, the trees are saying goodbye to their green, letting go of what has been. We, too, have our moments of surrender, with all their insecurity and risk. Help us to let go when we need to do so.
God of fallen leaves lying in colored patterns on the ground, our lives have their own patterns. As we see the patterns of our own growth, may we learn from them.
God of misty days and harvest moon nights, there is always the dimension of mystery and wonder in our lives. We always need to recognize your power-filled presence. May we gain strength from this.
God of harvest wagons and fields of ripened grain, many gifts of growth lie within the season of our surrender. We must wait for harvest in faith and hope. Grant us patience when we do not see the blessings.
God of geese going south for another season, your wisdom enables us to know what needs to be left behind and what needs to be carried into the future. We yearn for insight and vision.
God of flowers touched with frost and windows wearing white designs, may your love keep our hearts from growing cold in the empty seasons.
God of life, you believe in us, you enrich us, you entrust us with the freedom to choose life. For all this, we are grateful.
- Author Unknown
__________________
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Post by BW on Dec 29, 2013 18:11:14 GMT -5
[Posted by an anonymous friend on another site] To: My fears From: Me I want you to know it's over between us, We've had a crazy ride this year but I found someone one new. I'm getting back together with Faith...We have big plans for 2014. I can't let you hold me back anymore.  |
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Post by SunnyGirl on Jan 2, 2014 18:10:19 GMT -5
Take the time necessary to re-establish yourself in faith and to position yourself spiritually
to be moved by My Spirit. The winds of adversity will continue to blow across the land. But,
if you will stand in the place of protection through righteous obedience, you will come through
unscathed. Let Me lead you in the right way, says the Lord. I am your compass!
~SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by MARSHA BURNS |
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Post by SunnyGirl on Jan 6, 2014 16:16:58 GMT -5
Spare Me, Lord
Lord, spare me from self-righteousness
And from having too much pride.
Spare me from indifference.
Let Your conscience be my guide.
Lord, spare me from intolerance.
Let patience take the lead.
Let me be a reflection of you,
To help lost souls in need.
Let your gentle light shine through me,
So that Faith and hope prevail.
Let your love and strength renew me.
Be the winds beneath my sail.
Lord, spare me from deceitful deeds,
Rejecting Satan's ways.
Fill my heart and soul with love,
And my lips with Godly praise.
Let Your light be my beacon, Lord,
So that all the world will see
That I am truly part of "You"
And" You" are part, of me.
-unknown
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Post by BW on Jan 6, 2014 22:08:43 GMT -5
A bit long but very inspiring
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The Awakening
~Sonny Carroll
There comes a time in your life when you finally get it…when, in the midst of all your fears and insanity, you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out…ENOUGH! Enough fighting and crying, blaming and struggling to hold on. Then, like a child quieting down after a tantrum, you blink back your tears and begin to look at the world through new eyes.
This is your awakening...
You realize it’s time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change, or for happiness, safety and security to magically appear over the next horizon.
You realize that in the real world there are't always fairy tale endings, and that any guarantee of “happily ever after” must begin with you…and in the process a sense of serenity is born of acceptance.
You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are…and that’s OK. They are entitled to their own views and opinions.
You learn the importance of loving and championing yourself…and in the process a sense of new found confidence is born of self-approval.
Your stop complaining and blaming other people for the things they did to you – or did't do for you – and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected.
You learn that people don’t always say what they mean or mean what they say and that not everyone will always be there for you and everything isn't always about you.
So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself…and in the process a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance.
You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties…and in the process a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness.
You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. You begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really stand for.
You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you've outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with.
You learn that there is power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop maneuvering through life merely as a “consumer” looking for you next fix.
You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated ideals of a bygone era, but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life.
You learn that you don’t know everything, it’s not your job to save the world and that you can’t teach a pig to sing. You learn the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry.
Then you learn about love. You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them be. You learn that alone does not mean lonely.
You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes. You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO.
You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things over and ignoring your needs.
You learn that your body really is your temple. You begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin to eat a balanced diet, drinking more water, and take more time to exercise.
You learn that being tired fuels doubt, fear, and uncertainty and so you take more time to rest. And, just food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So you take more time to laugh and to play.
You learn that, for the most part, you get in life what you deserve, and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that wishing for something to happen is different than working toward making it happen.
More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline and perseverance. You learn that no one can do it all alone, and that it’s OK to risk asking for help.
You learn the only thing you must truly fear is fear itself. You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know that whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your own terms.
You learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom.
You learn that life isn't always fair, you don’t always get what you think you deserve and that sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good people…and you learn not to always take it personally.
You learn that nobody’s punishing you and everything isn't always somebody’s fault. It’s just life happening. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls.
You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you.
You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about: a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower.
Then, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never, ever settle for less than your heart’s desire.
You make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay open to every wonderful possibility.
You hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind.
Finally, with courage in you heart, you take a stand, you take a deep breath, and you begin to design the life you want to live as best as you can.
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Post by BW on Jan 9, 2014 12:21:29 GMT -5
Lord, it’s Thursday.
Help me to think of others today.
Is there someone I can help?
Is there someone I can phone?
Is there someone I can write to?
It’s so easy to think of my own needs,
When the needs of other people may be greater than mine.
Lord, you gave yourself in service to others.
Help me to be more like you.
This is my prayer for today.
Amen
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Post by BW on Feb 14, 2014 13:04:59 GMT -5
A PSALM
LIGHT of Light,
you have searched me out
and found me.
You know where I am
and where I go,
you see my thoughts
from afar.
You discern my paths
and my resting places,
you are acquainted
with all my ways.
Yes, and not a word
comes from my lips
but you, O God,
have heard it already.
You are in front of me
and you are behind me,
you have laid your hand
on my shoulder.
Such knowledge
is too wonderful for me,
so great
that I cannot fathom it.
Where shall I go
from your Spirit?
Where shall I flee
from your Presence?
If I climb to the heavens
you are there:
if I descend to the depths
of the ocean
you are there also.
If I spread my wings
towards the morning,
and fly to the uttermost shores
of the sea,
even there your hand
will lead me
and your right hand
will hold me.
If I should cry to the darkness
to cover me
and the night
to enclose me,
even the darkness to you,
and the night is
as clear as the day.
For you have created
every part of my being
cell and tissue,
blood and bone.
You have woven me
in the womb of my mother;
I will praise you,
so wonderfully am I made.
You know me to the very core
of my being
nothing in me was hidden
from your eyes
when I was formed
in silence and secrecy,
in intricate splendour
in the depths of the earth.
Even as they were forming,
you saw my limbs,
each part of my body
shaped by your finger.
How deep are your thoughts
to me, O God,
how great
is the sum of them.
Were I to count them
they are more in number than the grains of sand
upon the sea-shore-
and still I would know
nothing about you-
yet still would you hold me
in the palm of your hand.
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Post by BW on Feb 16, 2014 12:45:44 GMT -5
Grant Me Today
Grant me today . . . Courage
to change . . . and grow
Belief . . . that I am deserving
Strength . . . to do what is right
Hope . . . fill my heart and spirit
Love . . . for my recovering self
Patience . . . with myself and others
I put one foot in front of the other
As I heal and reclaim my own life
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Post by majestyjo on Oct 1, 2014 22:08:14 GMT -5
The Fear Prayer from the 12 Step Prayer Book: God, thank You for helping me to be honest Enough to see the truth about myself. Thank you or showing me my fears, Please help me remove them Help me outgrow my fears, The fears that have haunted me And blocked me from doing Your will Direct my attention to what you would have me be.  |
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Post by majestyjo on Oct 5, 2014 8:37:32 GMT -5
Probably got this here.
Can say the words by prayer, but if I am not willing to quit, I am shooting blanks. The words have no meaning, and I have to pray for the willingness to be willing.
 God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. For me, it was an all day, every day thing and I was glad I couldn't wear it out. At first, all I can do was say the words. They didn't have much meaning and yet taking the time to say it, gave me that time out that I needed to make a healthy decision instead of reacting or opening my mouth when it was best left closed. The major dilemma I had was figuring out "the wisdom to know the difference." That took a while and lots and lots of practice. Often there were occasions that I thought what would have happened if I hadn't stopped to say it. I often shutter just to think about it! In today, I always try to follow it up with the Third and Seven Prayers too. If you look in the AA Big Book (Page 76), the Amen comes after the Seventh Step Prayer. God, Grant me the maturity to accept what I'm feeling and the courage to correct the actions that I took that made me feel this way. __________________ |
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Post by majestyjo on Dec 23, 2014 11:15:23 GMT -5
LIFE QUOTES BY DR. HENRY BRANDT
A
"The heart of the problem is a problem with the heart."
"You're just a prayer away from a change of heart."
"Finding relief in your problem is fine, but it will not cure the problem."
"My environment can give me relief from sin and tension, only the Lord can cure it."
"You can manage your sin, but that's not repentance."
"If it's sin, that's good news! Sin is the simplest thing in the world to deal with."
"There's no human remedy for sin."
"Jesus wants to give you peace."
"You would think that everyone would leap at the chance to get rid of sin. Not so. They want relief not a cure."
"Your walk with God does not depend on people, places, things or events."
"You don"t have a marriage problem, you have a sin problem."
"I am a victim of my own behavior."
"God's children have a limitless supply of the fruit of the Spirit."
"Biblical counseling is listening to a person long enough until you hear a violation of scripture."
"Anger is inside you, revealed by an outside source."
"What your soul needs is a check up."
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Post by majestyjo on Dec 27, 2014 6:37:11 GMT -5
So much sadness and so many horrors going on in the world today, let us all say a prayer for those who are in those war torn countries and even those in our backyards who live in poverty and in the strife of addiction and the evils of the world at large.  |
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Post by majestyjo on Jan 6, 2015 23:37:48 GMT -5
Attachments:
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Post by majestyjo on Mar 29, 2015 14:16:08 GMT -5
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Post by majestyjo on Apr 5, 2015 21:26:51 GMT -5
Thoughts for the Day Saturday, April 4, 2015 “The ultimate meaning of the Bible escapes human limits and calls us to a recognition that every life is holy, every life is loved, and every life is called to be all that that life is capable of being.” John Shelby Spong “Being holy … does not mean being perfect but being whole; it does not mean being exceptionally religious or being religious at all; it means being liberated from religiosity and religious pietism of any sort; it does not mean being morally better, it means being exemplary; it does not mean being godly, but rather being truly human.” William Stringfellow A Keeper of the Word: Selected Writings “Ironic that those most holy are least likely to see themselves that way.” Mark Buchanan The Holy Wild: Trusting in the Character of God  |
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Post by majestyjo on Apr 5, 2015 21:27:23 GMT -5
Easter Sunday April 5, 2015 “Let the Resurrection joy lift us from loneliness and weakness and despair to strength and beauty and happiness.” Floyd W. Tomkins "This is the Easter message, that awakening is possible, to the goodness of God, the sacredness of human life, the sisterhood and brotherhood of all." Anne Lamott “Spirit is calling. Do you hear it? The soft tones from the sounds of love, Joy and harmony welcome you As they wrap around your body, mind and soul To give comfort and peace to you. Feel each blessing and give thanks. It has been sent to you on angel wings To bring light and love to you this day.” Petey  |
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Post by majestyjo on Apr 11, 2015 12:22:39 GMT -5
Today, I will trust that my Higher Power's plan is the right plan for me.
What we want isn't necessarily what we get. Or, we may receive it in a package that was wrapped a little differently than we expected it to be. Just trust.
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Today, I am open to feeling the joy of being me.
Reach down to your well of happiness. Let it bubble up to the surface. Giggle and play with it all day. Laugh as if nobody's watching. Enjoy.
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Today, I am able to say no if I mean no.
People pleasing is a common RUTT, and why not? We all want to be liked. But what about you? When you think "no" and say "yes", you are in contradiction with your soul. Affirm your worthiness and gently say "no" when you mean it.
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Today, I will just relax. I will recognize that it does me no good to try to manipulate outcomes.
Good things will happen when the time is right. We cannot always be the judge of when that time will occur. Stress is created in manipulation, peace occurs in relaxation.
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Today, I will take care of myself and my own needs.
It's amazing what happens when we put ourselves first. Even just the recognition that we have needs is a positive step forward.
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Today, I am able to honestly say what I feel with compassion for myself and others.
Often we say, "I am sorry" right after we have actually spoken up for ourselves, where, in fact, no apology is needed. It's just that it felt uncomfortable speaking up, so we felt that it was "wrong". There is no wrong or right. There is positive or negative. Choose positive!
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Post by majestyjo on Apr 21, 2015 17:42:04 GMT -5
FOLLOW YOUR OWN PATH
"Life is complex. Each one of us must make his own path through life. There are no self-help manuals, no formulas, no easy answers. The right road for one is the wrong road for another ... The journey of life is not paved in blacktop; it is not brightly lit, and it has no road signs. It is a rocky path through the wilderness."
-- M. Scott Peck
We each have our own pathways to develop both personally and spiritually. They are based on our character and past experiences. No one else can identify our paths for us. Tune in to your inner guidance system and follow its direction.
-- John Robson
"What every man needs, regardless of his job or the kind of work he is doing, is a vision of what his place is and may be. He needs an objective and a purpose. He needs a feeling and a belief that he has some worthwhile thing to do. What this is no one can tell him. It must be his own creation."
-- Joseph M. Dodge
Slow down
"The soul requires duration of time -- rich, thick, deep, velvety time -- and it thrives on rhythm. Soul can't be hurried or harried .... We may go through many events in the day and experience nothing because the soul has not had the opportunity to feel them from many different points of view."
-- Robert Sardello
Soul cannot exist when our connections in life remain superficial. An experience of soul requires that we take time to be fully present to the details of our lives.
Explore what happens when you take the time to STOP and PAY ATTENTION. When we choose to slow down and really experience the qualities of our lives, we get a whole new perspective on what living is all about.
-- John Robson
"We must not allow the clock and the calendar to blind us to the fact that each moment of life is a miracle and mystery."
-- H. G. Wells
"The well of Providence is deep. It's the buckets we bring to it that are small."
-- Mary Webb
The Daily Guru
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Post by majestyjo on Apr 24, 2015 20:43:34 GMT -5
MY FRIEND
As I travel down life's highway,
I know my Lord's always there,
And I know I can rely upon
His tender loving care,
For He knows all of the byways
that I'm likely to explore
So He watches over me
because He's been that way before.
And when my road seems all uphill
and shadows gather round,
His understanding presence is
a blessing so profound.
I know that when I seek Him and
on Him my problems place,
He turns each stumbling-block
into a stepping-stone of faith.
If I follow His directions,
on the Lighted Path I'll stay,
And I'll reach my destination in the most straightforward way,
For He will not see me burdened
with a weight I cannot bear,
With His help I can stand straight and tall,
because His strength I share.
To me, each day's a beginning,
and a chance for me to show
Just how much I love and trust Him,
how much closer we can grow.
Just imagine, the Creator of the earth,
moon, stars and sun
Is my Friend and, to Him,
my soul is a very special one.
For I know He really loves me,
with a love that has no end,
And for comfort and enrichment
I can truly recommend
The assurance that He gives me,
and the hope that my heart feels,
As my strength grows stronger
with each truth His faithfulness reveals.
There's no limit to His Loving,
to His Patience, to His Power,
As He teaches me and guides me,
day by day and hour by hour.
So, if miracles are missing from your life,
don't muddle through,
Please, just call Him, He will hear you.
My friend could be your Friend too!
Jacqueline Ramm (c)
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Post by majestyjo on May 1, 2015 19:56:15 GMT -5
 "Always listen to what the Elders say." --Dona Josefa Medrano, HUICHOL, SIERRA MADRE, MEXICO |
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. I will be back looking for Lin and others.