“Journaling”

journaling 3

“Journaling”

The writing hand seems tied to the heart and finds it hard to lie.

Journaling

There is something so powerful and healing in putting our thoughts on paper. Our emotions are released and then we can more easily make healthier choices in our thoughts and actions. Journaling is one of the most helpful therapeutic techniques around, and it only costs a piece of paper and a pencil.

Keeping a journal can have many positive benefits. Journaling supports personal growth on levels mind, body, and spirit. By routinely recording your thoughts we will gain insight into our choices, behaviors, responses, and moods.

Journaling can be used for problem-solving or stress reduction. It’s been proven to improve mental and physical health. It can also lead to increased self-esteem and self-awareness.  There is no right or wrong way to journal…your way is the perfect way.

“Mistakes”

being erased (3)

“Mistakes”

“Mistakes are our best teachers”

I do not know where the idea came from, but for years I believed I should know everything. I also believed everyone else did know everything. I have come to recognize how both of these perspectives are a lie.

The need to know everything, to be perfect, to never make mistakes has touched many of our lives. However, if we would take time to look backwards, we might discover our greatest gifts came out of our mistakes. This is certainly true if we have learned from our mistakes. For many of us there seems to be a formula that the bigger the mistake – the bigger the learning.

The good news is that God will, if we let Him, turn every mistake we make into something good.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him…” Romans 8:28

May we see and accept the gracious love of God when we make mistakes and may we let God help us to turn our mistakes into life giving lessons.

“Seeking and Finding”

“Seeking and Finding” 

What you seek…you will find.

We spend much time, energy and money in reaching certain goals.  This is not a bad thing, but I wonder how often we ask ourselves what are we really looking for – hoping to find or to accomplish.  We hear stories of people reaching their goals and then life seems to end for them.  If we were wise we would take the time to honestly and closely look for our underlying motives in our goal setting.  Such honest information will provide goals that will nurture us, meet our needs and not leave us empty.

Perhaps applying Matthew 5:33 would be a wise policy in all we do.

“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you…”

“The Gift of Self”

every child is a god idea

“The Gift of Self”

“Love your neighbor as yourself”

Matt 22:39 

We are a God idea! (Ps 139:13-16) created in love, by love, to come to this earth to give and receive love. God tells us this in John 15:16. “You did not choose me, but I chose you to go and bear much fruit. Coming to know, accept, and love this unique person God created you to be is one of the greatest adventures you will ever encounter in this life.

Reread the verse from Matthew and notice it does not say, “Love your neighbor instead of yourself.” Many of us have been convinced that loving ourselves is the equivalent to being selfish. Matthew makes a bold assumption that we are loving ourselves and then encourages us to love your neighbor as our self.

God calls us to discover and enjoy all the gifts and talents he has given us. Each of us is unique and has a one of a kind plan for our life. To bring back an oldie but a goodie…we do not have to be afraid of unwrapping the gift God created us to be “Because God does not make junk”.

god doesn't make junk

“Being Love”

bending person heart

“Being Love”

Freedom is the power to give self permanently in love.

 Paul Hinnebush, OP

Love is the reason we exist.  We were created by God to give and receive love.  However the balance between giving and receiving love often seems out of balance.

Over the years, I have discovered that the receiving of love is a natural result from the giving of love.  The balance of love comes to us when we freely extend love to others and find love being returned.

As we choose to reach out in love, love most often comes back twicefold.  This pattern is validated in scripture: 1 John 4:19 “We love because God first loved us.”

Even when love is not returned for love given, we can always know the worth of that love is acknowledged in God’s eyes.

Love is never wasted.

Transmission: What message are you sending?

Transmission:  What message are you sending?

Do all things with Love, and Love will touch everything you do.

Every day of our lives we affect the world around us.  This fact is so easy to forget in our busy lives with so many distractions.  If our life of yesterday was shown on the 6:00 news, what would the message be?

As believers, we are called to love God, others, and self.  Most often, love is a conscious choice and that means we need to learn to slow down enough to choose to transmit the good news of the love of God to our world.

“Do everything in Love.”  I Corinthians 16:14

“Power in Our Lives”

“Power in Our Lives”

“Our Strength will be found in Charity”

I am always in awe of God’s power to use opposites to bless and teach us.

In God’s plan, we must lose our life to gain our life.  (Matthew 16:25) In God’s plan, we must give to receive.  (Luke :38) In God’s plan, it is in our weakness that power is perfected.  (2 Corinthians 12:19)

The truly strong people in life are those who do not walk in fear, but give freely of their time, money, and talent.  Such people show us great strength of character.  Just know such strength does not grow easily.  Romans 5: 34 tells us that it is through tribulation and perseverance that character and hope come.

Let us therefore, live our lives believing in God’s plan to empower us through all of life’s experiences, especially the tough ones eriacta canada.  (Romans 8: 28)

 

“Retreat”

“Retreat”

“Come away with me to a quiet place and you will find rest for your soul”  Matthew 6:31

 Jesus knew his disciples were tired, so he took them away to rest.  As Jesus’ disciples today, are we also in need of hearing those same words?   To prepare for the busyness of the holidays just around the corner or if our cups are almost empty, it is our responsibility to find a time and place of refilling.  God is waiting….

Will you take the time to be nurtured and nourished?  Being with God however that looks to you is sharing and showing your deep love and need for him.  Blessings pour forth easier from the blessed.

A retreat with God is a Homecoming that is Life Giving.

“The Moment”

“The Moment” 

 If we focus on the past or the future, we lose our present. 

I think it was very smart of God to not give man the past or future.  I believe God knew we could only handle the present.  The problem is that man often decides to ignore the daily moments and waste time worrying about the future or become frozen in the past.  When this happens, we miss life. 

To live in the fullness of time and to be most alive, we need to become awake to all our precious moments in life and see Jesus in all of them.

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

“Eyes”

“Eyes”

Words can never communicate what a shared look can say.  We need to practice the powerful communication of love by looking each other in the eye with that love with which Christ fills our heart.  Let us touch the soul of another person with the gentle look of love and acceptance.

We would all be amazed at how much good a look of love can bring to our world.  It might even become contagious.

“The eye is the lamp of the Body.  If the eye is good your whole body will be filled with light, but if your eyes are bad your body will be filled with darkness, how great that darkness.” Matthew 6: 22-23