Blessings

Safekeeping

Do not look forward to the changes and chances of this life in fear;

rather look to them with full hope that, as they arise,

God, whose you are,

will deliver you out of them.

He is your keeper.

He has kept you hitherto.

Do you but hold fast to his dear hand,

and he will lead you safely through all things;

and, when you cannot stand,

he will bear you in his arms.

Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow.

Our Father will either shield you from suffering,

or he will give you strength to bear it.

~St. Frances de Sales~

Blessings

My Valentine's Day orchid.

It is no unworthy thing to wish to count for something

and to do a great work in the world;

but we shall count in the final audit

not by the measure of our capacity, our business, our energy,

but of the tenacity and vitality of our faith and our love.

~Richard Roberts~

Blessings

Whoso draws nigh to God one step through doubtings dim,

God will advance a mile in blazing light to him.

~Unknown~

Blessings

When your own burden is heaviest,

you can always lighten a little some other burden.

At the times when you cannot see God,

there is still open to you this sacred possibility to show God;

for it is the love and kindness of human hearts through which the divine reality comes home to men,

whether they name it or not.

Let this thought, then, stay with you:

there may be times when you cannot find help,

but there is no time when you cannot give help.

~George S. Merriam~

Blessings

Dallas Arboretum

Ten Spiritual Tonics

Stop worrying.

Worry kills life.

Begin each day with a prayer.

It will arm your soul.

Control appetite.

Over-indulgence blogs body and mind.

Accept your limitations.

All of us can't be great.

Don't envy.

It wastes time and energy.

Have faith in people.

Cynicism sours the disposition.

Find a hobby.

It will relax your nerves.

Read a book a week

to stimulate imagination and broaden your view.

Spend some time alone,

for the peace of solitude and silence.

Try to want what you have,

instead of spending your strength trying to get what you want.

~Abraham L. Feinberg~

Blessings

  Helleborus niger

Give the best you have received from the past

to the best that you may come to know in the future.

Accept life daily not as a cup to be drained

but as a chalice to be filled with whatsoever

things are honest, pure, lovely, and of good report.

Making a living is best undertaken as a part

of the more important business of making a life.

Every now and again

take a good look at something not made with hands --

a mountain, a star, the turn of a stream.

There will come to you wisdom and patience and solace

and, above all,

the assurance that you are not alone in the world.

~Sidney Lovett~

Blessings

Amaryllis blooming during Christmas holidays

A breath of prayer in the morning

Means a day of blessing sure;

A breath of prayer in the evening

Means a night of rest secure:

A breath of prayer in our weakness

Means a clasp of a mighty hand;

A breath of prayer when we're lonely

Means Someone to understand;

A breath of prayer in our sorrows

Means comfort and peace and rest;

A breath of prayer in our doubtings

Assures us the Lord knows best;

A breath of prayer in rejoicing

Gives joy and added delight,

For they that remember god's goodness

Go singing far into the night.

There's never a year nor a season

That prayer may not bless every hour,

And never a soul need be helpless

When linked with God's infinite power.

~Frances MicKinnon Morton~

New Year Blessings

A church in Charleston, 2009

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:

"Give me a light, that I may tread safely into the unknown!"

And he replied:

"Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.

That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way."

So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night.

And He led me toward the hills and the breaking of day . . .

from "God Knows" by Minnie Louise Haskins
Published 1908
Popularly known as "The Gate of the Year"

Blessings

In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the season,

may you also find a few still moments

to reflect upon the beauty and true meaning of Christmas.

Still, Still, Still

Still, still, still

Let all the earth be still

For Mary in her arms enfolding

Hope of all the world is holding

Still, still, still

Let all the earth be still.

Sing, sing, sing

Sweet angel voices sing

While Jesus lies in manger dreaming

Seraph choirs from heav'n are streaming

Sing, sing, sing

Sweet angel voices sing.

Light, light, light

Let all the earth be light

The holy star its news a-blazing

Sign of hope for nations raising

Light, light, light

Let all the earth be light.

Blessings - This Christmastide

I first heard this carol on a recording by the Lindenwood Christian Church Choir in Memphis, Tennessee.  It quickly became one of my favorites.

The words are so simple; the melody so sweet, the message so powerful.
I hope you enjoy this version by soprano, Jessye Norman.

This Christmas Tide
(Jessye's Carol)

Green and silver, red and gold
And a story born of old.

Truth and love and hope abide,
This Christmastide, this Christmastide.

Holly, ivy, mistletoe
And the gently falling snow.

Truth and love and hope abide,
This Christmastide, this Christmastide.

From a simple ox's stall
Came the greatest gift of all.

Truth and love and hope abide,
This Christmastide, this Christmastide.

Children sing of peace and joy
At the birth of one small boy.

Truth and love and hope abide,
This Christmastide, this Christmastide.

Let the bells ring loud and clear,
Ring out now for all to hear.

Truth and love and hope abide,
This Christmastide, this Christmastide.

Trumpets sound and voices raise
In an endless stream of praise.

Truth and love and hope abide,
This Christmastide, this Christmastide.

Green and silver, red and gold
And a story born of old.
~Words:  Jane McCulloch    /    Music:  Donald Fraser~

Season of Advent

Christmas is more than a time of music, merriment and mirth;

it is a season of meditation, mangers and miracles.

Christmas is more than a time of gaiety, greenery and gifts;

it is a season of wonder, worship and wisemen.

Christmas is more than a time of tinsel, trees and toys;

it is a season of preparation, prayers and peace.

Christmas is more than a time of festivities, family and friends;

it is a season of generosity, gladness and gratitude.

Christmas is more than a time of carols, cards and candy;

it is a season of dedication, direction and decision.

Christmas is more than Santa, stocking and surprises;

it is Christ, care and concern.

~William Arthur Ward~

Blessings of joy and hope to each of you, as we enter this season of Advent.

Blessings

Dallas Arboretum, Autumn 2011

I thank thee, God, that I have lived

In this great world and known its many joys;

The song of birds, the strong, sweet scent of hay

And the cooling breezes in the secret dusk,

The flaming sunsets at the close of day,

Hills, and the lonely, heather-covered moors,

Music at night, and moonlight on the sea,

The heat of waves upon the rocky shore

And wild, white spray, flung high in ecstasy;

The faithful eyes of dogs, and treasured books,

The love of kin and fellowship of friends,

And all that makes life dear and beautiful.

I thank Thee, too, that there has come to me

A little heartache and the loneliness

That comes with parting, and the word, "Goodbye,"

Dawn breaking after dreary hours of pain,

When I discoverd that night's gloom must yield

And morning light break through to me again.

Because of these and other blessings poured

Unasked upon my wondering head,

Because I know that there is yet to come

An even richer and more glorious life,

And most of all, because Thine only Son

Once sacrificed life's loveliness for me --

I thank Thee, God, that I have lived.

~Elizabeth Craven~

As we enter this week of Thanksgiving,

I am grateful for friends made here;

for those of you who still come to visit even though I have fallen off

the blogging wagon of late.

I hope to be more present in days to come.

Blessings

When you're criticizing others,

And are finding, here and there,

A fault or two to speak of,

Or a weakness you can't bear;

When you're blaming someone's weakness,

Or accusing some of pelf --

It's time that you went out

To walk around yourself.

There are lots of human failures

In the average of us all;

And lots of grave shortcomings

In the short ones and the tall;

But when we think of evils

Men should lay upon the shelves,

It's time we all went out

To take a walk around ourselves.

We need so often in this life

This balancing of scales;

This seeing how much in us wins

And how much in us fails;

But before you judge another

Just to lay him on the shelf --

It would be a spendid plan

To take a walk around yourself.

~Author Unknown~

Blessings

Suddenly I realized that the missing ingredient in my prayers

had been "with thanksgiving".
So I put down my Bible and spent time worshiping Him

for who He is and what He is.

This covers more territory than any one mortal can comprehend.

~Ruth Bell Graham~

Blessings

God is more interested in developing our character

than He is in manipulating our circumstances

to make us happy.

~Cynthia Heald~

Blessings

Life is a race.  Don't whimper if the track is rough and the goal is distant.

One day you shall reach it.

Life is a voyage.  Don't complain if the storms batter the hull or the winds

tatter to shreds the sails. 

One day you shall come to your haven.

Life is growth.  Don't find fault if the seed lies smothered and submerged

in the dark earth before it blooms and blossoms.

One day you shall have your harvest.

Life is a pilgrimage.  Don't falter on the road through self-pity because stones cut

your feet and leave your blood on the trail.

One day you will come to Immanuel's land.

The God who through the boundless sky guides the flight of the sparrow,

who builds the blind bird's nest,

will see to it that in his good time

you shall arrive.

~Joseph R. Sizoo~

Blessings

Give the best you have received from the past

to the  best that you may come to know in the future.

Accept life daily not as a cup to be drained

but as a chalice to be filled

with whatsoever things are honest, pure, lovely and of good report.

Making a living is best undertaken as a part

of the more important business of making a life.

Every now and again take a good look at something not made with hands --

a mountain, a star, the turn of a stream.

There will come to you wisdom and patience and solace and, above all,

the assurance that you are not alone in the world.

~Sidney Lovett~

Blessings

As you visualize the glorious world our Lord created,

may you be reminded that His greatest and most beloved creation is

you.

~Brenda Nixon~

Blessings

I wish you wondrous things that can't be tied up in ribbons.

I wish you dreams to take you to magical places.

I wish you togetherness with your loved ones.

I wish you soaring hopes for the days ahead.

And finally, lots of quiet time all to yourself,

when the grace of all that is good in your life

is sweetly celebrated within.

~Unknown~

Missing . . .

My Loss

Heaven's Gain

I thought of you today -- not once,

but oh so many times;

I felt my heart fill up with tears,

and hoped you wouldn't mind.

I struggle with your absence

and wish to see your face,

for now there is a void on earth

that time will not erase.

And yet I hear inside my dreams,

when stars unveil the night,

the angels whispering tenderly

that you are at their side.

And often they remind me

as I go about my day

that all my deepest love for you --

is just a prayer away.

~Deborah Lindsay O'Toole~

Seventeen years ago today, I held my mother's hand for the last time and whispered a final farewell.

I miss her so much.

She always knew what was on my mind and in my heart, even when no words were spoken.

But, it is the hugs and her gentle touch that I miss most.

Someday we will hug again, and never have to let go.

I love you this much and more, Mother.