The daily thread.

[MarleneJ]

This is the verse God gave me years ago to encourage me during a time of great suffering, and for my ministry with the hurting and broken.

"More than that, we rejoice in our suffering, knowing that suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character and character produces hope. And hope does not disappoint, because God's love has been poured out through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." Romans 5:3-5

 

[Hearingheart]

Sounds like a good paraphrase of the sentiment from a number of Psalms.

Just my heart singing

 

[Pilgrim]

This is the verse God gave me years ago to encourage me during a time of great suffering, and for my ministry with the hurting and broken.

"More than that, we rejoice in our suffering, knowing that suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character and character produces hope. And hope does not disappoint, because God's love has been poured out through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." Romans 5:3-5

Amen. "...But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." —Romans 5:6-8

 

[faroukfarouk]

Just my heart singing

"O may my heart in tune be found, Like David's harp of solemn sound !" (Isaac Watts)

 

[Doug Melven]

I waited patiently for the LORD and He heard my cry.
He dragged me up out of the horrible pit, out of the miry clay.
He set my feet upon a rock.
He established my steps.
He put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto God.
Many shall see it and turn to the LORD.
Psalm 40:1-3
I think on these verses often. It is then I sing the song He has put in my mouth.

 

[Mountainmike]

Making it personal...

My thought of the day. It seems to me prayer and worship can be too detached -

The Lords Prayer we say
"give us our daily bread"..sounds almost like an order
"forgive us our trespasses as we forgive"...sounds like trying to do a business deal.

A simple word can make it personal
"please give us our daily bread"
"please forgive us our..."

As catholics we do some formal meditations with prayers. Take for example the "stations of the cross", which are similar to "the sorrowful mysteries". In trying to remember and relive the passion in your mind it is too easy to make it like watching the Mel Gibson movie...as though we imply "look what those rotten horrible pharisees did you Lord" and worse the pride "but we christians are better than that". But thats the problem. Our sins put our Lord on the cross. We - ourselves - put the nails in his palms.

Now imagine in meditation it was you personally holding the whip. And some of the lashes on the bloodied body of our Lord, you personally put there. We queued up to do it, with every sin you took one more turn with the whip.. Repentance becomes far more real.

Just a thought, that occurred to me saying the sorrowful mysteries.

 

[faroukfarouk]

I waited patiently for the LORD and He heard my cry.
He dragged me up out of the horrible pit, out of the miry clay.
He set my feet upon a rock.
He established my steps.
He put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto God.
Many shall see it and turn to the LORD.
Psalm 40:1-3
I think on these verses often. It is then I sing the song He has put in my mouth.

I like to read Psalm 40 in conjunction with Ephesians chapters 1 and 2.

 

[W2L]

Making it personal...

My thought of the day. It seems to me prayer and worship can be too detached -

The Lords Prayer we say
"give us our daily bread"..sounds almost like an order
"forgive us our trespasses as we forgive"...sounds like trying to do a business deal.

A simple word can make it personal
"please give us our daily bread"
"please forgive us our..."

As catholics we do some formal meditations with prayers. Take for example the "stations of the cross", which are similar to "the sorrowful mysteries". In trying to remember and relive the passion in your mind it is too easy to make it like watching the Mel Gibson movie...as though we imply "look what those rotten horrible pharisees did you Lord" and worse the pride "but we christians are better than that". But thats the problem. Our sins put our Lord on the cross. We - ourselves - put the nails in his palms.

Now imagine in meditation it was you personally holding the whip. And some of the lashes on the bloodied body of our Lord, you personally put there. We queued up to do it, with every sin you took one more turn with the whip.. Repentance becomes far more real.

Just a thought, that occurred to me saying the sorrowful mysteries.

Thank you.

 

[W2L]

May the Lord be with us today, helping us to walk in the spirit, and letting our light shine.

 

[brinny]

May the Lord be with us today, helping us to walk in the spirit, and letting our light shine.

Amen.

 

[brinny]

 

[brinny]

Shine, Jesus shine!!!

 

[W2L]

Shine, Jesus shine!!!

Amen sister.

 

[brinny]

 

[Hearingheart]

My daughters and I were talking about this last night. How life can be hard sometimes bringing the unexpected, the sorrows and sufferings that are a part of living. Sometimes I want to give advice, all that I have learned so far, to give each one a formula and step by step instruction on how not to be crushed by the weight of the storm. How to keep their balance and maintain joy and peace in the midst of the swirling winds that sometimes come our way. Really, it's just as simple as resting in God's hands.

It is possible to have joy and peace in the storm and choose to find the beauty that surrounds you. The ability to rise above the storms of life is practiced before the storm hits. You prepare your heart and mind by practicing and walking in God's loving presence because that's where freedom comes from. Cultivating a relationship with Him and living through Him will be the boat needed during the flood.

 

[brinny]

My daughters and I were talking about this last night. How life can be hard sometimes bringing the unexpected, the sorrows and sufferings that are a part of living. Sometimes I want to give advice, all that I have learned so far, to give each one a formula and step by step instruction on how not to be crushed by the weight of the storm. How to keep their balance and maintain joy and peace in the midst of the swirling winds that sometimes come our way. Really, it's just as simple as resting in God's hands.

It is possible to have joy and peace in the storm and choose to find the beauty that surrounds you. The ability to rise above the storms of life is practiced before the storm hits. You prepare your heart and mind by practicing and walking in God's loving presence because that's where freedom comes from. Cultivating a relationship with Him and living through Him will be the boat needed during the flood.

Amen. This is very encouraging and edifying, thank you. It reminds me of the lyrics of a song i've been listening to titled "Worn":

 

[brinny]

i sooooo need to draw near to God, especially at times like this when such un-rest threatens to take over my thoughts, heart, and mind.

 

[W2L]

i sooooo need to draw near to God, especially at times like this when such un-rest threatens to take over my thoughts, heart, and mind.

Wait on the Lord, wait i say on the Lord.

 

[brinny]

Wait on the Lord, wait i say on the Lord.

That requires being "still", doesn't it? LOL!

Yes, i need to "be still" and "wait on the Lord".

Amen.

 

[W2L]

That requires being "still", doesn't it? LOL!

Yes, i need to "be still" and "wait on the Lord".

Amen.

Yes mam.