Good Morning Everyone
Today gives us a break in our busy schedules...hopefully a time to do something that you love.
Scriptures that give promises of God
He went on to open their understanding of the Word of God, showing them how to read their Bibles this way. He said, “You can see now how it is written that the Messiah suffers, rises from the dead on the third day, and then a total life-change through the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in his name to all nations—starting from here, from Jerusalem! You’re the first to hear and see it. You’re the witnesses. What comes next is very important: I am sending what my Father promised to you, so stay here in the city until he arrives, until you’re equipped with power from on high.”
Luke 24:45-49
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Saturday's Devotional
FAVOR
"For surely,
O Lord, you bless the
righteous;
you surround them
with your favor as with a shield."
Psalm 5:12
Most of us in life
seek the favor of others. We think it will help bring us fame and
fortune, power or prestige.
Ah, the favor of
God! That is the gift Christian believers already have from Him -- favor
that really means something and counts. He surrounds us with His favor as
with a shield. That means we're not only blessed but protected.
This is one of the
most comforting and yet empowering passages of Scripture.
His favor is our
shield forever.
Written by
Carol Steficek
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The Serenity Prayer
This prayer is attributed to Reinhold Neibuhr,
this profoundly simple threefold request to the Lord
is one of the most popular modern day prayers around.
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.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
As it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
If I surrender to His Will;
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life
And supremely happy with Him
Forever and ever in the next.
Amen.
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
As it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
If I surrender to His Will;
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life
And supremely happy with Him
Forever and ever in the next.
Amen.
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FROM OUR WRITING TEAM
Coincidence or God Acting Anonymously?
What do you call it when something occurs in your life, and you wonder how or why did that happen? Like seeing someone unexpectedly you had been thinking about, or receiving telephone call or text message from someone you had been wanting to talk with; or seeing a certain saying or something along the street or in your home that especially resonates with you, bringing back good memories, and perhaps even motivating you to some meaningful action. Perhaps the experience gives you a feeling of being connected, excited, or inspired with a feeling that something bigger is happening out there than what we can see or logically explain.
We may call our meaningful events a coincidence, chance, synchronicity, or God acting anonymously, and perhaps feel intrigued with the feeling of magic, mystery, and surprise when life hands us something we can’t explain.
About three years ago I attended a lecture by Carol Lynn Pearson. She talked about her new book, “Embracing Coincidence.” She tells us when we experience meaningful coincidences that get our attention, they help us contact the magical, spiritual side of our lives, and she encourages us to be open, to pay attention and to have gratitude for each day.
Whenever my sister and I see a coin, especially a penny, on the ground, we always pick it up and say a big hello to our mom. Our mother died a few years ago, but when she was alive whenever she saw a coin on the ground, she picked it up, and reminded us in an excited voice, that it was good luck and it was a reminder to “Keep smiling.”
When our mom’s mind was kidnapped by Alzheimer Disease, she would still get a kick out of finding a coin on the ground, and the smile on her face as she bent over to pick up her treasure, was a treat to my sister and me.
It has been a fun and rewarding to me many times over the past few years when I have been at a place in my life when I felt overwhelmed, sad, and even vulnerable, to find a coin on the ground. As I pick it up, the magic works. I say, “Hi, Mom! Thank you.”
Talking with friends and family about their experiences with chance, coincidence, or whatever term you choose to label special happenings, is an interesting topic. A few weeks ago a friend of mine, Greg, told me a story about an experience he had recently. He was on a road trip with a couple of friends, and they drove through a small seaside town, and a church with a tall steeple stood out from the other buildings. Greg’s father had died a few months ago, and he had been dealing with the normal feelings of life review and loss, so when he saw the church he wanted to go inside and say a prayer. One of the other people with Greg is going through chemotherapy, and she was more than happy with the idea of taking time to visit the church.
They were pleased to find the front door open. Inside, they saw a small altar with an arrangement of votive candles for the offering of prayers. Greg lit a candle and then sat down to say a prayer. As he was praying, he became aware of a patch of sunlight streaming in through the tall narrow stain glass windows. He looked up towards the sunlight, and read the donor’s name at the bottom of the colorful window. The first two names, Thomas Robert , are Greg’s father’s first and middle name.
Greg said he felt like he received a message telling him everything was fine with his dad, and he felt a sense of calmness and love. I asked him if he told his mother about his experience, and he said, “Oh yes, I called her that evening.”
Carol Lynn Pearson believes that we need to be open and alert for those special coincidences in our lives. I think the season of Lent is a perfect time for us to be reminded to have gratitude and be more aware of everyday events, to be in the moment, and to nurture the spiritual side of our lives, living our faith.
If a meaningful coincidence happens to me, and I can’t explain how it happened, that’s fine with me. I say, take the moment, and wrap your heart around it .
Terry Tempest Williams states,
“Faith is the centerpiece of a connected life. It allows us to live by the grace of invisible strands. It is a belief in a wisdom superior to our own. Faith becomes a teacher in the absence of fact.”
Blessings,
Connie I. Clark
Connie I. Clark
From Corinne... My Friend, Carol, calls such occurrences "Coincigods."
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I am praying that each of you will have a wonderful day today, Saturday.
That you will be blessed in your going out and coming in this weekend.
That you will be blessed in your going out and coming in this weekend.
Blessings from
Corinne Mustafa
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