Take It, Open It, Welcome It, Claim it…

Happypizza: In spite of the shadows that have fallen across the world in the past year–be they economic, political, social or even personal–I wish that you will experience the true spirit of Christmas this year–  The spirit of joy, that lives within us no matter what the circumstances or obstacles;  The spirit of giving, seeing the need of others and responding to the best of our ability; The spirit of peace, true peace that lives in our hearts and helps us meet the storms of life with calmness, knowing that God is in control; The spirit of love, sincere love that sees each of those we come in contact with as someone who is worthy to be cared for, and the spirit and Gift of Christmas which God gave to the world through Jesus–the true reason for Christmas.

Merry Christmas to all and Happy Birthday Jesus!

Note: Below is an excerpt of a Christmas greeting written by an Italian painter/monk named Fra Angelico. I think the message is as comforting and applicable for this Christmas  as I’m sure it was hundreds of years ago.

Take it…it’s yours:

“There is nothing I can give you which you have not already; but there is much, very much, which, though I cannot give it, you can take. No heaven can come to us unless our hearts find rest in today. Take heaven: No peace lies in the future which is not hidden in this precious little instant. Take peace:

“The gloom of the world is but a shadow. Behind it, yet within our reach, is joy. There is radiance and courage in the darkness could we but see it; and to see, we have only to look. Life is so generous a giver, but we, judging its gifts by their coverings, cast them away as ugly or heavy or hard. Remove the covering, and you will find beneath it a living splendor, woven of love, and wisdom, and power. Welcome it, greet it, and you touch the angel’s hand that brings it.

“Everything we call a trial, a sorrow, a duty, believe me, that angel’s hand is there, the gift is there, and the wonder of an overshadowing Presence. Our joys, too, be not content with them as joys. They, too, conceal diviner gifts. Life is so full of meaning and purpose, so full of beauty beneath its covering, that you will find earth but cloaks your heaven. Courage, then, to claim it, that is all! But courage you have, and the knowledge that we are pilgrims wending through unknown country our way home.

“And so, at this Christmas time, I greet you, not quite as the world sends greeting, but with profound esteem and with the prayer that for you, now and forever, the day will break, and the shadow will flee away.”

—Giovanni da Fielsole (Fra Angelico) 1387-1455

Merry Christmas

Jesus’ gift of Christmas–read more…

Because God Loves Me

Happypizza: Here is a nice one! I came across this text in a book by Norman Wright called “Answer to Depression”. I thought this little segment was very encouraging.  It’s nice to be reminded that God is often not as hard on us as we are sometimes.
Cheers!

Yeah, even you...

Because God loves me He is slow to lose patience with me.

Because God loves me He takes the circumstances of my life and uses them in a constructive way for my growth.

Because God loves me He has no need to impress me with how great and powerful He is because He is God, nor does He belittle me as His child in order to show me how important He is.

Because God loves me He is for me. He wants to see me mature and develop in His love.

Because God loves me He does not send down His wrath on every little mistake I make, of which there are many.

Because God loves me, He does not keep score of all my sins and then beat me over the head with them whenever He gets the chance.

Because God loves me He is deeply grieved when I do not walk in the ways that please Him because He sees this as evidence that I don’t trust Him and love Him as I should.

Because God loves me He rejoices when I experience His power and strength and stand up under the pressures of life for His Name’s sake.

Because God loves me He keeps on working patiently with me even when I feel like giving up and can’t see why He doesn’t give up with me, too.

Because God loves me He keeps on trusting me when at times I don’t even trust myself.

Because God loves me He never says there is no hope for me; rather, He patiently works with me, loves me and disciplines me in such a way that it is hard for me to understand the depth of His concern for me.

Because God loves me He never forsakes me even though many of my friends might. Because God loves me He stands with me when I have reached the rock bottom of despair, when I see the real me and compare that with His beauty and love. It is at a moment like this that I can really believe that God loves me.

Yes, the greatest of all gifts is God’s perfect love!

True Love…

…suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is   not puffed up;
does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.*
…God is love.**

*I Corinthians 13:4-8a, 13
**1 John 4:8b

Can You Tell Me Why Disasters?

Happypizza: My deepest and sincerest prayers and condolences go out to all those who lost loved ones and/or suffered harm, injury or any kind of loss during the recent cyclone in Myanmar and/or earthquake in China.

I’ve been carefully following the news of the two recent natural (or as some say “unnatural”) disasters in both Burma and China. It is so sad and sobering to watch as the full scope of the desolation, which tragically resulted in the loss of an untold thousands of lives, unfolds before our eyes.

It’s real to me personally as I have been to Burma before and have friends in both China and Burma—who thankfully from what I’ve heard are all safe.

I will not get into the politics of the disaster….especially considering the one in Burma where it seems the horror of the disaster is compounded by the political situation. What I do want to write about and touch on is the “God factor” of these events or “acts of God” as natural disasters are often referred too. Especially the question: How could God allow these things to happen?

It seems that natural disasters cause many to lose hope and faith in God. I find it can also, strangely enough, strengthen my faith and hope in God!

You might wonder how I could find a natural disaster to be faith-building? Well, first off it’s helpful to start with a belief in a God of Love and a belief in an afterlife—this life is definitely (and I want to emphasize this point) definitely not the end!!

In short–I believe that death for the loving is not something to dread and fear. This physical life/existence is not eternal or final and we can look forward to the eternal life/existence beyond this life! So I feel no matter how tragic the circumstances are in are in our current physical reality, those who lives have ended and who have passed on to the next are in the loving hands of their Creator and what better place can you be then that? –Maybe it was his mercy?

If you want some further reading on how one can look at tragedies and disasters in the positive–click to read this dissertation below:

“Why Disasters?”

And for a compilation on comfort read here:

“God’s Promises of Comfort and Deliverance”

One addition–not long after I watched a report of both the disasters on the international news, I came across and listened to a old song titled “Can You Tell Me Why Disasters” written and sung by an artist named “Zac Lightman”. I liked it so much that I transcribed it from my MP3 player to my computer so I could post the lyrics with this post. I think the song’s message is as hauntingly applicable for today as it was when it was written over 20 years ago.

Here are the lyrics:

Can You Tell Me Why Disasters?

Why do the innocent seem to fall for no reason?
They say the good die young,
While the guilty go along
You must believe in Love
to truly understand.

It is the same question down through the ages
if God is love how could he let this be?
How could he allow the poor to suffer
and then let the guilty go free?

Although death is not a curse for the loving–
it’s a gateway from suffering and pain
It’s the mercy of God to end their sorrow
and a chance to start over again

Can you tell me why, why, why disasters?
Why do the innocent seem to fall for no reason?
They say the good die young
while the guilty go along
You must believe in Love
to truly understand

Lyrics by Zac Waxman

Please continue to keep the victims of these disasters in your prayers. Pray that help, relief and supplies will get to those who need it desperately and that those who survived will be taken care of and comforted. Please also pray for the commendable and laudable efforts of all those involved in the relief and rehabilitation work–for their strength, courage, skill, and protection while they are helping those who were affected.

Unrequited Love on Valentines?

Do you know what it is like?

So Valentines day is coming up…some have a significant love in their life and others don’t. This post will talk about the latter and more specifically those that are or will be experiencing unrequited love especially during Valentines day. Probably a good majority of us have gone through this somewhat difficult experience. I’m not sure how others deal with it, but it was devastating when I went through it!

When I went through a experience of unrequited love it was tough. For me this kinda situation is not a common occurrence but it did happen. It was very difficult to go through…and it was difficult to find something good about the situation.

Fortunately for me a good friend of mine was going through a very similar experience at the time—loving someone who did not love her in return—and that friend sent  me a beautiful prayer she wrote that I would like to post for you. Maybe you can relate to it if you are going through the turbulent and even traumatic experience that “unrequited love” can be.

A Prayer For Mothers

The other day I was reading a post by another blogger regarding some of the difficulties she was facing. Their little family was going through a crisis time and she was trying to be both an encouragement and support to her husband and keep their outlook in a positive light, without the children really knowing about it or having to carry the burden as well. This mother’s love for her husband and family and the tricky domestic management situation she was cheerfully facing, touched my heart and made me thank God for mothers—mine included—who so faithfully care for their family day after day, year after year, often without much fanfare, special recognition or praise. It reminded me of this little prayer and tribute, written some time ago by one of my friends, in honor of all our mothers. Here it is

A PRAYER FOR MOTHERS:

Dear Jesus, bless the mothers who sat up again last night, soothing their crying, colicky babies.

Bless the mothers who read the same favorite bedtime story night after night, even though they could recite it in their sleep.

Bless the mothers who keep a treasured collection of their children’s artwork, from the first scribble to the latest masterpiece.

Bless the mothers who help support their families even when it means going to work with spit-up on their blouses, diapers in their purses, and teething rings on their key chains.

Bless the mothers who cheer the child who scored the winning goal, and bless the mothers who cheer on the child who has never scored a goal.

Bless the mothers who care for their sick children, treasuring the extra time together rather than begrudging the extra work.

Bless the mothers who daily teach their children the ways of love, peace, forgiveness, tolerance, and humility by their example.

Bless the mothers who teach their children to fold their hands in prayer, even before they can say a word.

Bless the mothers who acknowledge their mistakes and ask You to make up for their lacks.

Bless the mothers who never tire of praying for their children.

Bless the mothers who aren’t a picture of perfection but a personification of love.

Thank You, Lord, for mothers—old pro, rookie, or soon-to-be, single or married, rich or poor, mothers of their own children or mothers to the motherless—because without them we would not know that most beautiful thing, a mother’s love.

–Bonita Hele

A Gift From Jesus–Merry Christmas!

Happypizza: Here is a beautiful message someone received from the Lord while in prayer. I hope it warms your heart and fills you with Jesus’ wonderful gift of love and peace. Please don’t hesitate to pray the prayer at the end may it change your life just as it did mine. God bless and a Merry Christmas to you all!

Your Free Gift from Jesus

My love is always there for you any place, any time, day or night. My love will descend to any depth to save, go any length to rescue. It knows no stopping place; it knows no limit in giving. I give you My love, infinite and true.

My love is My Christmas gift for you. It’s always been there for you. Will you take it now? I can’t promise you will never have heartaches, disappointments or worries as you walk down the road of life. But I can promise that I’ll give you encouragement, instruction, guidance, wisdom, and the strength you need to come through. I promise to never leave your side. Together we’ll survive any difficulty, overcome any weakness, hurdle any obstacle. My love is power–power to do and power to be.

I know, I love, and I care for you, as if you were the only one in the world. That’s the reason I came to earth on Christmas day–to give My great love to you. I want you to have abundant love in your life. I want you to be free from sorrow. You may ask, “In these modern times so grim and bleak, who could possibly care so much for me? In these days when so many people’s love has grown cold, who can I really trust? Where do I look? Who do I believe? This sounds so good, but is it a sham? How could anyone have so great a love, and gifts, no less, and all for free?” Well, all I ask is that you give Me a chance. Try Me and see. Just hold out your hand, and let Me place My gifts of love there. Don’t worry, simply receive, and in the end, you will see just how happy you’ll be.

Come talk to Me, anywhere, anytime, anyplace, any way you prefer. Talk to Me out loud, or whisper softly if you like. Speak to Me in words, or just send Me your thoughts, signaling Me from your heart in the rush of the day or the stillness of the night. Any way you feel comfortable is fine with Me. You can tell Me anything you want, and I will understand. I’m here for you, with a listening ear, sympathy and understanding.

All you have to do is say yes. Just open your heart, reach out and receive. Call on Me and I’ll come to your aid with My free gifts, My Christmas gifts for you. Just say,

“I take You, Jesus. I want all Your gifts, and a life that is full and free. Give me Your gifts of love, joy and peace. Show me the way. Show me how to live, and how to act along my way. I want your true gift of love–love to relieve my own inner longings, and love to brighten the lives of others and help them find true happiness. Please forgive me for my sins, Jesus, and come into my heart. “

It’s just that simple. I’ll do the rest.

Please don’t forget. Don’t wait too long. I have wonderful things in store for you, if you’ll give Me a chance. And when your life on earth is done, I’ll bring you home with Me–home to My country, Heaven, where there is no pain, no sorrow, confusion or war. Here there is no fear, no hatred, no greed or strife, only My free, abundant gifts of love, and much, much more. All you have to do is say yes and accept them. I’ll be waiting.

Love,

Jesus