From a decade ago…a timeless reminder!
God remains in you in order to hold you up.
You remain in God in order not to fall.
–St. Bede the Venerable
Good words we all need to hear (or at least I do)…and pretty much all the time!
Second Sunday in Advent: A Prayer for This Season
09 Dec 2018 2 Comments
in Uncategorized Tags: Christianity, Faith, Inspiration, Liturgical Year, Prayer, Reblogged
Yes, we’re now in the second week of Advent and life is just whizzing by–or at least it is for me and I suspect the same is true for you. If you could use some practical, realistic, non-guilt inducing inspiration for the season then this just might do the trick…
Prepare a way for you, Lord? I’ve got lots of work to do!
Help me prepare a way for you into my home, Lord:
help me find a place, a room, a corner, a chair
where you and I can meet each day to pray.
Perhaps I’ll put a candle there, with a Bible;
maybe a statue or a picture; a rosary or a prayer card:
something to mark the spot as the place I keep
to go each day to sit and rest, to take a deep breath,
to remember your presence and open my heart in prayer.
Help me prepare a way for you on my calendar,
an “appointment” each day;
even just ten minutes for you and me to get together,
to talk about the day, its ups and downs,
and get to know each other just a little better than yesterday.
Help me prepare a way for you to enter my thoughts, Lord.
When I’m trying to figure things out, nudge me
to ask for your guidance and counsel,
your Spirit and your wisdom,
when I’m making decisions and choices.
Help me prepare a way for you, Lord,
in my family and among my friends, at work and at school,
in my parish and in my neighborhood.
Help me prepare a way for you to come into the hearts
of those around me who are alone.
Help me prepare a way for you, Lord,
in the crazy rush of Christmas all around me.
Help me remember it’s your birthday
and that you should get some presents—from me.
Help me remember the poverty of your nativity:
make your way into my wallet and spend generously
on those whose needs are so much greater than my own.
Help me remember that of all the gifts I might receive,
none is greater than the love you have for me.
Help me prepare a way for you
to enter my life decisively, Lord.
In the quiet of my prayer, Lord,
help me clear the path you walk into my life, into my soul.
In the stillness of my prayer, Lord,
help me see you as you make your way towards me,
and show me that no matter the roadblocks I put up,
you’ll find a way to come, to enter,
and to fill me with your presence. Amen.
From Good Morning, Good God! by Fr. Austin Fleming, The Word Among Us Press, 2015, via
Lent is Here!
16 Feb 2018 Leave a comment
in Uncategorized Tags: Catholic, Intentional Living, Liturgical Year, Reblogged
Technically it’s been here since Ash Wednesday, but, in typical procrastinating fashion, I’m just now taking the time to share something that my readers who observe Lent might find helpful. It’s the best one-stop shopping (so to speak) for all things Lent, from the wonderful Karen Edmisten. Grab your favorite beverage, settle into a comfy chair, and prepare to be informed, encouraged, and generally motivated to embrace this season in all its unique splendor. Yes, splendor! Lent is my favorite liturgical season, although I’ll admit that last year I sucked at it due to a protracted bout with depression that left me just limping along with the basic observances but without my usual enthusiasm for them. Anyway, I pray you and yours have, as Karen’s youngest daughter once said, “a meaningful Lent.” Blessings to you!
http://karenedmisten.blogspot.com/2018/02/its-back-meaningful-lent.html
First Friday in Advent: A Prayer for this Season
02 Dec 2016 1 Comment
in Uncategorized Tags: Advent, Christmas, Inspiration, Intentional Living, Liturgical Year, Reblogged
Prepare a way for you, Lord?
I’ve got lots of work to do!
Help me prepare a way for you into my home, Lord:
help me find a place, a room, a corner, a chair
where you and I can meet each day to pray.
Perhaps I’ll put a candle there, with a Bible;
maybe a statue or a picture; a rosary or a prayer card:
something to mark the spot as the place I keep
to go each day to sit and rest, to take a deep breath,
to remember your presence and open my heart in prayer.
Help me prepare a way for you on my calendar,
an “appointment” each day;
even just ten minutes for you and me to get together,
to talk about the day, its ups and downs,
and get to know each other just a little better than yesterday.
Help me prepare a way for you to enter my thoughts, Lord.
When I’m trying to figure things out, nudge me
to ask for your guidance and counsel,
your Spirit and your wisdom,
when I’m making decisions and choices.
Help me prepare a way for you, Lord,
in my family and among my friends, at work and at school,
in my parish and in my neighborhood.
Help me prepare a way for you to come into the hearts
of those around me who are alone.
Help me prepare a way for you, Lord,
in the crazy rush of Christmas all around me.
Help me remember it’s your birthday
and that you should get some presents—from me.
Help me remember the poverty of your nativity:
make your way into my wallet and spend generously
on those whose needs are so much greater than my own.
Help me remember that of all the gifts I might receive,
none is greater than the love you have for me.
Help me prepare a way for you
to enter my life decisively, Lord.
In the quiet of my prayer, Lord,
help me clear the path you walk into my life, into my soul.
In the stillness of my prayer, Lord,
help me see you as you make your way towards me,
and show me that no matter the roadblocks I put up,
you’ll find a way to come, to enter,
and to fill me with your presence. Amen.
From Good Morning, Good God! by Fr. Austin Fleming, The Word Among Us Press, 2015, via
https://wau.org/resources/article/a_prayer_for_advent/
Thoughtful Thursday: I’m Not God
09 Jun 2016 Leave a comment
in Uncategorized Tags: Depression, Inspiration, Intentional Living, Reblogged, Recovery
Today’s post is from a friend who has nailed it. For anyone dealing with the “stuff” of life that can clog up your heart or mind, this essay–along with good counseling/therapy and ideally a support group like Celebrate Recovery–can help you begin to clear out the muck and remember (or perhaps see for the first time) some timely truths.
http://beckismswithasideofbacon.blogspot.com/2016/06/im-not-god.html
Getting Things Done with Chronic Illness: Lupus edition
08 Apr 2016 Leave a comment
in Uncategorized Tags: A Simple Life, Chronic illness, Chronic pain, favorite books, Inspiration, Mood Disorders, Reblogged, Writing
Today’s reblogged post is written by someone who knows the ropes when it comes to managing her lupus. Thanks to Sara Gorman’s innovative, comprehensive approach–detailed in her outstanding book, Despite Lupus: How to Live Well with a Chronic Illness (my all-time favorite book on living with chronic illness)–she has been able, over the years of learning to live with lupus, to write a book, blog (Despite Lupus), have two children, and start a home-based business related to her lifestyle (Sara Gorman’s Pillbags). Despite what you might think, she’s no superwoman but rather an extremely realistic person who has accepted her limits and learned how to manage her health so that it supports her life’s priorities, all one step at a time. I thought this post might appeal to my readers who are chronically ill and/or are writers who are chronically struggling with finding time to write.
http://despitelupus.blogspot.com/2016/04/finding-time-to-manage-lupus-just-put.html
Writers’ Wednesday
07 Oct 2015 Leave a comment
in Uncategorized Tags: Habits, Reblogged, Writing
At long last I resume this supposedly weekly feature with a reblogged post that is particularly apropos to my absence:
Writer’s block happens to me for a number of reasons but the biggest is when I’m stuck or overwhelmed in multiple other areas of my life and I get out of the habit and find it hard to reboot. I hope these ideas will help my fellow writers out there, regardless of what triggers your writer’s block. And if you have a favorite trick you’d like to share I’d be honored to see it in the combox. Write on!
Do not be afraid
03 Sep 2015 Leave a comment
in Uncategorized Tags: Inspiration, Perfectionism, Reblogged
An excellent summary and reminder for all of us from my favorite blogger: we are imperfect but are loved by a perfect and awesome God.
It happened that he was standing by the lake of Genesareth, at a time when the multitude was pressing close about him to hear the word of God; and he saw two boats moored at the edge of the lake; the fishermen had gone ashore, and were washing their nets. And he went on board one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to stand off a little from the land; and so, sitting down, he began to teach the multitudes from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, Stand out into the deep water, and let down your nets for a catch. Simon answered him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and caught nothing; but at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had done this, they took a great quantity of fish, so that the net…
View original post 516 more words
Writers’ Wednesday: Birth
02 Sep 2015 2 Comments
in Uncategorized Tags: Creativity, Poetry, Reblogged, Writing
This seems a fitting piece of verse for today, dedicated to writers everywhere.
Huddled Masses
31 Aug 2015 Leave a comment
in Uncategorized Tags: Brotherhood, Intentional Living, Reblogged
In my opinion, my guest blogger nails it.
Source: Huddled Masses
Be You Very Well 