…on passing through the waters…

Posted on March 3, 2013 by Virginia

It’s really late & Virginia the Blogger has been Out All Day (& Evening) so here are a few Favorite Verses that Help when the waters of difficulties pound the shores of our lives…

Niagara Falls (from underneath) VLW

Niagara Falls (from underneath) VLW

“But now thus says the Lord, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel:  Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour. “ Isaiah 43:1-3

Tel Aviv sunset (2)The thing about our faith – even when pounded by the gushing waters of life’s challenges, as pain & heartbreak threaten to drown the love in our hearts & overwhelm our joy – God HAS redeemed us, each one, & calls us by our Name: 

BELOVED OF GOD

Thus we can walk through the waters – gushing, rushing, pushing – & not be overwhelmed  with God at our side strengthening us to face the tide…

grace, peace & redemption

Virginia : )

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Quickie Quote: …passing through difficulties…

Posted on March 2, 2013 by Virginia

We all face difficulties & challenges of one size or another… but ’tis hard sometimes knowing What To Do.  Here’s a quick thought from a favorite saint…

Monument Valley under

“We are too little to be able to always rise above difficulties. Well, then, let us pass beneath them.”   Saint Thérèse of Lisieux

Monument valley under 2

And, if the path underneath is a Bit Too Hard to tunnel through, why not ask God for the grace to manage a path Through The Difficulties?

grace, peace & challenge busters

Virginia : )

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…a bit of Yellowstone (&Thomas à Kempis…)

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Virginia

Here’s a cool pic taken in Yellowstone Park awhile back…WY 10 Yellowstone falls (2)“God who is eternal, infinite, supremely mighty, does great & unfathomable things in heaven and in earth, and there is no understanding His wonderful works.  If the works of God could easily be grasped by human understanding they could not be called wonderful or too great for words.”   Thomas à Kempis

Now, ’tis grand to see such an amazing waterfall as a mighty work of God… but here’s a thought for this Friday in Lent – isn’t it also grand to see the Mighty Works of God in each other? … & maybe even ourselves? that we are ALL Mighty Works of our Creator whether we are pink, purple, green or blue – or any betwixt & between hue.

…& then doesn’t it follow that it might take a bit of work to understand one another & if ’tis proven Difficult to understand, might it be a good idea to first start by Appreciating one another?

There are falls of uniqueness within our hearts that flow into our beings & influence our doings; falls of Love from the Creator of Love, God Almighty.

grace, peace & Mighty Works (of God!)

Virginia : )

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Pope Benedict XVI: humility & supernatural grace…

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Virginia

Today marked Pope Benedict XVI’s last day ‘in office,’ so to speak. Several of my evangelical friends & family have asked what i think of his resignation? actually this courageous step has increased my appreciation of Pope Benedict in a whole new way. For sure, he has been a great spiritual leader, encouraging all of us to greater devotion in Jesus Christ – but i am so impressed by the legacy of humility he now leaves by stepping down from such a powerful position.

papal audience with the POPE (2)HUMILITY… to separate the Person from the Position … & COURAGE to take a step of faith ‘back’ to a simple life as he faces the aging gauntlet before his eventual Graduation (the Heavenly kind.)  I pray that God will continue to strengthen Pope Benedict’s faith & provide extra doses of the supernatural grace that has flowed through him – especially these past few weeks.  May the Love of Christ & Power of the Holy Spirit enfold him & hold him ever blessed in the time he has left here with us.

“We always overestimate ourselves when we imagine we are completely indispensable and that the world or the Church depends on our frantic activity. Often it will be an act of real humility and creaturely honesty to stop what we are doing, to acknowledge our limits, to take time to draw breath and rest…

…Those who read Holy Scripture in a reflective spirit found this experience in Paul, translated into the profession of Christian hope: ‘I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.’  (Romans 8:18) The center of gravity of existence has shifted as a result of this certainty: now it lies at the morning of life, which means that it takes away the oppressiveness and the pressure of the moment and dissolves the tears of the evening by the power of a grace that lasts forever.”  

Pope Benedict XVI  (from “Seek That Which is Above”)

papal audience and beauty (2)

grace, peace & supernatural grace

Virginia

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WONDER’ful Wednesday: Mt. Tabor …(& the Glory of God!)

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Virginia

Please note the Very Cool Title that replaces ‘Wednesday Photographs’ as suggested last week by one of my dearest childhood friends, Julie Perez Boone: “‘WONDER’ful Wednesday.’ The reason, Julie explained, “That way we, the readers, can ‘wonder’ what beautiful picture or wonderful, thought-provoking quote or verse we’ll get to enjoy that day!!!”  

I like. I like VERY MUCH.  Thank you, Julie… altho methinks  there might be a wee challenge in mustering up WONDER’ful posts each Wednesday(~!) BUT, the gauntlet has been Thrown Down & now Virginia your humble blogger must Pick It Up!  : )

Mt Tabor monument (2)How appropriate to start with Mount Tabor where tradition places the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ  (our Gospel reading last Sunday, Luke 9:28-36.) This monument is what you see once you brave the steep, curvy road.  Our visiting priest Sunday commented how grateful he was to reach the top in One Piece after a harrowing taxi ride! – then afterward i told him, how about DRIVING that road? which i did several times.  Altho i lived in Bethlehem (a bit of a drive from Mt. Tabor, which is located in the Galilee of Israel) & spent most of my five years zooming around the West Bank & Gaza Strip, the agency i worked for also supported projects in Haifa, Nazareth & Ibillin, so i did traipse around there upon occasion, actually any occasion i could wrangle – ’tis So Very Beautiful in the Galilee & Haifa is a Very Cool City to visit(!)

Mt Tabor Church (2)Of course, anywhere anything important faith-wise happened in the Holy Land, there’s usually a church – like this one on the top of Mt. Tabor.  A Good place to say a few prayers (thanksgiving might be good, especially after safely reaching the top?)

But now, onto the Glory of God. On Sunday what struck me on that mountain with Jesus transfiguring was that Peter & James & John “saw His glory”… the humble carpenter, teacher & miracle worker transcended into Someone Divine, dazzling White with brilliant Light…’twas the Glory of God. Full stop. But it didn’t stop there…

Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam – yes, that’s the motto of the Jesuits (click here to read why i like them so much) , but it’s also for all of us:  To the Greater Glory of God. Whatever we do – Big Things & Small Things – we should think (& maybe pray?) about giving Glory to God.

“…Thine is the Kingdom, the Power & THE GLORY…”  We say it every day in the Lord’s Prayer, but do we think about what it MEANS?   We can be an ‘occasion of blessing’ for others or we can trample any pesky peons in our way…

Which way do you think gives Glory to  God?  hmmn.

Methinks whatever we’re doing – whether it’s mopping floors, changing diapers, leading a company of professionals, missionizing, teaching unruly teenagers, working a humdrum job or one on the cutting edge- how much love we put into the ‘doing’ of it is what increases the Glory Meter….

A favorite old hymn begins, “To God be the glory, great things He has done, so LOVED HE THE WORLD that He gave us His Son…”

LOVE!! LOVE!! LOVE!! LOVE!! LOVE!! LOVE!! LOVE!! LOVE!!

Mt Tabor glory nearby (2)…& as you continue traipsing about near Mt. Tabor, you might come to this outlook that has definite WONDER’ful possibilities…

“THE GLORY OF GOD IS THE HUMAN PERSON FULLY ALIVE.”
St. Irenaeus of Lyons

grace, peace & LIVING GLORY

Virginia : )

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..prayerful poetry from AMY CARMICHAEL…

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Virginia

Amy Carmichael devoted her life to missions in India & along the way stood up for injustices she encountered by Doing Something About them – namely, starting orphanages for girls & boys who were rescued from forced prostitution. (click here to read more about her life..)  She also wrote many books & songs … & she is one of my dear Mama’s absolutely FAVORITE writers & role models.  So, today here’s a bit of poetry from this great woman of courageous faith…

“From prayer that asks that I may be
Sheltered from winds that beat on Thee,
From fearing when I should aspire,
From faltering when I should climber higher.
From silken self, O Captain, free
Thy soldier who would follow Thee.

From subtle love of softening things
From easy choices, weakenings
Not thus are spirits fortified
Not this way went Thy Crucified
From all that dims Thy Calvary
O Lamb of God, deliver me!

Give me the love that leads the way,
The faith that nothing can dismay,
The hope no disappointment tires,
The passion that will burn like fire.
Let me not sink to be a clod.
Make me Thy fuel, O Flame of God.”

     AMY CARMICHAEL (1867-1951)
(From ‘Prayer That Asks’)

grace, peace & inspirational fuel

    Virginia : )

p.s. one of my Mama’s favorite Amy Carmichael books (& mine) is her “Rose from Brier” where she documents the challenges of illness & pain in the context of her experiences & faith (she was bedridden for more than 20 years of her ministry.)

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Bernard of Clairvaux quote: … scepters & hoes…

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Virginia

Once again ’tis late & Virginia the Blogger must needs get her beauty sleep (!! – that’s a joke, but sleep is Rather Nice when you can get some, especially that rare-around-here uninterrupted premium pillow time…)

SO, here’s a quote from that great Cistercian, St. Bernard of Clairvaux:

“Learn the lesson that, if you are to do the work of a prophet, what you need is not a scepter but a hoe.”

Tanzania Happily Hoeing in the Maize (2)

grace, peace & busy hoes

   Virginia : )

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…perplexity & prayer….

Posted on February 24, 2013 by Virginia

Once again it’s LATE (or ‘early’ depending on your perspective!) & of course, Virginia the Blogger had plotted to share a picture of Mt. Tabor (re: the Gospel today of the Transfiguration).. but since that picture must be FOUND (it’s around here somewhere, but not, as hoped, already scanned into The Computer…) we shall just have to leave that for Another Day..

INSTEAD, here’s something kinda weird-ish that happened on the way driving home from church this evening.  Have you ever felt like the sky was falling out? Like, from beneath you? …when all those fears you scamper around just hit – BLAM –  & your heart all of sudden feels squashed under the weight of the weighty stuff weighing your spirits DOWN?

That’s seems like a Real Good Time to pray… so, after a few frantic moments fervently Asking God For Help… you know what?  it was like Scripture tennis… verse after verse pinged back at each specific Downer, with the Grand Slam from Proverbs:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart & lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, & HE WILL DIRECT YOUR PATHS.”  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

amen. … & so my heart said, “AMEN”… & the Dark Clouds Lifted & there was joy, instead… Kind of like the flowers in this pic with desolation all around.

WY5 Iron Spring Creek (2)
“Trouble & perplexity drive us to prayer, and prayer driveth away trouble & perplexity.”  Philip Melanchthon (1497-1560)

grace, peace & PRAYER(s)

     Virginia : )

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…a few quickie quotes….

Posted on February 23, 2013 by Virginia

After looking after my sickie brother most of the week, now there’s a sickie sister in the house (!) so here are a few quickie quotes on this Lenten Saturday to contemplate from one of my favorite authors, Madeleine L’Engle..

“God calls us to collaborate with Divine Purpose…but we cannot do it ourselves, we need Everlasting Love, pushing, nudging, if not outright shoving.”

“Perhaps the City of God is not so much a place in space, as a place in the heart.”

“Ultimately forgiveness is a gift of grace rather than an act of will… forgiveness is finally a matter of the heart..”

Madeleine L’Engle (from ‘The Rock That Is Higher’)

Michelangelo hand of Godgrace, peace & quickie quotes

    Virginia :  )

(*picture from Michelangelo’s “Creation” in the Sistine Chapel)

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Wednesday Photograph: life .. & FLAMINGOS!!

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Virginia

Once again it’s Wednesday photographs on Thursday.  Methinks (given how often Weds photos find their posting places Later In The Week) ’tis a good idea to maybe present “Weekly Photos”… ?? sounds boring (the title, that is) – suggestions (anyone? anyone?)*

(‘twould be hard to go ‘wordless,’ as in ‘wordless wednesdays’) since i often add a quote  – ’tis hard to pass up an opportunity.. like today!)

Ngorogoro crater flamingos (2)

“Life is a gift to be grateful for & not a property to cling to.” 

Henri Nouwen

so, what do Flamingos have to do with Life? just look at them! so gorgeously ALIVE with color & pizazzz… not clingy at all, at all!  & then, aren’t we glad to be alive to see them – is that not a gift from God?  …& are we not So Very Grateful for this gift?

If not, start being grateful.

LIFE IS A GIFT!

grace, peace & Flamingos

    Virginia :  )

(* remember the movie,  Ferris Beuller’s Day Off?!)

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