Brother Lawrence (Sunday)

 Brother Lawrence 

1614-1691

                               Brother Lawrence, born Nicholas Herman, a lowly and unlearned man, 

who, after having been a footman and soldier, was admitted a Lay Brother 

among the barefooted Carmelites at Paris in 1666, and was afterwards known

 as "Brother Lawrence."   Despite his lowly position in life and the priory, his 

character attracted many to him. He had a reputation for experiencing profound

 peace and visitors came to seek spiritual guidance from him. The wisdom he

 passed on to them, in conversations and in letters, would later become the 

basis for the book, The Practice of the Presence of God. 

"In order to know God, we must often think of Him; 

and when we come to love Him, we shall then also 

think of Him often, for our heart will be with our treasure."

"We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, 

who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with 

which it is performed." 

"Lift up your heart to Him, sometimes even at your meals, 

and when you are in company; the least little 

remembrance will always be acceptable

to Him. You need not cry very loud; 

he is nearer to us than 

we are aware of." 

(courtesy of:)

http://christian-quotes.ochristian.com/Brother-Lawrence-Quotes/

Sunday (Easter)

Could life so end, half told; its school so fail?

                                                     Soul, soul, there is a sequel to thy tale!

~Robert Mowry Bell

On Easter Day the veil between time and eternity thins to gossamer.  

~Douglas Horton

But from this earth, this grave, this dust,My God shall raise me up, I trust.  

~Walter Raleigh

He takes men out of time and makes them feel eternity.  

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart for giving me your life, Jesus. 


To you and your loved ones, may you have a joyous Easter. 

Sunday (Redeeming Ruth)

"Where you go, I will go; 

where you lodge, I will lodge; 

your people shall be my people, 

and your God my God. 

Where you die, I will die-

there will I be buried."

~Ruth

"All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the

death of your husband has been fully told me, and how

 you left your father and mother and your native

land and came to a people that you did not know before. 

May you have a full reward from the LORD, the God of Israel, 

under whose wings you have come for refuge" 

~Boaz

The book of Ruth is one of my favorite 

stories found in the Bible.

(Thank you to Mars Hill Church for

bringing this story to life in,

Redeeming Ruth.)

http://marshill.com/media/redeemingruth

Sunday (Amazing Grace)

Amazing Grace

John Newton (1725-1807)

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snare

I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.

When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.

(Photos courtesy of: weheartit)

To hear the story of John Newton:

http://marshill.com/media/rebels-guide-to-joy/the-rebels-guide-to-joy-in-conflict/john-newton-bio

Sunday (Laughter)

Last night I couldn't sleep so I turned on my computer and I found a comedian to listen to.

I sat on my bed, in the dark and laughed and laughed...it felt wonderful. 

“Through humor, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it."

~Bill Cosby

“The human race has only one really effective weapon and that is laughter.”

~Mark Twain

I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose.  

~Woody Allen

Laughter is the shortest distance between two people. 

 ~Victor Borge

(photos courtesy of:weheartit) 

Sunday (Heaven)

"The things that began to happen after that were so great and so beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us, this is the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: Now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read; which goes on forever. 

In which every chapter is better than the one before." 

~C.S. Lewis The Last Battle (The Chronicles of Narnia)

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying 

and pain will be no more." Revelation 21:4 

(Photos courtesy of:weheartit) 

Sunday

Nothing can tear us from

The grip of His mighty love

We've only glimpsed, His vast affection

heard whispers of, His heart and passion

It's pouring down...

His love is deep,

His love is wide

And it covers us

His love is fierce,

His love is strong

It is furious

His love is sweet,

His love is wild

And its waking hearts to life

The Father loves and sends His Son

The Son lays down His life for all

He calls us now, His sons and daughters

He's reaching out...

 and its waking hearts to life

He is waking hearts to life

He is waking hearts to life

(song: Furious by Jeremy Riddle

photos courtesy of: weheartit)

Sunday

For some reason I was thinking of this excerpt from "Blue Like Jazz" this morning.

It has become one of my most favorite parts of this book. 

"A guy I know named Alan went around the country asking ministry leaders questions. One visit he made to a man named Bill Bright, the president of a big ministry. Alan said he was a big man, full of life, who listened without shifting his eyes. A final question, he asked Dr. Bright what Jesus meant to him. Alan said Dr. Bright could not answer the question. He said Dr. Bright just started to cry. He sat there in his big chair behind his big desk and wept. 

When Alan told that story I wondered what it was like to love Jesus that way. I wondered, quite honestly, if Bill Bright was just nuts or if he really knew Jesus in a personal way, so well that he would cry at the very mention of His name. I knew then that I would like to know Jesus like that, with my heart, not just my head. "

(photos courtesy of:weheartit. 

excerpt:"Blue Like Jazz" by Donald Miller)

Sunday

The Lord is my shepherd, 

I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down

in green pastures, he leads

me beside quiet waters, 

he restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of 

of righteousness for his

name's sake.

Even though I walk through

the valley of the shadow of death

I will fear no evil, for you are

with me (with me... with me...

with me) your rod and your 

staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me 

in the presence of my enemies. 

You anoint my head with oil; 

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will 

follow me all the days of my life, 

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord 

forever...forever...forever.

~The Bible: Psalm 23

(photos courtesy of:weheartit)