Tag Archives: Prayer and Meditation

The Kindness of God’s Acceptance

God’s acceptance of me boggles my mind, when I think about it.

Too often, I don’t – think about it, I mean. Instead, I hide from myself,or others, or Him. Yet hiding doesn’t change reality. No matter where I hide, He is there, with His arms open wide to me. He is fully aware of my faults and failings, and loves me lavishly in the middle of them. (BTW, one of the best ways to hide from yourself or God is to stay too busy.)

In order to receive the full measure of God’s acceptance, I must stop each day and remember that God knows my every thought before it becomes a word or an action, and is intimately acquainted with all my habits.

This is gritty reality. He accepts me knowing every unkind word I have uttered, every selfish act I have done, or will do. Even more daunting, God accepts me knowing the ugliness of the motives behind some of my words and actions, those things often hidden from others. He accepts me with my petulance, pride, manipulation, greed, impatience, annoyance. It boggles the mind.

You would think this would be depressing, but in truth, it is quite the opposite.

The understanding that finally someone knows me completely and loves me unconditionally, empowers me to accept myself with all my faults and failings, an to give my true self to Him each day, and allow Him to make me whole once again.

I can start each day:

Celebrating who I am – His precious child, made perfect by Him.
Rejoicing where I am – on His path to growth and wholeness, with Him showing me the way.
Embracing what I am called to do – love Him, others and myself – in the unique way He created me.

How are you starting your days? enclosedbehindbefore_lg

By Lydia Floren

The Kindness of Receiving

One of the kindest things I can do

with my life, is to choose to receive the love of God everyday. I know that seems contradictory, but just hear me out:

Taking the time each morning to receive God’s love, frees me to be the person I am meant to be. It allows me to shed

insecurities,
selfishness,
restlessness,
unforgiveness, and
self-condemnation.

Being loved also energizes me. It moves me to

love My Heavenly Father well.
love my neighbor better.
love myself more.

And, as I live in my belovedness, I can’t help but act on it. Experiencing God’s love ignites a fire in me to love those around me, and to act kindly towards others (for more about this, read Breathing In!). This may be in the form of a smile, a shared joke, a word of encouragement, a listening ear, a gift (delivered in secret, if possible), or a note.

Heart-Kindness

But even these aren’t the most far-reaching acts of kindness I can perform. The most precious acts of kindness are heart-kindnesses – decisions of the will. Heart-kindnesses can look like

withholding judgment,
giving grace,
forgiving,
letting go,
or apologizing.

Heart-kindnesses shape my attitude, my outlook on life. The more heart-kindnesses I choose to do, the more profoundly my outlook on life is transformed. And a joyful attitude is the most profound kindness I can give to the world. It affects every word I say and action I do.

The Fruit of the Spirit named “Kindness” will be manifested in my life only to the degree that I allow God’s love to move through me, prompting me to heart-kindnesses, transforming my attitude, and moving me to acts of service.

Has someone been particularly kind to you recently? We’d love to hear from you!

By Lydia Floren

Photo by procsilas

Waking Up to Beauty

Yesterday morning I woke up to this:

This morning I woke up to this:

Each view is

breathtaking, dazzling, unique, captivating, lovely.

Created and adored by our Heavenly Father.

Every day, I wake up to me, in my skin, with my unique blend of personality, temperament, gifts, talents, DNA, history. Whether I recognize it or not,

I am

breathtaking, dazzling, unique, captivating, lovely.

I am created and adored by my Heavenly Father.

I am beloved.

You and I

wake up to beauty every day…

and then we open our eyes.

“I am fearfully and wonderfully made and my soul knows it very well.”

Breathing In

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I have done mouth to mouth resuscitation many times in my medical career. I have performed it on apneic newborns, overdose victims, and heart attack sufferers. Like anything, mouth to mouth is pretty routine when you have done it enough, kind of like riding a bike, but it is important to know the process. To do it effectively, each of the following steps must be followed, and each done in sequence:

Check to see that nothing is obstructing airflow into the patient’s lungs.
Position the neck so the airway is straight, and pinch the patient’s nose.
Take a deep breath in.
Seal your mouth over the patient’s mouth, and blow.
Observe the patient’s chest, to be sure it rises and falls.

It is amazing how effective this simple little procedure is, and how often it has saved a person’s life.

God breathes life into us in a different way, a more enduring way, and helps us in turn to breathe life into those around us. Jesus said:

I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10 NASB)

I want to live life abundantly, and help others to do the same, but often my efforts have seemed futile or ineffective. Even worse, they seemed to drain me. This important truth is changing my life:

In order to give love to others, I must first receive love from God. I must take a deep breath in—soak in God’s presence, and His love for me personally. The more life-giving love I receive, the more I have, and the more I have to give.

Step #3: Take a deep breath in.

How does one take a deep breath in of God’s presence and love?

This is what has worked for me so far:

Make space in my life to be still and quiet, usually in the early morning.
Remember that everything in life, including life, is a gift from the father above.
Focus on the fact that God is with me, and within me, and loves me, and is taking care of me.
Thank God for who He is, what He is doing, what He has done, and what He will do.
Listen for His still small voice in the morning.
Be aware of the many ways He chooses to communicate with me throughout the day.
Make it your number one priority. This is probably the most important suggestion I can give. On your “to do” list, put this item at the top every day:

Be loved.

Be loved.

Breathe in God’s life-giving love every day.

It is the most important thing you can do.

His love will give you the joy-filled life you so desire. In turn He will empower you to breathe life into those around you.

We love, because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19 NASB)

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. (Job 33:4 NASB)

And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. (1 John 4:16 NASB)

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” (Jeremiah 31:3b NASB)

Share with us: How have you learned to breathe in God’s presence and love every day? What works for you?

A Prayer for the New Year, by Lydia Floren

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A Prayer for the New Year

by Lydia Floren

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is error, truth;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Lord, thank you for loving me through the words and actions of those around me. Thank you for loving me when you have sent someone to:

Lend a hand with a car stuck in snow.
Listen to a triumph or heartache.
Bring a meal.
Give an unexpected gift.
Write a message of hope.
Speak encouragement.
Give a hug.
Share a smile.

Thank you that we each have something to give, something that has been given to us, and that we each give to others in our own unique way.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Tune and polish me, and then play me with your Maestro’s touch. Lift a melody of your love through me, for those who cross my path.

Sarah McLachlan – “Prayer of St. Francis”

Crunch Time

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It’s crunch time. The week before Christmas, and for us Event-Planners (see The Perfect Holidays) there are thousand details to attend to before The Holidays. There are Christmas presents to wrap, groceries to buy, a house to clean, food to cook, relatives to see (or feel guilty about not seeing), Christmas tree to decorate, school programs to attend, teacher presents to send, cookies to bake, cards to address, and –in our house anyway–football to watch (how ‘bout them Packers?).

All those thoughts of peace and joy at the holiday have vanished as we round the curve for The Final Stretch. We are a jockey riding a horse named Holiday Expectations, high in the stirrups on the straightaway, whipping up momentum to carry us through to the finish. (And frankly at this point we don’t really care about winning, we just want to cross the line in one piece.)

And the last thing on our mind is quiet reflection.

Quiet reflection. [sigh]

An oasis. [ Big Sigh ]

A calm in the middle of the storm. [Big Sigh x 2]

A pipedream? [blink]

Our heart says:
Quiet reflection. Yes, this is what you need. This is what will set things right.

Our mind shouts:
This is not happening. Are you crazy? There is no time for this. There is way too much to do.

OK mind, HEAR THIS TRUTH:
You are too busy not to pray.

Now–In our busiest time– it is doubly important to stay committed to 30+ minutes a day connecting with God in solitude and silence.

God knows. (hellooooo. He IS GOD. He knows Everything.) He knows all the things on your to do list, and even some you forgot to write down. [Now don’t stop reading to start thinking about what these might be.] He knows what you expect of yourself and why, and what others (you think) expect of you. And He definitely knows your energy level and your limits usually MUCH better than you do.

He wants more for you, and less from you–less activity anyway. He wants different things. What he expects of you—what He is guiding you to do– is doable; it is less stressful, and way more fun. Jesus said

“Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.”

[Rest—doesn’t that sound wonderful?]

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 NASB)

Take a minute and just breathe in those words:

“Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Remind yourself: There is plenty of time to do in this day what He would have me do, without rushing.

Try THIS:
1. Find your to do list. Put everything you can think of on it.
2. Set it down (turn it over so you won’t keep glancing back at it), and pray:

Father I leave this list at Your feet. Please direct this day, and help me to know what you would have me do, what are the most important things. Direct this day. Thank you that you are within me, and will guide me in each step, including all the unexpected things that this day holds.

3. Get out a fresh page, and number it one to five. (No cheating – you can’t put for #2 “do everything on my other to do list.”)

TO DO:
1. 30+ minutes a day in God’s presence, soaking in His love, remembering His wisdom, seeking His guidance.
2. ____________
3. ____________
4. ____________
5. ____________

Pray:

Father, thank You that there is plenty of time to do in this day what You would have me do.

Thank you that you know my limitations of time and energy and endurance, even if/when I forget them.
Thank You that You will lead me to do the most important things, and lay aside those that are less crucial (although they may seem most urgent right now.)
Thank You that You accomplish what concerns me. That as I restore my soul in You, and fill up with Your presence, I fill up with Your peace and purpose and joy as well. I reclaim life, and reject worry and stress.
Thank You that I only have one person to please in life—You–and what you want is simple: my love and trust.
Thank You that You really do know what is best, and I can trust Your presence within me as You guide me this day.
Thank You that I am protected by You, even from my own compulsions. Help me to remember to live in Your care, to dwell in the shelter of the Most High.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalm 91:1 NASB)

Shine Your Heart with God’s Love

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I love silver. I have collected many pieces of silver over the years and have probably given away more than I own! Below is a note I have given some people with their gift of silver, a reminder to be loved, and to love:

My prayer for you with this one piece is that it would be a reminder to you to polish your heart with the sweet presence of God, your loving Creator, every day, so that He can shine through you.

When this piece of silver darkens and dulls, and you get out the polish and start buffing, ask yourself….

“How is my quiet time going? Does my heart feel tarnished and faded? Am I restoring my soul every day in God’s presence, being aware of His love, filled with it, and overflowing with energy as I love others? Or is my life consumed with ‘to do’ lists and busy-ness?”

You may have to set aside the polish for a bit in order to make time for that most important thing—spending time with God, and being filled with His amazing love. His refreshing presence reminds you that polishing your heart is so much more beneficial for you (and those around you) that buffing a piece of silver, or completing any other number of worthwhile tasks.

Remember.

Be loved, and then love.

It’s the most important thing.

We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19 NKJV)