MUSING FOR TODAY #76
The cross levels us all. John 3:16
MUSING #75
Unless there is Good Friday in your life, there can be no Easter Sunday. Fulton Sheen
MUSING #74
You do not need to wallow in guilt. Wallow in the mercy of God. St John Vianney
MUSING #73
A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes 3:8
MUSING #72
A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. Ecclesiastes 3:7
MUSING #71
A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. Ecclesiastes 3:6
MUSING #70
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. Ecclesiastes 3:5
MUSING #69
A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. Ecclesiastes 3:4
MUSING #68
…the LORD has told you what is good and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
MUSING #67
A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. Ecclesiastes 3:3
MUSING #66
Sufficient for me is that honour which is not seen of men but is felt in the heart, as faithful is He who hath promised and never lies. St Patrick
MUSING #65
Seek a relationship when you pray, not answers. You wont always find answers but you will always find Jesus. Father Mike Schmitz
MUSING #64
A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. Ecclesiastes 3:2
MUSING #63
Patience is the companion of wisdom. St Augustine
MUSING #62
Apart form the cross, there is no other ladder by which we may go to heaven. St Rose of Lima
MUSING #61
This is the kind of fasting that I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them and do not hide from relatives who need your help. Isaiah 58: 6-7
MUSING #60
O Lord, make this Lenten season different from the other ones. Let me find you again Amen. Henri Nouwen
MUSING #59
For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1
MUSING #58
Every moment and every event of every man’s life on earth plants something in his soul. Thomas Merton
MUSING #57
Prayer is the breath of the soul and of life. Pope Benedict XVI
MUSING #56
Be joyful, keep the faith and do the little things that you have heard and seen me do. St David / Dewi Sant
MUSING #55
And he said to all: If any man will come after me, let him dent himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23
MUSING #54
Just take everything exactly as it is, put it into Gods hands and leave it with him. then you will be able to rest in him – really rest. St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
MUSING #53
The Lord is near to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18
MUSING #52
The command to love and serve – not merely tolerate – each other requires more commitment and sacrifice than we care to give and so we do the polite minimum from afar. The seasons of Lent and Easter bring thoughts of surrender and sacrifice. Nana Dolce
MUSING #51
The kingdom of God ought to reshape our vision of what matters. Russell D. Moore
MUSING #50
When you put down your phone, it’s easier to lift up your eyes. Wendy Speake
MUSING #49
When you pray, go to your inner room, close the door and pray to you Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. Matthew 6:6
MUSING #48
Some things do not need to be cut back. They need to be cut off. Beth Moore
MUSING #47
What if we view this desert time of Lent as not just a time to reflect or to lament or to confess or to fast but as a time when we learn to be free. Megan Westra
MUSING #46
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23
MUSING #45
God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy. Pope Francis
MUSING #44
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Genesis 2:7
MUSING #43
Vision can be defined as 'the ability to think about or plan the future with imagination or wisdom'. Without it, we lose direction and purpose. Anarchy can soon follow. Proverbs 29:18.
MUSING #42
Glory. It can be accepted, given, noticed. It can't be ignored. Glory isn't static. It can progress and increase. 2 Corinthians 3:18.
MUSING #41
Beauty is said to be in the eye of the beholder. However, I believe that true beauty comes from within. 1 Peter 3:3-4
MUSING #40
Yet. It's a pause, a moment to reflect. It helps us to see possibilities. Lamentations 3:20-22
MUSING #39
Attitude. Hmm. It's a tough one. We know we're responsible for our attitude BUT other people... Attitudes have influence. Who will you influence today with your attitude?
MUSING #38
Ancient. If it's ancient then it must be irrelevant and we can ignore it, right? Hmm. The recent surge in popularity of programmes like The Repair Shop would suggest otherwise. Ancient ways can be pivotal in navigating modern problems. Jeremiah 6:16
MUSING #37
Sorry. Some say it's the hardest word and others that "love means never having to say you're sorry". Hmm. Sorry is linguistically linked to sorrow. However, sorry has become so weakened through use that it is almost irrelevant.
MUSING #36
Lament is a lost art in Western culture. Lament is not negative. It is a positive recognition of the hurts and confusion in life. Lament brings our questions, fears and hopes into the light. Psalm 13:1-6.
MUSING #35
Praise. It can be easier to give than to receive. Praise is not hype. Praise is acknowledgement of deeds. Recognition of attributes. Psalm 150:6
MUSING #34
Can you always keep your promises? Children are very good at remembering promises made by adults and reminding them of them God keeps his promises. 'If you ... then I WILL ...' (2 Chronicles 7).
MUSING #33
Shalom is more than peace. It is a 7 fold blessing that covers every aspect of life - spiritual, emotional, physical, mental. John 14:27
MUSING #32
We swear to tell it in court. Yet, we don't always want to hear it. We hesitate to say it sometimes. We are promised that the truth will set us free. John 8:32.
MUSING #31
Trust can be given, earned, broken and lost. It can also mean 'to hold property for another'. Who or what do you trust today? Proverbs 3:5
MUSING #30
Silence. Is said to be golden. It has a sound, according to Simon & Garfunkel. Silence can soothe. It can also unsettle, as many experienced during the 2020 lockdowns.
MUSING #29
Time. You can use it, lose it, take it, tell it, measure it. You cannot rewind it, accelerate it, repeat it, stop it. TIME: Transitory Incidental Moments of Eternity.
MUSING #28
Worship has linguistic roots in English going back 1000 years. It is the giving of worth. Usually to a deity or object. It is not remote but intimate. Consider today the focus of your worship.
MUSING #27
Rest is an important part of the rhythm of life. It is a positive component of a life lived well.
MUSING #26
Grief has 5 main elements. They are: Denial; Anger; Bargaining; Depression; Acceptance. Their occurrence is unique to the individual. Their longevity is unique to the individual. Grief is not a hurdle to get over. It is a healing to walk through.
MUSING #25
Think - it can imply uncertainty. It can also imply concentration. Give yourself time to think today. Philippians 4:8
MUSING #24
Faith has to be practical, not theoretical. Fact and not fancy. Hebrews 11:1.
MUSING #23
Gentle - synonyms are: amiable; compassionate; genial. Being gentle is not being weak or wishy-washy. Gentleness is controlled strength.
MUSING #22
Mercy is not a weakness. Mercy is a strength. The linguistic roots are price paid.
MUSING #21
Healing leaves scars. Scars bring healing.
MUSING #20
Peace is often defined as the opposite of noise or war. Peace is actually the anchor that holds us steady in the midst of noise and war.
MUSING #19
Wholeness has 4 dimensions; physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. Integrity and harmony are linked with wholeness. May you experience wholeness today.
MUSING #18
Love does not strut and does not force itself on others. 1Corinthians 13:4-7
MUSING #17
Kindness is not weak. It is giving courtesy when rudeness spits and hisses; generosity when meanness tightens its fists. May you know the tangible touch of kindness today.
MUSING #16
Grace has many meanings. Poise. Politeness. Provision. It can also mean good will. May today be full of grace.
MUSING #15
It is said to be the best policy. However, honesty can be harsh and hurtful. Honesty needs to be handled with care.
MUSING #14
The dictionary definition of Dignity includes the quality of being worthy of honour or respect. That is you.
MUSING #13
We struggle to wait. We see it as a negative. Waiting should not be passive but active. Preparing for the new.
MUSING #12
Take a deep breath. Feel the rise and fall of your abdomen. Slow and low. Reset your body to calm.
MUSING #11
Do you listen to learn? Or do you listen to lecture? Stop. Look. Listen.
MUSING #10
You are never fully dressed without a smile so the song goes. Smiles are infectious. Give or take a smile today.
MUSING #09
Dreams are essential to living a full life. C. S. Lewis stated that you are never too old to dream a new dream. So, get dreaming.
MUSING #08
Maybe Monday morning IS the best moment to Pause; to take a deep breath, whisper a Thank You to God, and then proceed into this week.
MUSING #07
Joy is more substantial than happiness. Joy is not dependent on circumstances. Joy is rooted in belief.
MUSING #06
Laughter is great medicine. It soothes the soul, calms the mind and exercises the body.
MUSING #05
Oops. I missed to post on Friday. - Forgive
MUSING #04
Who has benefited from your presence today?
MUSING #03
Stars shine brightest when the sky is darkest. Let your light shine today.
MUSING #02
How generous with patience are you to yourself?
MUSING #01
Hope is not vague. Hope is vital. Holding On Purposefully, Expecting.
