Sunday Meditation: Keep Choosing God

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Have I ever mentioned that Henri J.M. Nouwen is one of my favourite spiritual writers? His words often speak wisdom and counsel, not to mention comfort, into my heart on days when I feel my ship is blown off course... or worse yet, caught on a sandbar or reef. He is expert at knowing how to get to the nub of issues ... and often I find myself nodding, Yes, you must be reading my mail. I understand....and thank you for bringing your own struggles out in the open so that I know I'm not alone in this.

This morning, I was dipping into his book The Inner Voice of Love: A Journey Through Anguish to Freedom. A folded piece of paper already marked the spot that had obviously been meaningful in a previous reading. As I read the piece again, I felt drawn to share a wee except here with you:

Keep Choosing God

"You are constantly facing choices. The question is whether you choose for God or for your own doubting self. You know what the right choice is, but your emotions, passions, and feelings keep suggesting you choose the self-rejecting way.

The root choice is to trust at all time that God is with you and will give you what you most need. Your self-rejecting emotions might say, 'It isn't going to work. I'm still suffering the same anguish I did six months ago. I will probably fall back into the old depressive patterns of acting and reacting. I haven't really changed.' And on and on. It is hard not to listen to these voices.

Still, you know that these are not God's voice. God says to you, 'I love you, I am with you, I want to see you come closer to me and experience the joy and peace of my presence. I want to give you a new heart and a new spirit. I want you to speak with my mouth, see with my eyes, hear with my ears, touch with my hands. All that is mine is yours. Just trust me and let me be your God.'

This is the voice to listen to. And that listening requires a real choice, not just once in a while but every moment of each day and night.  It is you who decides what you think, say, and do. You can think yourself into a depression, you can talk yourself into low self-esteem, you can act in a self-rejecting way. But you always have a choice.... so move toward the Light, the Truth, and the Life."

This is what came to mind as I was typing the words above... how often do we fear the old ways will come back, that it isn't going to work this time, that because we're still suffering the same anguish, we'll probably fall back into our old patterns. But the perfect love of Jesus casts out fear. We do not have to be afraid of these things.  The way I see it, it's the fear that causes us to stumble or fall.

Maybe we have missed it....again. But we don't have to stay there. As Henri Nouwen so beautifully puts it, we have choices. And today, I choose God. I choose to believe that even this area of current failure will one day be a radiant testimony that his grace is always enough....always!

With a gentle kiss atop thy heads,
Brenda

Peace Within

Image by RitaE from Pixabay

Today I want to share something that was written by St. Teresa of Avila. From my heart to yours, I offer it as a my little prayer as we start a new month and a new week.

“May today there be peace within.

May you trust God
that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget
the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received,

and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be content
knowing you are a child of God.

Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom

to sing, dance, praise and love.

It is there for each and every one of us.”

ST. TERESA OF AVILA

* * *

With a gentle kiss atop thy head,
Brenda
xox

A Fine Romance by Susan Branch

Talk about a fine romance this Valentine's Day. You see, my own dear Valentine, aka Dearest Hubby, totally surprised me with a delivery from Amazon. Don't you love it when you hear the doorbell and you just know UPS has left a brown parcel in your mailbox? Don't you love the word 'parcel'?

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, oh boy.............................. Inside was a longed-for copy of Susan Branch's latest book A Fine Romance.

It was ♥ love ♥ at first sight. Beautifully bound with a gorgeous red ribbon bookmark, it lays open without fuss. Every page is filled with art renderings and glimpses into Susan's unique style as she shares the trip she and her Joe took to the English countryside. And, it all begins with the very fine romantic story of how those two met.

Whether you've visited England before or still dream of doing the trip across the pond, I think you'll really enjoy love, love love reading this book. From the romantic voyage across the Atlantic on the Queen Mary 2, to learning to navigate British roadways, to traveling through beautiful English countryside, strolling through romantic gardens, stopping to have tea...

To visiting the homes of favourite authors like Beatrix Potter and Jane Austen, and meeting the loveliest local people, not to mention English woolly lambs, Susan invites her readers 'the girlfriends' to be a part of this grand adventure. And when you read it, it's just like being there. Well, almost.

A Fine Romance is magical from cover to cover. Pages are filled with Susan's photographs, whimsical art, hand-drawn maps, recipes, quotes, not to mention her droll stories and fascinating diary entries.

I've been savoring each page... dreaming too, as this is the very kind of trip Mr. Hubby and I have been dreaming about and planning a while now for ourselves. As Susan often reminds us...

"Because nothing happens unless first we dream."

~ Carol Sandburg    

Pack Light - Armchair Travel. Now, if that kind of trip isn't possible right now, remember that packing for armchair traveling is light and easy. You could ask your own Valentine to send you your own copy of A Fine Romance, Falling in Love with the English Countryside.

Lots More On Susan's website. And if the budget doesn't stretch for a book either, then you might enjoy Susan's interview about her new book, or have a fun snoop through the appendix of the book which is also on her website -- it includes live links to all manner of interesting and delightful tidbits about the trip.

Here's wishing you a fine day and a little romance,

Hugs,
Brenda
xox

Quiet A Little While

 

No clicking or clattering

No fancy pen dipping in antique inkwell

No ideas budding into Spring

All is dormant

Peaceful, quiet as the wintry garden outside

Just as trees have gathered life down deep under frozen landscape

so too this soul feels drawn to hibernate

Be still...

Be still and know...

Know

To everything there is a season.

Now is time to come away.
Dream. Ruminate.

Rest. Be still. Know.

Spring will come.
And new life...

New words too.


Quiet for a little while...

Brenda
xox

Graphic: AntiqueClipart.com

When The Darkness Creeps In

 

I've had the darkness creeping in a lot of late. And not just because it's winter and we're in the shortest light season of the year.

I find it takes much work to stay happy for some reason. The pressures of life do willfully tread on my heart.

But the One who knows those same pressures from personal experience reminds me often not to let the cares and anxieties of this world choke out the words of eternal life that spring up in my heart... and I become still and quiet.

Sometimes, I see myself sitting near Him in a quiet, peaceful spot -- He holds my hand and just being with Him comforts and encourages me.

I wish you encouragement about your own lives, dear friends. And grace for every footprint you must make today and this week. Arise, shine, for your Light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

With a gentle kiss atop thy heads,
Brenda
xox

 Photos:  (c) Brenda Leyland, 2014