ROMANCING THE CANVAS: September 2010

LOVE IS PATIENT, LOVE IS KIND...

LOVE NEVER ENDS. 1 Corin.13:4,8
RELATIONSHIP STRUGGLES

DEAR MENDER OF HEARTS,
   you are friend of all and foe of none.
Your goodness is seeded in everyone.
   including those with whom we struggle.
Enter into our hearts and soften its hardness.
   Erase any ill will and anger abiding there.
Help us to reach out with openness,
   to speak when we prefer to hide in silence.
Teach us how to listen with loving ears
   and to not cling tenaciously to our opinions.
Instill hope of reconciliation in our hearts
   and help us to not give up on one another.
Be the Patience within us that resolves issues.
Be the Love among us that seeks forgiveness.
Be the Faith amid us
   that strengthens our bonds.
Be the Truce between us
   that brings us peace.
Amen

I SO apologize for the photo below showing up sideways...blogger changed their uploading of pics format and for the life of me I have tried and tried to get this to upload "right side up!" I'm sure Blogger will work the kinks out...
It is ironic, I might say, it is the "happy" photo that turned out sideways, when the prose above is about RELATIONSHIP STRUGGLES! OK GOD...you and your shenanigans! I guess the point is, we work daily, minute by minute to achieve the type of "happy" that is authentic and doesn't have masks surrounding it, or is "sideways" or "upside down!!"

GEEPERS GOD, I LOVE YOU!

Samara

GIVING OURSELVES AWAY....

GRATITUDE!

When we realize how much we have been given - life, a beginning -we are moved, almost naturally it seems to want to give away some of our things. Grateful people tend to give away their things, even their time and talents, and to become happier in the process. In giving away, the craving that holds us captive begins to loosen its grip. There is such a difference when living simply or serving others is done out of a spirit of gratitude rather than guilt. A given life is different from a driven life. Gratitude seems to replenish itself: as more is given, more is received. Guilt, in contrast, rather quickly exhausts itself in judgments.

From: Radical Gratitude by Mary Jo Leddy

Double click for larger image please

LOVING GOD

Samara

SILENCE....

But isn't the purpose of all ministry to reveal that
God is not a God of fear but a God of love? And
couldn't this be accomplished by gently and carefully
converting the empty silence into a full silence, the
anxious silence into a peaceful silence, and the restless
silence into a restful silence, so that in this converted
silence a real encounter with the loving Father could
take place? What a power our word would have if it
could enable people to befriend their silence!

In Way of The Heart, by Henri J.M. Nouwen

Hobo Digi Stamp from Digi Doodle Shop - A must go see with a great sale right now!!!

LOVING GOD

Samara

A WOMAN'S SPIRIT...

More Meditations for Women,
from the Author of

Each Day a New Beginning
Karen Casey

Almost everyone wants something for nothing. - Marsha Sinetar

Bargains attract. Finding a good value excites us, and we share the news quickly. Wanting anything for free is human nature perhaps. However, many of us have had to learn again and again that you get what you pay for. This is true of human interactions too.

Why do we think that others will be there for us if we aren't available for them? Having friends means being a friend, even if it's time-consuming. Although friendship's rewards are indisputable, we still tend to wait, letting the other person make the first move. Getting the other person to commit first reduces our effort, perhaps, but we will still receive according to what we give.

Knowing and utilizing this principle simplifies our lives. Once we master it, we never forget it. And what we bring to our relationships will be given back to us.

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I am willing to give to others what I want in return today. Their efforts will match my own.

(all the above taken from September 18th).