Written on 10/31/2008 11:07:00 PM by Miles
my buddy Ty has a prayer on his blog that's worth reading. it's also inspired me to post a prayer here on what i'm now calling, the desolate blog of depression...i think it has a good ring to it.
anyways, singing old hymns in the church is a rich tradition that has stood the test of time. but, you don't see a lot of prayers (non-scripture) being used at all. that's what makes this one pretty unique. it's the prayer of St. Francis, a 13th century saint of Assisi. i want this to be my prayer every day...peep it:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
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.
Amen.
-- St. Francis
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Written on 10/28/2008 10:10:00 AM by Miles
Anyone ever said the statement, "it just wasn't in the cards"? I know I have. Or, how about "this is just the hand I've been dealt"? Again, check yes for me on that one.
Of course, the "cards" being mentioned are circumstances or environments in our lives. We try to work with the ones dealt to us, or the ones that we dealt ourselves. We come to accept these cards as being a situation or circumstance that we are meant to be in.
"What am I grateful for?" This is a question I try to ask myself when I feel like I've been dealt a bad hand. Most often I come up with a few things, and ultimately end with a prayer that can, on some days, be as sarcastic as it can be serious, and that's "God, thank you for at least waking me up today," or "thank you for where you have me."
That makes me think a little bit today, which is always a good thing. :) What about that statement, "thank you for where you have me"? Is that it? Just being grateful for the cards that were dealt? What are we to do with them? Are we just happy and thankful where we are, or are we to look deeper and see what God has in the deck?
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Gut Check
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Written on 10/22/2008 10:08:00 PM by Miles
This post is fairly simple (as if all of mine are complicated or something...), as it consists of two questions to you all. The questions are:
(1) What is something that you feel you cannot say in church, or around other Christians?
Example: mine would be, "sometimes cussing is the only way I feel I can get a point across."
(2) Why??
So there ya go...responses, of course are key, as well as very welcome.
Post away, folks!
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Written on 10/15/2008 09:30:00 PM by Miles
I struggle with needs vs. wants. I try to justify purchases the best I can in order to make them necessities.
I'm currently pining over the new MacBook
It seems to be pretty fantastic. I'm trying to talk my wife into getting it. You know...pulling out all the stops. It's pretty hilarious when I think about the politics that go into "the sell." I got some good instructions in that tonight from the last presidential debate. I ran at least ten reasons of why I should get this laptop in my head within a span of about thirteen seconds, when in all actuality I have a perfectly functioning pc here at home. It's just not a Mac. So, the question is: Do we need it? Answer: No. Do I want it? Yes.
Should the answers to these questions not match?
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Written on 10/11/2008 11:52:00 AM by Miles
Apparently I should walk around like this all the time. I simply hate, hate, hate sinus infections. geesh.
How are you all doing?
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Written on 10/02/2008 07:03:00 AM by Miles
I posted this quote from U2's Bono in April 2007 on my old blog, and I thought I would revisit it today. It still blows me away when I read it.
It’s a mind blowing concept that the God who created the universe might be looking for company, a real relationship with people, but the thing that keeps me on my knees is the difference between grace and karma… Grace defies reason and logic. Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I’ve done a lot of stupid stuff… I’d be in big trouble if karma was going to finally be my judge… It doesn’t excuse my mistakes, but I’m holding out for grace. I’m holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the cross, because I know who I am, and I hope I don’t have to depend on my own religiosity.
Grace is a radical thing. Unmerited favor. A gift that we don't deserve. I heard Louie Giglio say in a sermon that you'll know when you get grace, because when you get it, it will get you, and you won't be able to control yourself.
I think Bono has a pretty good understanding of grace, judging by the words quoted above.
Is God's grace something we can truly wrap our minds around? I have a hard time with understanding it a lot of times, but I'm completely struck by it's power at the same time.
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Written on 10/01/2008 11:11:00 PM by Miles
Apparently this guy didn't read my post on "don't be anxious".... :-)
Or, maybe he's just like me.
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