Saturday

Look How Big God Is...

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that brings good tidings, who publishes peace, who publishes salvation; who says to Zion, “Your God reigns." Isaiah 52.7

I found this writing in a book of poems to encourage those going through wilderness times. The writer has a muscle disorder which limits her ability to move about but the most important aspect is that her spirit is not limited as she knows the greatness of our God.

"As I stood before my mountains, overcome with fear, I cried! I tried to see the top of it, but it reached far into the sky.

"Where do I begin?" I thought, "Do I have the strength to even start?" Then I remembered a minister's message... it put hope into my heart. "Tough Times Never Last," he said, "But Tough People do!"

So I gave my fears to God, my belief it really grew. I started to climb my mountain... with each step came great pain... I knew that God would give me strength, so I prayed as I climbed again. Half way up the mountain, I looked out and saw the sights; now all the clouds were lifting, an eagle was in flight. The view from the top was clearer now, the top not far away... excitement rushed through my soul. Again to God I prayed. "Dear Lord, thank you, for giving me this feat! Once I've conquered my mountain, this challenge will be complete."

As I face the struggles of life, each and every day, I know the Lord will guide me, over the obstacles in my way. I will not become discouraged... on with life I’ll go! With each mountain that I overcome... the stronger I will grow. When I finally reach the top, the one thing that I shall do, is look around and find someone who needs help up too. Together we will stand, on the mountain top and pray and thank God for the challenges that made us grow each day."


From "The Message"
God's wisdom is so deep, God's power so immense, who could take him on and come out in one piece? He moves mountains before they know what's happened, flips them on their heads on a whim. He gives the earth a good shaking up, rocks it down to its very foundations. He tells the sun, 'Don't shine,' and it doesn't; he pulls the blinds on the stars. All by himself he stretches out the heavens and strides on the waves of the sea. He designed the Big Dipper and Orion, the Pleiades and Alpha Centauri. We'll never comprehend all the great things he does; his miracle-surprises can't be counted. Somehow, though he moves right in front of me, I don't see him; quietly but surely he's active, and I miss it...

Matthew 17:20 (New American Standard)
And He said to them, "Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.

Matthew 17:20 (New King James Version) … So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.


Matthew 17:20 (The Message)… "Because you're not yet taking God seriously," said Jesus. "The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed, say, you would tell this mountain, 'Move!' and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn't be able to tackle."


Matthew 17:20 (Contemporary English Version)… Jesus replied: It is because you don't have enough faith! But I can promise you this. If you had faith no larger than a mustard seed, you could tell this mountain to move from here to there. And it would. Everything would be possible for you.


Do not say to God, "This mountain is so big"... instead say, "Mountain, look how big God is!"

The Aide Candle



Friday

The Soul... A Candle Flame...


The living soul of man, the candle of God, sways back and forth, always aspiring to return to its Divine source, the infinite light of God
The soul's natural phenomenon of swaying, like a living candle, reaches its peak when we learn God's Word and pray to Him from the depth of our hearts
...
Author Unknown

Proverbs 20:27 The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts ( RSV Catholic Edition)

Proverbs 20:27 The human spirit is the lamp of Yahweh ~ searching the deepest self. (New Jerusalem Bible)


Proverbs 20:27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, Searching all the inner depths of his heart. (New King James)

O' Lord, Let me not hide my light under a basket...nor my flame be blown out. You gave us the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide us...that any question I ask will be answered...if I but listen. Lead me O Kindly Light...

Jesus...Jesus...Jesus...

The Christ Candle

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