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Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Chrysostom quote
John Chrysostom, bishop of Constantinople;
sermon, ca. 400
Let no one grieve at his poverty,
for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again;
for forgiveness has risen from the grave.
Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free.
He has destroyed it by enduring it.
sermon, ca. 400
Let no one grieve at his poverty,
for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again;
for forgiveness has risen from the grave.
Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free.
He has destroyed it by enduring it.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Prayer by Clement
"Grant unto us, Lord, that we may see our hope on Thy name...
and open the eyes of our hearts, that we may know Thee. We beseech Thee, Lord and Master, to be our help and succour. Save those among us who are in tribulation; have mercy on the lowly; lift up the fallen; show Thyself to those in need; heal the sick; turn again the wanderers of Thy people; feed the hunger; ransom our prisoners; raise up the week; comfort the faint-hearted. Let all nations know that Thou art God alone, and that Jesus Christ is Thy Son, and that we are Thy people and the sheep of Thy pasture.
We praise Thee who art able to do these and and better things than these, through Jesus Christ the High Priest and Guardian of our souls, through whom be glory and majesty to Thee, both now and throughout all generations, for ever and ever. Amen"
Clement of Rome
and open the eyes of our hearts, that we may know Thee. We beseech Thee, Lord and Master, to be our help and succour. Save those among us who are in tribulation; have mercy on the lowly; lift up the fallen; show Thyself to those in need; heal the sick; turn again the wanderers of Thy people; feed the hunger; ransom our prisoners; raise up the week; comfort the faint-hearted. Let all nations know that Thou art God alone, and that Jesus Christ is Thy Son, and that we are Thy people and the sheep of Thy pasture.
We praise Thee who art able to do these and and better things than these, through Jesus Christ the High Priest and Guardian of our souls, through whom be glory and majesty to Thee, both now and throughout all generations, for ever and ever. Amen"
Clement of Rome
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Transformation
Whatever the pattern of the world is in my life -
my nature
my personality
my habits
my strengths
my weaknesses
Must all be transformed.
How?
Not by my own effort to change,
but by the renewing of my mind
through the Word of God.
Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...
my nature
my personality
my habits
my strengths
my weaknesses
Must all be transformed.
How?
Not by my own effort to change,
but by the renewing of my mind
through the Word of God.
Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...
Friday, March 26, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
A Worker Reads History
Who built the seven gates of Thebes?
The books are filled with names of kings.
Was it the kings who hauled the craggy blocks of stone?
And Babylon, so many times destroyed.
Who built the city up each time?
In which of Lima's houses,
That city glittering with gold, lived those who built it?
In the evening when the Chinese wall was finished
Where did the masons go?
Imperial Rome
Is full of arcs of triumph.
Who reared them up?
Over whom Did the Caesars triumph?
Byzantium lives in song.
Were all her dwellings palaces?
And even in Atlantis of the legend
The night the seas rushed in,
The drowning men still bellowed for their slaves.
Young Alexander conquered India.
He alone?
Caesar beat the Gauls.
Was there not even a cook in his army?
Phillip of Spain wept as his fleet was sunk and destroyed.
Were there no other tears?
Frederick the Greek triumphed in the Seven Years War.
Who triumphed with him?
Each page a victory
At whose expense the victory ball?
Every ten years a great man,
Who paid the piper?
So many particulars.
So many questions.
-- Bertolt Brecht
The books are filled with names of kings.
Was it the kings who hauled the craggy blocks of stone?
And Babylon, so many times destroyed.
Who built the city up each time?
In which of Lima's houses,
That city glittering with gold, lived those who built it?
In the evening when the Chinese wall was finished
Where did the masons go?
Imperial Rome
Is full of arcs of triumph.
Who reared them up?
Over whom Did the Caesars triumph?
Byzantium lives in song.
Were all her dwellings palaces?
And even in Atlantis of the legend
The night the seas rushed in,
The drowning men still bellowed for their slaves.
Young Alexander conquered India.
He alone?
Caesar beat the Gauls.
Was there not even a cook in his army?
Phillip of Spain wept as his fleet was sunk and destroyed.
Were there no other tears?
Frederick the Greek triumphed in the Seven Years War.
Who triumphed with him?
Each page a victory
At whose expense the victory ball?
Every ten years a great man,
Who paid the piper?
So many particulars.
So many questions.
-- Bertolt Brecht
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Prayer by F.L. Battles
"O Father, we have not always been faithful to Thy Word;
We have not always taken up Thy cross to follow Thy Son;
And too often we have forgotten the church we are called to serve.
Renew in our hearts and in our minds
The faith that was in Peter and Paul,
The faith that strengthened the ancient martyres,
The faith that moved the pens and lips of the fathers,
The faith that built cathedrals and universities,
The faith that moved the Reformers to renew the church in their time.
O Father, teach us how to impart that faith to Thy people.
These petitions we lay before Thy presence in the name of Thy Son our Lord.
Amen"
Ford Lewis Battles (1915-79)
We have not always taken up Thy cross to follow Thy Son;
And too often we have forgotten the church we are called to serve.
Renew in our hearts and in our minds
The faith that was in Peter and Paul,
The faith that strengthened the ancient martyres,
The faith that moved the pens and lips of the fathers,
The faith that built cathedrals and universities,
The faith that moved the Reformers to renew the church in their time.
O Father, teach us how to impart that faith to Thy people.
These petitions we lay before Thy presence in the name of Thy Son our Lord.
Amen"
Ford Lewis Battles (1915-79)
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Saint Patrick's Breastplate
Old Irish, eighth-century prayer.
I rise today
with the power of God to pilot me,
God's strength to sustain me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look ahead for me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to protect me,
God's way before me,
God's shield to defend me,
God's host to deliver me,
from snares of devils,
from evil temptations,
from nature's failings,
from all who wish to harm me,
far or near,
alone and in a crowd.
I rise today
with the power of God to pilot me,
God's strength to sustain me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look ahead for me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to protect me,
God's way before me,
God's shield to defend me,
God's host to deliver me,
from snares of devils,
from evil temptations,
from nature's failings,
from all who wish to harm me,
far or near,
alone and in a crowd.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Answered Prayer
I found this prayer in my journal... dated 2/9/10. Oh my, it is so encouraging to read this and see how God has answered my prayers!
Lord,
Forgive me for holding onto my hurt and anger.
Love my husband through me, encourage him through me.
These do not come naturally in me.
I cannot do them on my own.
Bless our efforts and our actions.
Give us wisdom and peace and joy.
Provide for us.
Guide us along Your path.
Make us partners.
Bring our family together.
Glorify Yourself in us,
and in me.
Amen
Lord,
Forgive me for holding onto my hurt and anger.
Love my husband through me, encourage him through me.
These do not come naturally in me.
I cannot do them on my own.
Bless our efforts and our actions.
Give us wisdom and peace and joy.
Provide for us.
Guide us along Your path.
Make us partners.
Bring our family together.
Glorify Yourself in us,
and in me.
Amen
Sunday, March 21, 2010
This Week's Gift
God is so good...
This last week he gave us a new roof...
He provided the money for the shingles in the form of an anonymous Lowe's gift card, and the money for the rest of it in a gift from my in laws.
He provided the labor in Wesley, Stan - friends like that are few indeed, #1 son Jacob, and me. Clean up help was the girls as well. We couldn't possibly have gotten through without them all.
Timing was perfect, money coinciding with Spring Break, so we were all off.
Weather was perfect the entire week, we finished the clean up just at dark Saturday, and the rain began during the night Sat night.
And poor tired bodies managed to not give out until the job was done.
All of it was a gift - materials, labor, weather - every bit of it came from God.
Including the fabulous feeling at the end, watching the rain fall outside, knowing it would stay dry inside!
This last week he gave us a new roof...
He provided the money for the shingles in the form of an anonymous Lowe's gift card, and the money for the rest of it in a gift from my in laws.
He provided the labor in Wesley, Stan - friends like that are few indeed, #1 son Jacob, and me. Clean up help was the girls as well. We couldn't possibly have gotten through without them all.
Timing was perfect, money coinciding with Spring Break, so we were all off.
Weather was perfect the entire week, we finished the clean up just at dark Saturday, and the rain began during the night Sat night.
And poor tired bodies managed to not give out until the job was done.
All of it was a gift - materials, labor, weather - every bit of it came from God.
Including the fabulous feeling at the end, watching the rain fall outside, knowing it would stay dry inside!
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Why blog?
I haven't posted much in 2010, and what little is here was just passing along interesting or funny stuff. I have been doing a lot of thinking and praying, but not much writing of any kind. Now I am wondering, why? Why do I write? and why do I post it to a blog? and is there a point at all? Is anybody reading it, does it do anyone any good?
These questions started back in Nov when I did nablopomo... post something every day for a month. I ended up posting stuff just to have something to post. And it felt like a waste of time and cyberspace. I have never wanted a blog just to have a blog, never wanted to post just to be doing it. I absolutely never wanted a blog with nothing to say... I certainly don't want to post what I had for dinner! (Maybe if I was a great or creative cook...)
Today some answers finally came to me. I write what God is teaching me, and some of it is worth sharing. The title of my blog is The Non-Conformist Transformed... it is supposed to be the story of how God is transforming me. It is not for me, not so lots of people can read my writing, certainly not so anybody can tell me how wonderful I am. It's not for me at all. It is for God, and for His Glory. It is what He has done in my life, and if He can use these lessons in someone else's life that's even better.
So, it matters not if anybody reads this, or responds to this, at all. It is my testimony. And it will not be pointless.
These questions started back in Nov when I did nablopomo... post something every day for a month. I ended up posting stuff just to have something to post. And it felt like a waste of time and cyberspace. I have never wanted a blog just to have a blog, never wanted to post just to be doing it. I absolutely never wanted a blog with nothing to say... I certainly don't want to post what I had for dinner! (Maybe if I was a great or creative cook...)
Today some answers finally came to me. I write what God is teaching me, and some of it is worth sharing. The title of my blog is The Non-Conformist Transformed... it is supposed to be the story of how God is transforming me. It is not for me, not so lots of people can read my writing, certainly not so anybody can tell me how wonderful I am. It's not for me at all. It is for God, and for His Glory. It is what He has done in my life, and if He can use these lessons in someone else's life that's even better.
So, it matters not if anybody reads this, or responds to this, at all. It is my testimony. And it will not be pointless.
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