Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Inadequate


“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
-Nelson Mandela

I've Wondered


“I've wondered, though, if one of the reasons we fail to acknowledge the brilliance of life is because we don't want the responsibility inherent in the acknowledgment. We don't want to be characters in a story because characters have to move and breathe and face conflict with courage. And if life isn't remarkable, then we don't have to do any of that; we can be unwilling victims instead of grateful participants.” – Donald Miller. A Million Miles in a Thousand Years.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Undone


And now as we go on our way
May Jesus undo our watered-down
Sanitized and sugar coated faith,
 So that we may follow Him into a heroic life
Where our comfort zones are undone
So that we are not afraid to become
Counter cultural and counter comfortable
Holy Spirit, reveal a God who is bigger
 That all we can figure out
And who loves us beyond what we can imagine
Give us the courage and the commitment
 To work together so that none
 Of God’s work remains undone

Friday, June 1, 2012

Franciscan Benediction


May God bless you with discomfort
At easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships,

So that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger

At injustice, oppression and exploitation of people,

So that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.
May God bless you with tears

To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger, and war,

So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them

And turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness

To believe that you can make a difference in the world,

So that you can do what others claim cannot be done

To bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.

Amen.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Carrot? Egg? Coffee Beans?


Three pots of boiling water

Put carrots in one
An egg in another
 And coffee grinds in the last

The carrot was hard to begin with but then became soft over time,
The egg was weak, and brittle but then became tough and strong
The coffee grinds changed the water.

 Are you going to let the things of  this world(the water) change you and make you weak like the carrot or tough like the egg? Or are you going to change your surroundings into something better. Are you going to let God work in you so that he can change the world through you?

Monday, May 28, 2012

When I say..."I am a Christian" 
I'm not shouting "I am saved" 
I'm whispering "I was lost" 
That is why I chose this way.

When I say..."I am a Christian" 
I don't speak of this with pride. 
I'm confessing that I stumble 
And need someone to be my guide.

When I say..."I am a Christian" 
I'm not trying to be strong. 
I'm professing that I'm weak 
And pray for strength to carry on.

When I say..."I am a Christian" 
I'm not bragging of success. 
I'm admitting I have failed 
And cannot ever pay the debt.

When I say..."I am a Christian" 
I'm not claiming to be perfect, 
My flaws are all too visible, 
But God believes I'm worth it.

When I say..."I am a Christian" 
I still feel the sting of pain 
I have my share of heartaches 
Which is why I speak His name.

When I say..."I am a Christian" 
I do not wish to judge. 
I have no authority. 
I only know I'm loved.


by Carol Wimmer