Spirit Hot-line

Posted on June 21, 2013 by Martha

800px-Holy_Spirit_007“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with the groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”  Romans 8:26-27

     Sometimes we have no words or thoughts to express our needs, desires, loss, despair, or sorrow.  We know we need to pray, but the words don’t come.  The inability to express ourselves in prayer can cause a disconnection from God.  We distance ourselves because we don’t know what to say, because we don’t think He will hear us, or because we feel unworthy.  These are the times when His Spirit steps in and takes over lifting our wordless prayers to God on our behalf.

     The Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf because God has willed it to be so.  God knows the mind of His Spirit and through Him knows the depths of our hearts, the inner most spaces where we hide those things we cannot bear to have made known to man or God.

     What a comfort it is to know that God makes every use of every possible way for our prayers, spoken and unspoken, to reach Him.  The Holy Spirit is a direct hot-line to heaven.  When words fail us in prayer we can simply say, “Spirit, you know my heart, you know my need.  Intercede on my behalf and present my needs to Our Lord, for I know not how to.”

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Psalm 8: Praise, Humility, Responsibility

Posted on June 20, 2013 by Martha
Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden by Peter Wenzel, taken by Martha Wiggins, Vatican Museum, 2012

Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden by Peter Wenzel, taken by Martha Wiggins, Vatican Museum, 2012

“LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory in the heavens.  Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.  When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?

You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor.  You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet:  all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.

LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”  Psalm 8

     A Psalm of praise, yes, but also a Psalm of humility: praise for God the Creator, and humility on the part of David (us).

     Psalm 8 is also a Psalm of responsibility.  God created everything and then set mankind just below Himself and His Angels.  God set us over His creations to be good stewards.  We are the caretakers of all that is beneath us.  Treat the earth and all that is on it with great respect and tender care.  God created all in perfect balance, in harmony.  When we mistreat His creations we upset the balance of nature, of creation.  When we treat all with respect, we in turn, respect the Creator.   

 

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Lord, You Are King

Posted on June 19, 2013 by Martha

140px-Christ_the_Alpha_and_Omega_001Lord, You are King.

Forgive me, Lord, when I try to be King, in my life and in the lives of others.  Forgive me, Lord, when expect all to bow before me, to be at my beck and call, and to ever do my bidding.  Forgive me, Lord, when I expect others to serve me, instead of me serving them.

Thank you, Lord, for your sovereign reign in my life.  Thank you, Lord, that I do not actually have the control that I often think I do.  Thank you, Lord, for your Kingly reign over all the earth, over the entire universe.

     Oh to be King!  At least that is what we sometimes wish.  We would like to make the world dance to our beat, to obey are every command.  However, are we really prepared to be King?  If we are, then all is our responsibility.  The buck stops with us!  I gladly relinquish Kingly authority to the one true King, Our Lord and Savior.

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Gatekeeper Of Our Soul

Posted on June 18, 2013 by Martha
Gilded Columns in the Courtyard at Palazzo Vecchio, Florence, Italy. Taken by Martha McDuff Wiggins, 2012

Gilded Columns in the Courtyard at Palazzo Vecchio, Florence, Italy. Taken by Martha McDuff Wiggins, 2012

“He stationed the gatekeepers of the house of the LORD, so that no one would enter who was in any way unclean.”  2 Chronicles 23:19

     Our soul is the house of the Lord within us.  We are the gatekeepers of our soul.  It is our responsibility to see that nothing unclean enters.

     The world is filled with uncleanliness that can hold us captive, often with our permission or even our complete surrender.  Vices abound and many partake in them.  Sometimes we become entangled in a web of uncleanliness without realizing it, because it happens slowly, little by little.  We become desensitized accepting as normalcy that which previously we would have found ugly, distasteful, or sinful.

     When we are caught up in the world and all that pertains to it, we often loose our ability of discernment between right and wrong, between what is good for us and what is not, between what is nurturing to our soul and what injures our soul.

     If we are truly wise, we will occasionally examine what occupies the majority of our time and of our thoughts.  We will examine who we spend the brunt of our time with and what activities we participate in with them.  We will also listen to our words carefully to understand if we speak honorably and respectfully.  If we are truly wise we will make the necessary changes to protect our soul.

     Is there some uncleanliness you have let enter your soul lately?  Remember, as the gatekeeper, you have control over all that enters.

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Silent Light

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Martha

482px-Transfiguration-006“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”  (Matthew 5:14)

   I recently read a brief but very provocative commentary on this popular verse written by Bill Dodds, Editor and Writer at Our Sunday Visitor’s “My Daily Word”.   He reminded me that others (family, friends, coworkers, etc.) are always watching.  He also pointed out something I already knew, yet needed reminding of, that more often than naught, others will remember my actions over my words.  His commentary then went on to say, “A light is silent.  A light is powerful, warm, and inviting, especially in a dark, dark world.” 

     Mr. Dodd’s commentary ended there.  I find it possibly bears repeating to sink completely in… A light is SILENT, POWERFUL, WARM, and INVITING.  My thoughts?   Light illuminates the path to Jesus.  Light, His Light, is the only evangelization tool needed.

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Lord, You Are The Lamb

Posted on June 14, 2013 by Martha

273px-Scourging_at_the_Pillar_002Lord, You are The Lamb.

Forgive me, Lord, when I fail to understand the gravity of all that The Lamb means to life…all that The Lamb means to my life.  Forgive me when I live in sin dishonoring You, The Sacrificial Lamb.

Thank you, Lord, for your loving sacrifice on my behalf.

     We don’t often stop to think about what being a sacrificial lamb means.  We must always remember the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf.  Honor Him and His sacrifice by living in an honorable way.

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Faith, Hope, Charity

Posted on June 13, 2013 by Martha

Ephesus, Turkey taken by Martha Wiggins, 2011

Ephesus, Turkey taken by Martha Wiggins, 2011

“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” 1 Corinthians 13:13

     In some Bibles the word love is used in place of the word charity.  The above quote is from the King James Version.  Being Catholic, it is not the usual version used personally by me.  However, for today’s post, it is perfect.

     As I often do, I am sharing from one of my favorite daily devotionals, God Calling, by A.J. Russell.  The June 27th entry reads: “Remember now abideth these three, Faith, Hope and Charity.  Faith is your attitude towards Me.  Charity your attitude towards your fellow man but, as necessary, is Hope, which is confidence in yourself to succeed.”

     Substitute love for charity and the meaning is still the same.  It is your attitude toward your fellow man, and continuing in 1 Corinthians 13:13 … “but the greatest of these is charity (love).”  With charity in our hearts, and at the route of our actions, we become living witnesses to our faith.  Charity is faith in action, love in action.  By our charity, by our love of others, our faith is made known to all. 

     Just as faith and charity are important, so hope is as necessary.  Our attitude toward ourselves cannot be separated from faith and charity.  These three things are totally entwined into our existence, into the core of our being.  It is through faith that our charity, our love flows.  It is in hope that we live out our faith, and in hope that we abide in Him.

     Faith, Hope, and Charity … now abideth these three … regardless of which version of the Bible you consult.

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Prayer: Jesus, My Lord, My Shepherd

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Martha
Annunciation mosaic on the facade of the Duomo, The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence, Italy, 2012, taken by Martha M Wiggins

Annunciation mosaic on the facade of the Duomo, The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence, Italy, 2012, taken by Martha M Wiggins

The following is a prayer from Journey Through The Stillness, July 11, 2010:

Prayer:  Jesus, My Lord, My Shepherd, never let me say or do anything to lead your sheep astray.  Never let me betray this trust you have so lovingly placed in me.  By the love of your Sacred Heart within me help me to be a force of love and praise, a force of mercy and forgiveness in your army of eternal salvation.  Never let me forsake you in what is mine to do, ever leading souls home to our God and Father.  Amen.

 

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My Personal Stillness Experience

Posted on June 11, 2013 by Martha

Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Canada, 2010 taken by Martha Wiggins

Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Canada, 2010 taken by Martha Wiggins

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:31

      Today I am sharing an entry from Journey Through The Stillness, my personal spiritual journal shared publicly on facebook.  The reason for sharing this particular entry is that it perfectly illustrates what Stillness before Our Lord is like for me.  Please know that this is not something that just all of a sudden came to be in my life.  I  had years of coming to Him through my prayers and daily journaling before I came to Him and He came to Me in The Stillness.  Also know that every person’s faith journey is unique to them.  No one can tell you exactly how yours should be.  I share this as an example of how it can be, how it is for me.  Having said this, do know that everyone is capable of having a very deep and personal relationship with Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  All He asks is that you come to Him.

August 12, 2010 – Today it is Jesus as I have known Him from the very beginning, my Heavily Robed Jesus.  He takes me onto His lap where I can lean my head and rest on His shoulder.  As I do, I am going through my list of issues, my concerns, my perceived problems, and they are many.  As I do this, one by one they melt away.  Whether they are about my body, my health, my emotional hurts, my to-do list, my inadequacies, my failures, my faults, my sins, my hopes and fears about myself or my loved ones and friends, one by one they slough off to the floor, and I am empty.  And then He fills me.  He fills me with His compassion, His comfort, His peace, His joy, His love.  Now I am going through a quite different list.  It is one of blessings, of hopes and desires fulfilled, of gifts of love received, of security, of faith.  And when I rise from His lap I am lifting up thoughts and praises of thanksgiving.  I am strong and the world awaits.  I am ready to go forth with Him at my side, with Him IN me, for I am IN Him and He is IN me.

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Words

Posted on June 10, 2013 by Martha
Columbian Ground Squirrels, Banff National Park, Canada, 2010, taken by Martha Wiggins

Columbian Ground Squirrels, Banff National Park, Canada, 2010, taken by Martha Wiggins

“So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose.  Isaiah 55:11

     Words are powerful.  Words can be calming, uplifting, or energizing.  Words can be loud, hurtful, deceptive, or threatening.  Once spoken they cannot be had back.  We can apologize and use them more wisely in the future, but we can never fully retrieve them once spoken.

     We need words to communicate, but we also communicate in many other ways, such as with our eyes and our hands, with our reactive actions and our in-actions.  That said, however, words are still our main way of communicating, whether spoken or written.

     When we realize the power our words have, we begin to choose them more carefully.  We also begin to manipulate our words to to have the most desired effect.  In other words, we begin to use the power of words to obtain that which we want.

      With such power comes responsibility.  We alone are responsible for the words we speak and write.  We may not be able to control how they are received, or how they are perceived, but we control our message and our intent. 

     The highest purpose and intent of our words must always be to bring glory to God.  Our words must be Spirit filled and Spirit guided.  Our goal must be to speak not only as if God is listening, but as if God is speaking His words through us.  Words take on a new and more important meaning when we realize God is not only listening, but speaking through us!

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