Lord, You Are Majesty

Posted on July 9, 2012 by Martha
Basilica Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome, Italy, (Basilica of St. Mary over Minerva) taken by Martha Wiggins, 2011

Basilica Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome, Italy, (Basilica of St. Mary over Minerva) taken by Martha Wiggins, 2011. Saint Catherine of Siena is buried beneath the altar, and to the left is a statue carved by Michelangelo -Christ Bearing The Cross.

Lord, You are Majesty.

Forgive me, Lord, when I lose the majesty by focusing on the mundane, or when I allow complacency to set in.

Thank you, Lord, for the beauty of your creation all around me.  Thank you for the majesty that is there, if I but look.  Let me seek and see your majesty in all.

     Don’t be so busy today with the mundane that you lose the majesty.  Be in awe!  Wonder!  Marvel at His creations!

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2011-2012
Posted in Faith, Habits, Inspiration, Prayer | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

In God Is Our Trust…

Posted on July 4, 2012 by Martha

The Star Spangled Banner is our national anthem.  I wonder how many of us have ever read the lyrics all the way through?  I particularly like the last few lines.  We are a nation under God and today is a great day to thank Him for the many blessings living in America adds to our lives.  It is also a great day to reaffirm our nation’s motto, “In God is our trust.”

The Star Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key, 1814

Oh, say can you see by the dawn’s early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
‘Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: ‘In God is our trust.’
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2012
Posted in Faith, Habits, Inspiration | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Fruits Of The Spirit

Posted on June 28, 2012 by Martha

“But the Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, self-control. There is no law that says these things are wrong.  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their own sinful selves. They have given up their old selfish feelings and the evil things they wanted to do.  We get our new life from the Spirit, so we should follow the Spirit.”   Galatians 5:22-25

      The fruits of the Spirit are the product of walking with God, they are manifestations of His Spirit within you.  Whenever you have difficulty in being patient, kind, gentle, or lack self-control, invite His Spirit walk with you.  Whenever you long for love, peace, or joy in your life, invite His Spirit to walk with you.  The more you invite His Spirit the more of His fruits He will produce in you.

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2012
Posted in Biblical, Faith, Habits, Inspiration | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Traversing Life’s Roller-Coaster

Posted on June 27, 2012 by Martha

     The Imitation of Christ is a devotional written in the 15th century whose authorship is attributed to Thomas a Kempis.  It is written in order to help the devout soul achieve holiness.  In other words, a road map to traverse through many of life’s different situations and through personal and spiritual development.  The following is an excerpt from The Imitation of Christ, Book Three, Chapter 23.  For many of us life rides like a roller-coaster with steep climbs and deep plunges.  To stay the course it says we must not focus on the fluctuating feelings within, but instead remain above it steadfastly fixing our gaze on Christ.  In doing so we will remain unshaken regardless what winds blow our way.  Google this beautiful devotional and sample some of the writings.  You will be richer for doing so and maybe even understand yourself in new way.  You may find the advice offered within to be life changing.    God Bless. 

OF INSTABILITY OF THE HEART, AND OF DIRECTING THE AIM TOWARDS GOD

“My Son, trust not thy feeling, for that which is now will be quickly changed into somewhat else. As long as thou livest thou art subject to change, howsoever unwilling; so that thou art found now joyful, now sad; now at peace, now disquieted; now devout, now indevout; now studious, now careless; now sad, now cheerful. But the wise man, and he who is truly learned in spirit, standeth above these changeable things, attentive not to what he may feel in himself, or from what quarter the wind may blow, but that the whole intent of his mind may carry him on to the due and much-desired end. For thus will he be able to remain one and the same and unshaken, the single eye of his desire being steadfastly fixed, through the manifold changes of the world, upon Me.  (The Imitation of Christ, Book III, Chapter XXIII)

 

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2012
Posted in Faith, Habits, Inspiration | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The BIG Things

Posted on June 21, 2012 by Martha

     Yesterday’s post was about the ‘little’ things and how they are often the most important.  That said, we can never ignore the ‘BIG’ things.  Our religious freedoms and our ability to worship are under attack by our present government administration.  It is the most important issue of our time.  As people of faith we cannot idly sit by and watch.  I implore all of you to search your soul, choose your side, and make a stand.  This is my way.  I have chosen to share my faith publicly for some time now, and while I truly do not ever like to step on peoples toes, or involve myself in their personal choices, I cannot allow myself to sit quietly by and watch evil win over good, watch not only the Catholic faith, but all faiths, threatened in the way they choose to worship and live by their tenets.  Some of you may not choose to be public in this same way, but still want to find a personal way to take a stand.  That can certainly be accomplished through much needed, deliberate, and persevering prayer.  The Catholic Bishops have called for a Fortnight for Freedom, a call to a period of heartfelt prayer on behalf of the battle for our religious rights as a free people.  It begins today, June 21st and goes through July 4th.  I am providing a link to their site here, but also including here one of the prayers:

Prayer For The Protection of Religious Liberty

O God our Creator,

Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit,
you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world,
bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel
to every corner of society.

We ask you to bless us
in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty.
Give us the strength of mind and heart
to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened;
give us courage in making our voices heard
on behalf of the rights of your Church
and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith.

Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father,
a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters
gathered in your Church
in this decisive hour in the history of our nation,
so that, with every trial withstood
and every danger overcome—
for the sake of our children, our grandchildren,
and all who come after us—
this great land will always be “one nation, under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/fortnight-for-freedom/index.cfm

Here is another link to an important message about the most important issues facing people of faith in the coming election:

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=D9vQt6IXXaM&hd

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2012
Posted in Faith, Habits, Inspiration, Prayer | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Little Things

Posted on June 20, 2012 by Martha

     We often hear that it is the ‘little’ things that make the biggest difference.  Sometimes the world presents huge problems where there seems to be no direct solution or path to follow.  Remember that little steps add up to a journey, little kindnesses add up to a gift, and little acceptances add up to a friend!

     The following prayer is a beautiful little prayer for ‘charity’.  And, little acts of charity add up to love!

Keep me, O God, from pettiness; let me be large in thought, in word, in deed. Let me be done with fault-finding and self-seeking. May I put away all pretense and meet everyone face to face without self-pity and without prejudice. May I never be hasty in judgment and always generous. Let me take time for all things. Make me grow calm, serene and gentle. Teach me to put into action my better impulses, straightforward and unafraid. Grant that I may realize it is the little things of life that create differences and that in the big things of life we are one. And, O Lord God, let me not forget to be kind!  (http://www.ourcatholicprayers.com/prayer-for-charity.html)

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2012
Posted in Faith, Habits, Inspiration | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Get Your Builder’s Permit Here!

Posted on June 18, 2012 by Martha

(From 2011)

“So David lived in the strong, walled city and called it the City of David.  David built more buildings around it, beginning where the land was filled in.  He also built more buildings inside the city.  He became stronger and stronger, because the Lord God All-Powerful was with him.”

     Oh, to live in the security of a walled city, a fortress.  Oh, to be prospered and protected.  Oh, to know the feeling of strength, to accomplish, to persevere.  Can there truly be such an existence?

     The answer is yes; with God, all things are possible.  In 1 and 2 Samuel,  we read about David.  As long as he follows God’s will, as long as he is fulfilling God’s plan for his life, he perseveres, he prospers.  Is it without adversity?  No.  One only has to read a little of his life’s story to see it was filled with struggles and adversities such as war, murder, and infidelity.  And yet, David became King, and from the house of David came our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

     We struggle in our everyday lives to be the person God wants us to be.  Many of us fail over and over again.  Many turn and walk away, doomed to lives filled with turmoil and misery.  In reality, it is us who must build our stronghold, our walled city.  We build it brick by brick, prayer by prayer, one faith-filled act at a time.

     To build our stronghold we must begin within ourselves, by seeking God’s plan for our life.  We do this by spending time in silence before Him.  When we realize our own wall of strength and protection, we begin to build one around our loved ones.  We do this by praying for their faith and for their protection.  We also witness our own faith to them.  As we build, we grow ever stronger, able to withstand the attacks from the outside.  As we build, our fortress expands to encompass ourselves, our loved ones, and others around us who witness and immitate our strength and faith.

     Do the attacks keep coming?  Yes, and probably even more so than before, because now, like David, you are with the Lord God All-Powerful.  Just as David did, you may falter along the way.  But, because you are God’s, your fortress will prove strong.  The evil one’s battering ram is fiercely strong also, but not against the Lord God All-Powerful.

     Oh, to live in the walled city of God, to be heir to His throne, to be safe within the care of the Lord God All-Powerful.  Get your builder’s permit today.  Spend time in His silence before Him.

Posted in Biblical, Faith, Habits, Inspiration | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Call Upon El Roi, The God Who Sees

Posted on June 15, 2012 by Martha

(From 2011)

“Where can I go from your spirit?  from your presence where can I flee?  If  I go up to the heavens, your are there; if I sink to the nether world, you are present there. ”  Psalm 139:-8

     All of us carry around hurt within our heart.  It may be from long ago, or not quite so long ago.  We may have forgiven and tried to forget; we may have filed it away and tried to live our life as if it never occurred.  Most of us have the ability to put our hurts behind us and move on.  It doesn’t mean the hurt didn’t happen, or it is totally forgotten.  It just means we choose to live outside of it.

     Years ago God led me to a beautiful book entitled, “Lord, I Want To Know You, by Christian author, Kay Arthur.  It is a study of the different names of the Lord.  As Kay puts it, “… so that you will know where to run to find help in time of need.”  The book highlights the Old Testament Names of God, explaining the meaning of, and giving examples of how they can be used in our everyday lives.  It has had a profound effect on me. To this day, I call upon our Lord using many of the names I learned.  I find it very comforting.

     The name which helps tremendously when dealing with hurt in our lives is El Roi, The God Who Sees.  When we choose to move beyond our hurts, we often do so without being truly healed.  Something often comes up bringing it to the forefront of our memory.  We relive it in our minds and hearts, and then try to move beyond it again.  The cycle repeats itself leaving us bewildered and very much alone in our hurt.

     Kay Arthur uses the example of Hagar in the Bible.  Hagar was the servant of Abram and his wife, Sarai.  Because they had no children, Hagar was forced to bear Abram a son, and then suffered the abuse of the jealous, Sarai.  When Hagar wanted to run, God instructed her to return into the abuse, and name her son, Ishmael.  He promised Hagar that her descendants would be too many to count; Ishmael would lead a great nation!

     God asked much of Hagar, for the abuse was not going to stop.  She would return to it, live through it, and prosper from it.  God had seen all that happened to her, and He would continue to see.  As hard as it is to fathom, God would allow the abuse in order to bring about the ultimate good in her life and the lives of others involved.  Just like Hagar, we see people today who suffer through all kinds of hurt, mistreatment, and abuse.  It comes in many forms: mental, physical, emotional, and many must suffer in total silence.  No one knows; no one can help them.  We ask how God can allow this and how can there ever be true healing from such evil?

     There is no one complete answer.  Like Hagar, we must trust in God’s sovereign plan. Then, the place to run with the pain and hurt is El Roi, The God Who Sees.  As Kay Arthur points out, He saw the sins committed against you and He will vindicate you, if not in this life, then on the day of judgement.  In His sovereign power, if you but trust in Him, He will work out all for your good.  He saw, He loves, and He restores.

     El Roi can also be a source of constant comfort for parents.  Are your teenagers out late?  Has a child run away from home?  Do you have a child away at college, out on there own for the first time?  While you can’t see them, El Roi can.  El Roi sees them every minute of every day.  Call upon El Roi, and take comfort in The God Who Sees watching over them.  Take comfort in knowing He will work all things, even the bad, for the good of those who know and trust Him.  

“…you know when I sit and when I stand; you understand my thoughts from afar.  My journeys and my rest you scrutinize, with all my ways you are familiar.”  Psalm 139:2-3  

Posted in Biblical, Faith, Habits, Inspiration | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

You Can’t Hide…He Knows

Posted on June 14, 2012 by Martha

(From 2011)

“The word of God is something alive and active: it cuts more incisively than any two-edged sword: it can seek out the place where soul is divided from spirit, or joints from marrow; it can pass judgement on secret emotions and thoughts.  No created thing is hidden from him; everything is uncovered and stretched fully open to the eyes of the one to whom we must give account of ourselves.”  Hebrews 4:12-13

     The first thing that comes to mind when I read the above Bible verse is, “Who do we think we are fooling!”  Certainly not G0d; who knows all, sees all, and rules all.  As disconcerting as this can be, it is also comforting.  It tells me there is someone who really knows me, knows all there is to know about me, even my deepest, darkest secrets.  You know, the ones we can never speak of out loud, or the ones we can never tell another living soul.  He knows.

     We don’t like to think about these things. It makes us feel uncomfortable.  We squirm in our seats.  We quickly change the thoughts in our mind.  We shove it to the very back corner, close and lock the door.  But, even after doing all of this, a small part of us, a little twinge in our heart, tells us it is not completely hidden.  He knows.

       A little further on in that same Hebrews quote we read verse 15, “For the high priest we have is not incapable of feeling our weaknesses with us, but has been put to the test exactly the same way as ourselves, apart from sin.”  This falls under the category of ‘good to know’ information.  We can be friends, Him and I.  After all, He has lived it.  We have common ground to commiserate!  We all love to share our experiences with friends who can relate to us; and with others who have been through similar experiences, especially the bad experiences.  We need and appreciate their support.  We share, and that is the basis of a good friendship.  He knows.

     We should see our relationship with God, not just as Supreme Being, Creator, Father, King, and Lord of All,  but also as our best friend.  When we view Him as our friend we unlock the door to the hidden vault, the door to our heart.  We no longer need to hide anything.  Remember, it isn’t really hidden anyway.  He already knows.  However, now, we can openly share it with Him in the trusted relationship of friendship.  We can seek His advice and receive His support.  I love the next line of the above Hebrews quote, verse 16, “Let us, then, have no fear in approaching the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace when we are in need of help.”

         No, we aren’t fooling anyone!  But, doesn’t He make it easy for us to receive all that we need, to be the all that we can be?  Gotta love Him!  He knows.

Posted in Biblical, Faith, Habits, Inspiration | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Divine Providence For The Taking

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Martha

“If the smallest things are beyond your power, why be anxious about the rest?”  Luke 12:26

     In Luke, Chapter 12, verses 22-31, Jesus warns us not to get too concerned about the things we need in this life, such as the food we eat, or the clothes we wear.  For most of us that is quite a tall order!  He knows this about us, otherwise He would not have found it necessary to preach about it. 

     He uses the ravens and lilies as His examples.  He tells us to look and see how they are fed, and how beautifully they are adorned, yet they do nothing on their own to accomplish it.  They simply exist by the Grace of God.  They live in His plan for their life, growing and using the talents and skills He has given them.  Because they are His, He takes care of them; He sees to their individual needs.  They live in His Divine Providence.  I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a pretty good deal to me.  I live, I get fed and clothed!  You know me, I like simple.  Yep, a good deal! 

     Before we get all excited about the possibilities, and yes, while it is simple and good, there is a catch.  Let us look a little closer at those ravens and lilies.  They don’t really have much choice in the matter, do they?  They cannot deviate from God’s plan for them because they have no free will.  God gave each one of us a free will.  We can choose to live according to His plan for us, or we can opt out.  Jesus even tries to entice us by telling us how much more important we are to God than the ravens and lilies.  He points out if God cares for, and adorns them so, then think how much more He will do for us, who are worth so much more in His sight! 

     Jesus knows us too well.  He says, in Luke 12:30, “The unbelievers of this world are always running after these things.  Your Father knows that you need such things.”  He goes on to say, in verse 31, “Seek out instead his kingship over you, and the rest will follow in turn.”  He knows, because of our free will, many of us will be tempted by the trappings of the so called ‘good life’.  In His wisdom, He provides us the answer.  We are to seek Him first, above all things, and then the rest will take care of itself.  All will be well with us.

     Easier said, than done, I know.  But, we can’t say He does not provide for His followers.  There may be trials and tribulations, but if We follow His plan for our life, our basic needs will be met.  Divine Providence is there for the taking!  I still say that is a pretty good deal.

Posted in Biblical, Faith, Habits, Inspiration | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment