Human beings, left to our own nature, can go to great lengths to defend or rationalize our thinking, our choices, our words and our actions. Have you ever noticed that the greater the level of discomfort we have with our own behavior, the greater our defensiveness becomes? We tend to explain ourselves more when we are dabbling in shadows.
When we are living in the light, we don’t have anything to explain or defend. We are free.
One of the finest gifts of God is the gift of our consciousness. When we become aware and willing, we invite the Holy Spirit to search our hearts. In quiet reflection, the Lord brings the content of our hearts to our attention. We may have some cleaning up to do, some amends to make, some repairs to initiate, some forgiveness to ask for or extend.
Let the Lord in. Tell your ego to hush. Listen and learn. Allow your heart to be purified and liberated. Walk in the light of God’s presence and peace.
Good day LFF, the last several days have been an interesting and rough roller coaster ride for sure. We travelled back to New England to attend the Celebration of Life for my best friend Rick S. I finally got to meet his daughter Ashley and grandson Jacob. It was a beautiful celebration in many aspects, great stories of a wonderful man who lived life large, was very generous with his time and talent (professional photographer),. Many laughs, many tears and just an overflowing show of support for his widow Linda. One lady who spoke stated their story was a real life “Love Story”, as they only met in 2018 and decided to marry in the COVID year. Cancer cut short their time together as husband and wife but the time they had together was special. She made Rick very happy and vice versa. Anyway, I’m glad we made it to Cape Cod for the event and now I’m delving into these beautiful scripture passages from Proverbs. They’re helping me to make sense of where I am at this stage of my life and helping me to reset my compass as sometimes, the ship of life tends to veer off course. Many blessings to you all and I pray for all your intentions.
Yes Jane, that Matthew Kelly book is a good read along with anything he writes. It’s on my bookshelf and I started reading it. Finding the time to read is my challenge these days. Thanks.
Bill - glad you made it and glad it was so special. As you ponder your compass, a good short book you might enjoy is “the last quarter of your life” or something like that by Matthew Kelly. I enjoyed it. Kristin’s reflection (as per usual) was divinely inspired. Kristin, I’m so happy you write for LFF and share your gifts with us. Lord, hush our ego and help us to listen and learn. Amen.
So glad you went, Bill S. It is an intracule part of the grieving process. Bill L.
Amen, Ms. Armstrong. Good Wonderful Ruby/Taco Tuesday. Thank you very much All your uplifting, beautiful, right on target writings. You are appreciated and loved. May God continue to Bless us All & keep us safe. Amen.
Amen. :)
Another excellent reflection Kristin, thank you! Thinking of all my Living Faith Family and praying for all your intentions. Thank you all for holding me up with your encouraging comments. Crazy, busy week. Peace, Love and Joy!
AMEN!
*** Be careful when we follow our 'feelings' in 1 Timothy 4:1-2, "The Holy Spirit clearly says that in the last days some people will leave the faith. They will follow spirits that will fool them. They will believe things that demons will teach them. Teachings like those come from liars who pretend to be what they are not. Their sense of what is right and wrong has been destroyed!" We are NOT all born good in Jeremiah 17:9, "The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?" *** An upside world we now expereince in Isaiah 5:20-21, "How terrible it will be for those who say that what is evil is good! How terrible for those who say that what is good is evil! How terrible for those who say that darkness is light and light is darkness! How terrible for those who say that what is bitter is sweet and what is sweet is bitter! How terrible it will be for those who think they are wise! How terrible for those who think they are really clever!" *** The teaching of Jesus turns this world upside down paradoxically in Luke 11:27-28, "As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out. She shouted, “Blessed is the mother who gave You birth and nursed You.” He replied, “Instead, blessed are those who hear God’s Word and obey it.” ******* It is critical to hear/study/medidate God's Word daily by the power of the Holy Spirit and apply the truth learned from His Word by the power of the Holy Spirit!!! Jesus quoted Scripture (Old Testament) 10 percent of the time!!! *** Matthew 4:4, "Jesus answered, “It is written, ‘Man must not live only on bread. He must also live on every Word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” (Deuteronomy 8:3) *** 2 Timothy 3:15-17, " You have known the Holy Scriptures ever since you were a little child. They are able to teach you how to be saved by believing in Christ Jesus. God has breathed life into all Scripture. It is useful for teaching us what is true. It is useful for correcting our mistakes. It is useful for making our lives whole again. It is useful for training us to do what is right. By using Scripture, the servant of God can be completely prepared to do every good thing!" *** Hebrews 4:12, "The Word of God is alive and active. It is sharper than any sword that has two edges. It cuts deep enough to separate soul from spirit. It can separate bones from joints. It judges the thoughts and purposes of the heart!"
Kristin those words hit home for many. We all want to be loved and accepted and sometimes the ego comes out to get that love. It's just a short lived love. True faith and humility brings the Holy Spirit to the forefront and true love is the result. Just a thought. Blessings LFF . May the love of God be with each and everyone of us through good and hard times. May we spread his love through all the world.
Short lived love and true love…..that is so true Stormi, thank you for helping me to see my ego driven actions and words in a new light.
Invite the Holy Spirit to search our hearts! Amen!
Indeed, Gary! Psalm 139:23-24, "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" Amen!!!
"The fruits of the earth are not brought to perfection immediately, but by time, rain & care; similarly, the fruits of men ripen through ascetic practice, study, time, perseverance, self-control, & patience." St. Anthony the Great
Amen! Power packed reflection Kristin. Thank you! Lord have your way in us and let Your will be done through us. Restrain our ego and allow your grace, mercy and goodness to overflow from our lives so to touch the most destitute among us, as your word says in Proverbs 21:13 He who shuts his ear to the poor man's cry, shall himself plead and not be heard. Help us Lord we pray as only You can prove our hearts. Amen! Sending prayers and blessings for all with special intentions and needs today. Tuesday peace and blessings Living Faith Family.
Powerful reflection, thank you Kristen!
Amen.
Apologies, I typed and formatted my comment in notes on an iPhone. The formatting was lost when copied to the LF site and I didn’t notice it until I reread it jus now.
No comment is required to add value to that reflection. But as ever my ego prompts me anyway so here goes. The light of truth from The Holy Spirit and my ego (from an unmentionable source) are at odds within me, daily hourly, minute by minute. I make the choice to believe and follow one or the other. One is quiet calm and consistent in truth, the other is insidious, noisy, brash always offering quick fix populist solutions. I make better choices than before but still get it wrong. I guard against complacency, and will do so until the day I die. So until then I will remain a work in progress. Apologies for the length of this but the following 2 quotations have helped me. “If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart? During the life of any heart this line keeps changing place; sometimes it is squeezed one way by exuberant evil and sometimes it shifts to allow enough space for good to flourish. One and the same human being is, at various ages, under various circumstances, a totally different human being. At times he is close to being a devil, at times to sainthood. But his name doesn't change, and to that name we ascribe the whole lot, good and evil. Socrates taught us: 'Know thyself! Alexander Solzhenitsyn, The Gulag Archipelago And leaving the best wine ‘til last So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32
Thank you Patrick! I read from top down so I saw Stormi’s comment then yours. Sharing here helps us to see ourselves and gain understanding because we learn we are not alone in our feelings and actions. What you wrote is so true! In my daily examination I am so critical and keep myself awake over actions, decisions and words that I have quickly responded with that day to others words and actions. When I find those that are ‘self’ driven I get upset and weigh them heavier many times with “what did others think” in mind when it should be “what does God think”. Hearing we all have “ego” situations that we must resolve helps me to have mercy and forgiveness for myself as well as others.
Paul totally agreed with you, Patrick, in Romans 7:18-25, "And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin."
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Lord please hear our prayers and bring your light to all those experiencing natural disasters, as well as those in Haiti, the Middle East, Ukraine, Russia, Darfur, the Sudan, in addition to all those suffering around the world - also for their strength, courage and resilience to continue walking in faith. Send them your light. Father in Heaven, have mercy on us and on the whole world! You sent Your Son, the Prince of Peace, for the salvation of the world. We pray that the Peace of Christ will reign in Haiti, the Middle East, Ukraine, Russia, Darfur and Sudan. Please protect and send aid to those in need and all who are at-risk. We pray for peace and rebuilding– we who are working towards it and for all those who are suffering or in danger from conflicts. We pray for an end to violence and war – we pray for wisdom for all leaders who have a hand in this. Lord God please help those in most need of thy mercy. Amen.