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Prayerful Morsels
Tidbits of Inspiration & Information
October 23, 2009 |
Morsels From the Editor
Welcome to this issue of Prayerful Morsels. In Personal Pondering, I reflect on God's presence in our lives and what He does for us even when we are not paying attention. I think that sometimes you should hear from someone other than me so I bring in a guest author once in awhile. This issue, Kimberly Chastain writes- How Does God See You?Do not forget to check out the Gratitude Journal and submit one of your own blessings for the next issue. It can be anonymous if you wish. The point is that by remembering and sharing our blessings, we can have an attitude of gratitude! Changes how we look at life. Changes how we look at God. Thanksgiving is coming soon! Let us give thanks! You can read past issues by going to my archive page for Prayerful Morsels.Happy All Saints Day! Any comments or suggestions, be sure to write a Letter to the Editor. |
Prayerful Quote
It is in our solitude that God gives himself to us completely.
- Charles de Foucald (1858-1916), Seeds of the Desert
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Personal Pondering
by Colleen Spiro
"Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, who took them in my arms.
I drew them with human cords, with bands of love; I fostered them like one who raises an infant to his cheeks;
Yet, though I stooped to feed my child, they did not know that I was their healer." (Hosea 11:3-4)
Sometimes we ask the question, Where was God? Sometimes we think we are all alone. Sometimes we think we survived something all by ourselves.
But faith tells me that I am never alone. Faith tells me that I did not survive anything by myself for God is always with me.
We parents are always doing things to protect our children and they have no idea we are doing so. When they were little, they did not know that we had put safety plugs in the outlets and removed dangerous medications and cleaning fluids out of their reach. How many accidents did we prevent by using gates in front of stairways and how about those car seats?
So how many times has God prevented an accident or a crisis in our lives and we did not know it? When did he protect us and love us though we were not paying attention?
That time I suddenly got strength enough to get out of bed when I was so depressed after my miscarriage, was that the Holy Spirit encouraging me?
The times I thought I was alone as a child, when I got the desire to read my Bible or to go to church so I was not alone, was it our Lord who drew me to Him?
Was it God whispering into my ear when I suddenly decided I wanted to become Catholic?
How many times did Jesus take me into his arms and I did not know it?
As Hosea says, it was God who taught us to walk. It was God who drew us to Him with love.
We did not know He was our healer. But He was and is and will be forevermore. |
How Does God See You?
by Kimberly Chastain
How does God see you? Does He like what He sees? Can I tell you He loves you 100% and loves everything about you? He loves all your
annoying habits, He loves those extra pounds you have gained, and He loves you
when you falter. Basically, He loves you. As a new creature in Christ when God
looks at you He sees you as being redeemed. He sees the work Christ has
completed on our behalf. He loves you even if you never change from this very
day.
This morning I was trying to start my quiet time. I had my
notebooks and Bible out all ready to get started. I sensed God saying,
"Put those down. Calm your mind down. You know what, Kimberly I love you.
Just think about it for a minute." I quickly was in tears. He truly loves
me. I know we all "know" God loves us, but do you really know it? Do
you live like He loves you?
God thinks I'm beautiful! Whether the world thinks that or
not! God likes my silly jokes, whether my kids like them or not. God thinks I'm
cool even if the world says different. God sent his Son to die for me, how much
more special can that be.
Today, I ask you to truly dwell on the fact that God loves
you. Soak in it, breathe it, and then live it. When God loves me I can conquer
anything in his strength alone. I do best when I give it all to God and throw
my hands up and say, "God it is yours I can't do it anymore." It is a
shame I don't do that first, but I'm learning and you know what God loves me in
spite of myself.
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
Kimberly Chastain, MS, LMFT is the Christian
Working Mom Coach and a Licensed Marriage and Family
Therapist. She was recently featured in the book the Myth of the Perfect Mother. She is the author of "Help, I Just Can't Say
No" and Pearls of Encouragement for Christian Working Moms. To schedule a free, initial coaching session send an email to free@kimberlychastain.com or
visit http://www.christianworkingmom.com. |
A Gratitude Journal
"If the only prayer you ever say in your life is thank you, it will be enough." Meister Eckhart
I am so grateful for
friends...people I never knew before that have become close to me
spiritually as well as friendly. Everyone needs someone to talk to,
sometimes just hearing your own voice speak an opinion, or the problem of one's
day makes you understand how trite most of us are making "mountains out of mole
hills". My life is so tremendously blessed that my biggest problem is
giving the "proper" thanks to the Lord. Is praying enough? Is loving
enough? The only way that makes me feel good is to know that I gave my life to
Him, and to follow His directions...that I hear in my
silence. - Jeanne McGirr
I am so thankful to
our Lord that my Aunt Mary Bruno just celebrated her 90th birthday
and is happy and healthy despite losing her loving husband Frank only a few
years ago. The Lord gave her to our family to look to for guidance and hope,
love and patience, and for that I will always be thankful. - Anonymous
What are you grateful for today??? Is there something that you would like to thank God for and would like to share? Write to the Editor and put in the subject line - Gratitude. | |
Want to read more of Colleen's reflections?
Go check out her blogs:
Thoughts on Grace
Simple Reflections
Surviving By Grace
AND if you enjoy reading this ezine or find it helpful to your prayer life, please forward it to someone you think might find it interesting!! Click on link below (down below at the bottom of this newsletter) that says Forward to a friend.
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 Colleen's memoir about surviving child sexual abuse, The Third Floor Window, A True Story of Secrets, Survival and Hope, is on sale at:
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| Prayerful Morsels
Copyright 2009 Colleen Spiro - All Rights Reserved |
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