“The most valuable gift you can give another is a good example.” Unknown Author“Don’t bother to talk to her about God, it just makes her shut down and push God farther away.”
They moved in and I enjoyed the company. Baby Delilah's cry was so quiet I could barely hear her. I’d never been around a newborn before. Delilah's mother was very protective; after all we were virtually strangers. For weeks she saw me read my bible at night and have a quiet time in the morning, but I never spoke to her about God. Eventually she let me hold Delilah and even feed her.
St. Francis of Assisi once said, “Preach the Gospel at all time and when necessary use words.” Is there someone who might be watching how you live your life? Does your life reflect the faith you profess? What will you ask God for today to ensure you are living a life that reflects the good news of God’s grace and mercy to you? Lord, thank You for teaching me the lesson of how important a living witness can be; and, that there is always someone watching. Amen “He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” Psalm 23:3
What are your thoughts? Libby Note: Saint Francis of Assisi, a.k.a. Giovanni de Pietro de Bernardone (1181-1226), an Italian Catholic friar, deacon and preacher know for founding the Third Order of Saint Francis (among other church Orders); he is one of the most venerated figures in church history, also widely remembered as the patron saint of the natural environment and of animals.
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"People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." Unknown Author
The man watching me asked, "Are you a Christian?" I told him I was. "Why do you think that guy is standing on street corner like that? Nobody's paying attention to him." "We did," I replied trying not to offend him. No response, so I continued, "Maybe that approach was what changed his life and he's trying to reach someone else using the same method." "But everyone's laughing at him," he said. "You didn't laugh," I pointed out. This same man was in my study group in the training class and we did homework as a group in the hotel atrium after dinner. At the end of the week he asked me, "So why haven't you been pressing me to become a Christian? Isn't that what Christians do? My sister is always on my case to come to church with her." "I've always believed that people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care," I said, "I've only known you five days." He then asked, "Well, how about now? Do you care about me?" he asked. "I do," I said. He continued,"But tomorrow you'll be back in California and I'll be back in Michigan, what then?" I then asked him, "Would you like to hear about when I came to know Jesus?" He did and we talked all through dinner our last night in Atlanta. We corresponded for the next year or so through emails on work-related topics but also included short personal notes as well. During that time I was able to water those seeds planted in Atlanta, first those by the Sandwich Man and then others planted when I shared my testimony. Before we lost touch he was able to speak to his sister's husband about Christ. I hope one day I'll see him in heaven. Do you ever wonder how to know when to open the subject and share about Jesus? Are you cautious not to push people farther away from Christ by offending them with too much, too soon? How will you approach the next opportunity to talk about Jesus?
Lord, thank you for keeping me from judging Sandwich Man just to feel a part of the crowd, because it later gave me an opening to share Your good news. Amen "Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment." John 7:24 What are your thoughts? Libby “Don’t ever mistake my silence for ignorance, my calmness for acceptance, and my kindness for weakness.” Unknown
I began practicing listening – not talking – when I went to dinner with friends, when I sat in conference rooms waiting for meetings to begin, at the dinner table on holidays. What I didn’t realize until then was, listening was not just speaking less it was an opportunity to really focus on what others were saying. This was one of the harder lessons of my life, and I’m still learning. But listening for what people mean, as well as what they say, has also helped me ask better questions. As I began to consult, practicing silence helped me offer better suggestions because I had a better understanding of the whole situation.
“Making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding.” Proverbs 2:2 “If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.” Proverbs 18:13
What are your thoughts? Libby “Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” T.S. EliotSo often I hesitate unsure of God’s will for a given situation or a project I’m about to start. But if I would trust God to withhold His help if it’s not His will for me, or to support it with His grace for success when it is in His will for me, then I might be more willing to tackle great tasks for God’s kingdom. I wouldn’t be crippled by thoughts of, “I’m not able to…” or “Who am I to do…?” In all honesty, I don’t have to wait. There are at least two projects hovering in the back of my mind that are waiting for just such a step of faith. I will commit to you – my readers – right now, that I will tackle one of these projects today. It may be a while before I see where it goes and whether God either removed obstacles or closes doors. But I will report back to you when I learn. Until then…. Are you struggling with taking risks? Is there a task hovering just outside your conscious thoughts trying to get your attention? What will you do this week to take a step of faith and see if God opens the way to success? Lord, thank you for quotes that inspire and encourage me to go beyond my comfort zone and into a new realm of grace and blessing. Amen “For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 What are your thoughts? Libby
"An empty lantern provides no light. Self-care is the fuel that allows your light to shine brightly." UnknownThis morning I was talking to a friend who's house burnt down a few months ago. I ended our call with, "Take care of yourself." I often end an email or phone call with "Take care," whether they're recovering from illness, injury, surgery, grief, or some form of trauma. But, how often do I take my own advice?
For instance, I might spend hours of unpaid overtime driven by the thought that if I work harder I won't be the next layoff. And then there's the struggle I have with saying "No" when asked to do something I know I'm not good at, or I'm already over-booked. Or, struggling with saying "Yes" to myself when I have the opportunity for some self-care, but there is some worthy cause short of volunteers.
I'm still learning which things are not in my best interests, but I'm getting better at being pro-active rather than reacting after I crash and burn. Are you finding yourself reacting with guilt-based responses? Have you thought about those things that are, or are not, in your wheelhouse? What can you do now to identify your pro-active self-care boundaries, and be like the caterpillar who instinctively knows how to take care of itself? Lord, give me Your eyes to distinguish between healthy responses to serving others, versus guilt-based responses that jeopardize my emotional health and peace of mind. Amen
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body.” I Corinthians 6:19-20 What are your thoughts? Libby “Grief drives [people] into habits of serious reflection, sharpens the understanding and softens the heart.” John Adams
C.S. Lewis, a writer and Cambridge professor, journaled his reflections that "sharpened his understanding and softened his heart" as he wrote, “For a good wife contains so many persons in herself…my pupil and my teacher, my subject and my sovereign…my trusted comrade, friend, shipmate, fellow-soldier…my mistress; but at the same time all that any man friend has ever been to me. Perhaps more.”
I don’t know who said, “If I allow [grief] to pass through my life without trying to change it or escape from it, grief will leave me a more finished person.” This has certainly been true of my experience. I feel I will be better able to walk the path of grief and pain again when the time comes because I know there is a rainbow at the end of the storm. Are you remembering a loss that still stings the open wound in your heart? Have you allowed yourself to fully walk through the grief yet? If not, what can you do today to allow grief to walk you through to recovery as ”a more finished person”? Lord, thank You for allowing me to yell at You in anger yet still You stayed by my side and accompanied me through the grief journey. Amen “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18
“On action alone be thy interest, never on its fruits.” Unknown“Look down, not out…keep your eyes on your mark,” my friend and coach reminded me. “Don’t worry about the pins, just hit your mark.” Bowling is one game where your entire focus is on your mark and your follow-through. If you do those two things—assuming you’ve chosen the right mark for your release and the lane condition—you will hit the pocket. Notice these professional bowlers are all looking down at the marks, not at the pins.
When I first started bowling, all I looked at were the pins. All too often I would hit only two or three of them. The idea of focusing on a mark on the floor and aiming for that didn’t make sense to me. When I got a coach I discovered the marks are about twenty feet from the foul line, but the pins are sixty feet away. It’s much more likely to hit the marks accurately. Then I just needed to discover which mark was the best place to aim for the way my ball would spin and roll from my release. I wish we had marks in life goals, also. Oh, wait. We do! Years ago I was part of an automation team working on a two year project, when management cancelled the it due to an emerging technology that would make our solution obsolete. So, today we take projects in steps, and then re-evaluate the goal after each step. This also works with declaring a major in college, or when planning a weather-dependent event ahead of time; like a vacation, camping trip, or wedding. Today when I bowl, it’s enough to give my full attention to having a consistent release, follow-through, and to hit my mark. When I get it right, I’m pleased with the results. Are you dreaming of goals that you’re not reaching? Have you thought about breaking them into smaller, more manageable steps? What can you do today to make your goals more achievable? Lord, keep my focused on my next step and not lose my way trying to see into the unknown. Amen “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you.” Matthew 6:33 What are your thoughts? Libby “Build your life on the foundation of gratitude to God and true humility…build the frame of your life out of self-discipline…build the walls out of service to others…build the roof out of prayer and quiet time…build a garden around your life out of peace of mind and serenity and a sure faith.” Anonymous“It’s my kitchen this year so I’m going to do it my way,” which was my polite way of saying, ‘back off.’ Why do holidays often revert to tension and a sharp tone of voice? Short answer: family dynamics. Even as we rotate homes, the sister who’s kitchen we’re in is likely to be backed into a corner at some point by everyone else’s ideas until some form of this declaration is interjected into the discussion. Today, however, we are better at backing off than when we were younger, which I give full credit to how we’ve integrated our faith into our everyday lives.
Just think, this retreat could be a real world for me if I were to turn over my rights—or what I think of as my rights because it’s my kitchen—to God’s ways. If I based my life on gratitude for the fact that I have a kitchen to cook in and a family to spend time with, if I worked in the kitchen accepting of the habits of others for just this one day, if I realized this was my opportunity to serve my family with generosity of spirit not just generosity of food; then I might enjoy the holidays more.
Does this description of a home to live your life in sound appealing? Would you like to take a walk in its garden? What will you do today to take a step toward making it a reality in your life?
“Kindness…is a hallmark of recovery.” AnonymousWhen everyone referred to the events of June 16th at a family gathering one summer, I asked, “June 16th? What happened on June 16th?” The looks I got sharpened my embarrassment when my sister said, “It was Mom’s birthday.” I’d forgotten my mother’s birthday! Admittedly I was going through some pretty traumatic events at that time, but I forgot my own mother’s birthday. When I’m so deep in feelings of being a victim of circumstances, and barely coping with my own emotional roller-coaster, there was little or no room for thoughts of others. Thoughts and acts of kindness were rarely considered, and they were the first to drop off my to-do list, when I was overwhelmed with my own ‘stuff.’ What instead brought stability to my world was found in the Serenity Prayer…especially when I say it in reverse, starting with, “God grant me the wisdom to know the difference between the things I cannot control and the things I can.” Then I can successfully ask for the serenity to accept the things outside my control.
The experience of thoughtful consideration of other’s feelings and acts of kindness are only possible in my life as I live life with the Serenity Prayer as my closest companion, and God as my guide. Today I attribute all the joy in my life to this relationship. Can circumstances often derail your focus from what’s really important? Are you embarrassed to find that you missed an opportunity to show kindness to those you love? What will you do today to make a difference in your condition?
“Count the lessons learned from failures as rungs upon the ladder of progress. Press onward toward the goal." Anonymous
If I hadn’t viewed each false start as a learning experience I might have thrown it down in complete frustration and never finished it. It’s not finished yet, so I might still have more to learn (like go buy a pattern), but I’m keeping frustration at bay by viewing my ‘do overs’ as lessons learned.
Do you every try to fix something and then realize you needed to start over? When you have to start over, do you get frustrated? How will you change your thinking so a ‘do over’ doesn’t feel like a failure?
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WelcomeI love the wisdom of the ages gleaned from relevant quotes. In them there is a connection to the human experience that crosses all borders. Join me as I relate my personal experiences, and link the wisdom of the quote to the Source of all wisdom: God's Word, the Bible. Enjoy, Libby Categories
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