Quote of the day

"For years now I've lived with the fear that at some point everyone is going to leave, and I will be left alone. For no reason I can say, in no way I can prevent, I am going to wind up alone. I can't really explain why, but I know it's my fault. It lingers there, down under the surface, like a chronic backache or a low grade fever. But it colors everything I say and do; it shapes every relationship. I remain guarded, distant. I feel I ought to do more, be more. So it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. And I'm sick of it...

...and Jesus walked softly beside...

None of this was your fault

Now, you must understand, I didn't know that for all those years. I had believed it was my fault. I didn't think about it much at all. But down in the deep waters of my soul that conviction had settled, grown, like barnacles on a shipwreck, lies clinging to my heart. This all happened because my heart is bad; it's my fault. And down the Spirit went to speak the words to break those lies.

None of this was your fault

And something of my heart came free that night."

From Waking the Dead by John Eldredge

I'm waiting.

Listening to the gentle whisper...

“Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper."
I Kings 19: 11-12 (NLT)

Yesterday I was reading a book, the title of which will remain a mystery because it would start a whole new post. From that reading, I took three verses from the bible, wrote them down, and posted them on my desk:

Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.
James 1:19

Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Proverbs 12:18

In your anger, do not sin.
Ephesians 4:26

Let's just say that those particular passages spoke to me enough to write them down, because I saw at least two situations in my life right now where I need to remember and apply them.

But that wasn't the gentle whisper. The gentle whisper (although it's more like a sledgehammer that a gentle whisper, but you get the point) was this:

Today, during some down time, I remembered how I used to get a little daily devotional book titled Our Daily Bread that I would use to guide my quiet time, when I used to do my quiet time that is. Yes, that's another confession, and yes, I'm working on it.

So, I go to the internet and type in "Our Daily Bread" and find the website. There was today's devotional: "Talk Low, Talk Slow" which quoted James 1:19 and was right on the same point.

Ok, God....not exactly a still, small voice....not exactly a gentle whisper...but thank you. I get it. I'm listening. Now, my prayer is help me to remember it and apply it in the situations in my life that require it.

Quote of the day

"Ride her 'til she bucks ya or don't ride at all"

~ Kevin Costner in Tin Cup



image borrowed without permission from http://www.visionlightgallery.com/gallery/Bucking_Bronco_1_P8631C661.cfm

Quote of the day

"If you danced with the devil for a very good reason, have you not still danced with the devil? "
- Tom Clancy "Dead or Alive"

Quote of the day

An oldie, but a goodie. And seems quite appropriate this week, for myself and a couple people I know.

The Chinese farmer

There is a Chinese story of an old farmer who had an old horse for tilling his fields. One day the horse escaped into the hills and, when all the farmer's neighbours sympathised with the old man over his bad luck, the farmer replied, 'Bad luck? Good luck? Who knows?'

A week later the horse returned with a herd of wild horses from the hills and this time the neighbours congratulated the farmer on his good luck. His reply was, 'Good luck? Bad luck? Who knows?'

Then, when the farmer's son was attempted to tame one of the wild horses, he fell off its back and broke his leg. Everyone thought this very bad luck. Not the farmer, whose only reaction was, 'Bad luck? Good luck? Who knows?'

Some weeks later the army marched into the village and conscripted every able-bodied youth they found there. When they saw the farmer's son with his broken leg they let him off. Now was that good luck? Bad luck? Who knows?

Quote of the day

Some mornings it just doesn't seem worth it to gnaw through the leather straps.
~ Emo Phillips

Quote of the day

Since it is so likely that (children) will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage. Otherwise you are making their destiny not brighter but darker.

~ C.S. Lewis