How significant are you?

By Nancy Ward

Christ and Child by Bloch (Wikimedia Commons)

Disappointment crept into my heart when I failed to land a plum writing assignment. This came after I visualized my writing glorifying God and my work becoming significant. I thought that would help me become significant.  It got me thinking about how we become significant and how we judge the significance of others in our life.

I remember hearing someone say, “The more you love, the more significant you become.” God is Love, and he is huge compared to me. Not because he is bigger, stronger and more powerful, but because he gave his Son for love of me.


How significant is God in your life?

Measure that by how much he loves you. Can you measure God’s infinite love for humanity and specifically for you? The cross points out how much.

Don’t wait until you grow into that charming, loveable person that you visualize everyone can love. God created you the person you are right now, his beloved child. You are already that loveable person because he already loves you unconditionally. You can’t earn God’s love by trying to acquire more holiness.  You can only allow his holiness to come forth through all the clutter of your fears and self-expectations by embracing his love for you.


Continue reading at Nancy's blog JOY Alive.

A heart that prays

By Beryl Baterina

Painting by Carpaccio (Wikipedia).

 

We, humans cannot be contented with what we have.  We have this unending desire to seek for more.  We want to aim higher and higher.  Well, there is nothing wrong with that.  In fact, it is good that we have goals to keep pushing ourselves.  And we pray to God to grant us our desires.  We pray that we may be able to land at this job, to pass this test, to be like this and that, and many other more.  There are times when we demand of God, "You said, 'Ask and you will receive.'We have faith but You did not answer our prayers."  That can be a factor why there are many people who do not have faith in God anymore.  They were devastated with the "broken promises" of God.

But it should not be the case.  "You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly."  God answers our prayers in a way that is best for us.  We must not be mad at God thinking that He is not really answering our prayers.  We must not turn our backs  from prayers because of this.  We must reflect on how we pray to God.  Do we pray just for the compliance of praying?  Or do we pray with our hearts open and complete surrender before the Lord?  Do we pray like, "Lord, give me this, I should be like that..." or anything similar to that?  Or do we pray like, "Lord, I am not worthy that I should be asking this.  But if it is Your will, I will really be grateful.  I ask You O Lord to please..." and other prayers like that?

Let us try to recall how we prayed when we were still kids.  But if it is too hard to remember, let us ask children how they pray.  Maybe we can reflect on their answers.  Maybe we will also be able to remember how we prayed when we were younger.  Or better yet, we will remember how God answered our prayers from when we were still kids until we grew older.

We must not cease in our prayer life.  We should continue to be humble and keep our faith as we ask for God's grace.

 Beryl originally wrote this post at Beryl Baterina: Daily Dose.

Finding what really satisfies us

by Terry

Human Contentments by Edgard Farasijn (Photo in Public Domain).

We’re a peculiar bunch, we humans.  Most of us never seem to be satisfied with our lot in life.  No matter how good or how bad, we instinctively reach out for something more.

As someone who wears many different hats in a 24-hour period, I hate to admit it but I am guilty as charged.  If only my kids would do more chores; if only I could land that contract; if only I could finish that lesson plan; if only...

Recently, a person of advanced age who has great material wealth but failing health wistfully remarked, “if only I had more money, all my troubles would be over.”  The person was visibly anxious while saying this.  I probably shouldn’t have been surprised at that statement but it made me pause because it didn’t make any sense.  Money isn’t going to solve the myriad health problems or reverse the aging process.  I felt very sad for this person who, in my eyes, was still searching for something more and relying heavily on things of this world to appease an inner restlessness.  That the person was an atheist certainly didn’t help.

 
Continue reading at Terry's blog  8 Kids and a Business.