Let me pose a question...

How do you tell the difference between your own desires and God?
I'm struggling.
Often, I know it's me.
Sometimes, I know it's God.
But right now,
 it's so grey.
And its a good thing,
but I don't know if it's
the time
or the place.
His will,
or mine.
Thoughts? Advice?
Greatly appreciated.

Love:)

R

After All (Holy)-David Crowder Band

Yes, yes, yes.

Love:)

R

When Eucharistio is empty

How many times has it been empty?
The Eucharisto been just more words.
 One more thing to say. The emotions gone, leaving me mechanical.
 Empty thanks.
Even for the thing I am so most thankful for.
Somehow, just saying it,
Even on the days, in the dark moments, when I'm not sure,
Not sure I even believe it,
Just saying it makes it more real.
The words, escaping my lips, passing by my heart.
 Thank you for your love.
Said so many times, but how often do I remember what a part of me they are? How they are what shapes me, makes me who I am.
How it is the only reason I am.
Your love.
 It is real.
You are real.
 You are good.
You are God.
 Even here, even now, writing these words, black on white, etches them deeper into my oh so granite heart.
They are true.
This......... This I know. This I am sure of
 So once again, I give thanks.

Love:)
R

Good too

Still listening. Joy is wild and messy sometimes, happiness hits you like sunshine on a grey day. But this quiet happiness, peace, it's good too. This I know. Love:) R

A thought by Saint Augustine

Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you! You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for you. In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things which you created. You were with me, but I was not with you. Created things kept me from you; yet if they had not been in you they would have not been at all. You called, you shouted, and you broke through my deafness. You flashed, you shone, and you dispelled my blindness. You breathed your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for you. I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more. You touched me, and I burned for your peace.

from The Confessions of Saint Augustine

Love:)

R

A thanksgiving

Thanks.
for it all,
the love,
the kindness,
the hurt.
You are good.
when I am not.
You are faithful.
when I am not.
You reach out to me.
You are there.
You are God.
And still You love
me
a sinner
nothing
except in You.
then I am what You
need me to be.
for moving mountains,
for standing steady,
unchanging.
for it all,
Thanks.

Faithful

A new year has arrived.
2012
And we worry about the upheavel in our world right now.
But God is faithful.
The unknown is scary.
But God, he is faithful.

For the LORD is good;
   his steadfast love endures forever,
   and his faithfulness to all generations.

(Psalm 100:5)

This is the promise to us.

His love and His faithfulness.

Really, it is all we need.

How many times before have things been hard?

Since the beginning of time.

Life is so full of rhythms. The rhythms of the seasons, of the days, of birth and death. So many rhythms, and they make beautiful music. A song. And even minor notes are beautiful. The familiar rhythms are comforting. As long as there has been time, the have existed.  They will endure. The promise is that they will endure to the end of time.

 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

  a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 

 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

(Ecclesisastes 3:1-8)

This is simply part of the rhythm. The word used for time there emphasizes the beginning.

There is a beginning for everything.

Yes.

And it will ebb and flow. Change, become different. That is the nature of rhythm.

But God is faithful.

He does not change.

For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.

(Malachi 3:6)

For I the LORD do not change.

Even though everything else does, he does not.
Life is fragile, broken and ever changing.
But
God
Never
Changes.
Even
Though
Everything
Else
Does.
God is our refuge and strength,
   a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
   though the mountains be moved into the heart of the see.
(Psalm 46:1-2)

We are not afraid.
Because He does not change.
He is faithful.
And that is enough.

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with thee,
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not,
As thou has been, thou forever will be.


As thou has been, thou forever will be.
Yes.

Love:)

R