How's about we compile a list of thoughts that lift, inspire, and move our hearts!!!
Here's "the challenge" I'm suggesting:
Post a thought (your own thought, a poem, prose, a Scripture, song words, a quote, etc.) that causes you (and others when they read it) to pause... and to drink more deeply at the River of His Presence.
Sound too intimidating? Yeah, to me too! But let's just let the Holy Spirit breathe some inspiration here. My suggestion is, don't work too hard to get something right... just write. Post it. And then, if another thought comes along, post it also. If a Scripture comes to you later, post again. If you think of a quote that has always stirred you... post it too. This could become our "100 inspiring thoughts" list!
Let's see what happens.........
I've got writer's block - but this has always inspired me:
Let me use all things for one sole reason: to find my joy in giving You glory.
Therefore, keep me, above all things, from sin.
Keep me from the death of deadly sin which puts hell in my soul.
Keep me from the murder of lust that blinds and poisons my heart.
Keep me from the sins that eat a man's flesh with irresistible fire until he is devoured.
Keep me from loving money in which is hatred, from avarice [greed] and ambition that suffocate my life.
Keep me from the dead works of vanity and the thankless labor in which artists destroy themselves for pride and money and reputation, and saints are smothered under the avalanche of their own importunate zeal.
Staunch in me the rank wound of covetousness and the hungers that exhaust my nature with their bleeding.
Stamp out the serpent envy that stings love with poison and kills all joy.
Untie my hands and deliver my heart from sloth.
Set me free from the laziness that goes about disguised as activity when activity is not required of me, and from the cowardice that does what is not demanded, in order to escape sacrifice.
But give me the strength that waits upon You in silence and peace.
Give me humility in which alone is rest, and deliver me from pride which is the heaviest of burdens.
And possess my whole heart and soul with the simplicity of love.
Occupy my whole life with the one thought and the one desire of love, that I may love not for the sake of merit, not for the sake of perfection, not for the sake of virtue, not for the sake of sanctity, but for You alone.
Thomas Merton, 1961, Gethsemani. Imprimatur Francis Cardinal Spellman, Archbishop of New York
Posted by: Heidi | January 31, 2004 at 08:06 AM
Today we celebrated my son’s second birthday. As he opened his presents each one brought a since of wonder and expectancy for what would be revealed. There was genuine excitement and joy with each new gift. The small ones as well as the large ones evoked a response that was not based on the value of the gift. Each gift was something new and amazing.
I was thinking that I want to be like that. I wish that I could receive the gifts of God like a child. I want my eyes to be open to see the “small” gifts all around me. I want to approach God with expectancy and excitement.
Posted by: Aaron | January 31, 2004 at 09:41 PM
I had in my mind tonight the words to a Tommy Walker worship song:
Only the God Who left His throne above
He came to live with us
Come to be one of us
Who stopped to heal that blind man
Took the time to save that one last lamb
To only the King Who wore that crown of thorns
So I could wear the crown of life
And to only the One Who conquered sin and death
So we could be set free
So we could stand here and sing
Only a God like You
Only a God like You
Only a God like You
Posted by: roger | January 31, 2004 at 10:03 PM
No thought can contain Him, no word can express Him;
He is beyond anything we can intellectualize or imagine. --- B. Manning
Posted by: roger | February 01, 2004 at 09:13 PM