Thursday, September 10, 2009

Powerless - Part 2
Somedays it seems the world is crashing down around and there is nothing we can do about it. It's frustrating to say the least. Thus the value in the Serenity Prayer:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.

Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with Him forever in the next.
- Reinhold Niebuhr

It is for this reason that we continually turn over our "stuff" to Him who has the power.

On another note, wasn't Tuesday awesome! The dinner (thanks Bill & Amir), the worship, a packed room! 2 Cakes celebrated (congratulations Cindy & Lana), and the friendships!!! I am blessed with this group and an so proud at how you are all stepping up to the plate! Please pray for Natalie whose Mom was just diagnosed with Swine Flu and for a quick recovery and protection for Natalie and her family. Thank you all for the support as I go into surgery Tuesday for my total knee replacement. Talk about feeling powerless! Larry will be substituting on this blog while I am out so I encourage you to keep checking in for new posts and new comments. Someone might just have something to say that you need to hear! God bless all!

5 comments:

  1. hey everyone hope GOD has been good to you today just checking in keeping myself accountable we need to keep encouraging each other to stay strong and doing GODS will.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hey everyone! Like Robin said, let's not forget about this blog! Encourage, encourage, encourage! This is for us - let's use it to glorify Him and lift up our CR family. I ask for prayer for Natalie and her family and for Kathryn - who is off to her first weekend with her dad since court. She has developed what we think is a stress-related rash almost all over her body. Please pray for her, for peace and serenity in this difficult time for her. Thanks - Much love, Lori

    ReplyDelete
  3. Future Walk

    The passage of a well traveled self
    Where, or even if I should be
    Is often too much to bear
    There are times I wear my loneliness
    As if it were my own skin
    Have I rushed past that kindred spirit?
    The one we are all said to have?
    Have I passed already that place
    The one I could've called home?
    And when I am at wits end
    The voice of the Lord speaks softly to me
    In Me you are home
    So to reach journeys end
    I must leave self behind
    For in so doing, I will never walk alone

    By William Allan Toth

    ReplyDelete
  4. Careful Gardening

    Ghost flowers stolen from gardens of doom
    Oh how we worship their sensual blooms
    Place them on hilltops in high lofty towers
    Obsess on them daily for hours and hours
    Sweet fragrant vines on the paths that we trod
    Entangle our walk, and keep us from God
    Wanton distraction, in our hearts we undress
    The flowers of others, then fail to confess
    Leave us trust now for the gifts He will shower
    After all God gives the prettiest flowers

    by William Toth

    ReplyDelete
  5. Bill has inspired me to attempt poetry. I'll call this my "Celebrate Prayer"

    God’s power, wisdom and grace is limitless,
    Our human, flawed character traits may yet be blessed.

    We seek wise counsel from friends, family and hosts,
    Yet we receive truth counsel in our holy communion toasts.

    Love on earth is lustful, passionate but oh so brief,
    Heavens everlasting love is pure beyond all our belief .

    Christ brings hope but God’s gift we never fully earn.
    His gift is grace and his wondrous love we still must learn.

    Fellowship and prayer bring closeness beyond all compare.
    Meditation will lead to serenity about all that we care.

    Church is our strong fortress and Gods word our bold weapon.
    Christ’s complete forgiveness is the truth we hope to open.

    ReplyDelete