at peace.

[a man knows when he has found his vocation when he stops thinking about how to live and begins to live... when we are not living up to our true vocation, thought deadens our life, or gives in to life so that our life drowns out our thinking and stifles the voice of our conscience. when we find our vocation - thought and life are one.

suppose one has found completeness in his true vocation. how everything is in unity, in order, at peace. now work no longer interferes with prayer and prayer with work. now contemplation no longer needs to be a special "state" that removes one frmo the ordinary things going on around him for God penetrates all. one does not have to think of giving an account of oneself to anyone but Him.] -tm

desire to please.

[my Lord God,

i have no idea where i am going.

i do not see the road ahead of me.

i cannot know for certain where it will end.

nor do I really know myself, and the fact that i think i am following Your will does not mean that i am actually doing so.

but i believe that the desire to please You does in fact please You.

and i hope i have that desire in all that i am doing.

i hope i will never do anything apart from that desire.

and i know that if i do this, You will lead me by the right road, though i may know nothing about it.

therefore will i trust You always, though i may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.

i will not fear, for You are ever with me, and You will never leave me to face my perils alone.] -tm

gratitude.

[to be grateful is to recognize the Love of GOD in everything He has given us - and He has given us everything. every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him. gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of GOD. for the grateful man knows that GOD is good, not by hearsay but by experience. and that is what makes all the difference.] -tm

arms open wide

i have been feeling the weight of these words a lot lately...

[Take my life I lay it down
At the cross where I am found
All I have I give to You oh God

Take my hands and make them clean
Keep my heart in purity
That I may walk in all You have for me

Take my moments and my days
Let each breath that I take
Be ever only for You oh God

Oh here I stand
Arms open wide
Oh I am Yours
And You are mine

My whole life is Yours
I give it all
Surrendered to Your Name
And forever I will pray
Have Your way]

a prayer of thanks.

Father, i am grateful for Your love which sustains me,

    and for Your peace which protects me.

i am grateful for Your mercy which heals me,

    and for Your hope which restores me.

i am grateful for Your justice which corrects me,

    and for Your wisdom which instructs me.

Father, grant unto me a vision of Heaven.

    grant unto me the imagination of Your Kingdom.

    grant unto me the joy of Eternity now.

grant that i might live to know You,

    to please You,

    to love You.

grant that i might live to serve You,

    to worship you,

    to bless Your Holy Name.

grant unto me the humility of Your Spirit,

    Your patience,

    Your kindness,

    Your gentleness.

grant that i might share in the suffering of Christ,

    that i might also share in the Light of His Life.

                                                             amen.

[ but i am like a green olive tree in the house of GOD. i trust in the steadfast love of GOD forever and ever. ]

- psalm 52:8

no complaint

[i have no reason to complain of any crosses, because they are the bitter fruit of my sin. nothing shall hurt us but sin; and that shall not hurt us, if we can repent of it. and nothing can do us good but the love and favour of GOD in Christ; and that we shall have if we seek it in good earnest. afflictions are GOD's potions, which we may sweeten by faith and prayer; but we often make them bitter, by putting into GOD’s cup the ill ingredients of impatience and unbelief. there is no affliction so small but we shall sink under it, if GOD uphold us not: and there is no sin so great but we shall commit it, if GOD restrain us not. a man who hath the spirit of prayer hath more than if he hath all the world. and no man is in a bad condition, but he who hath a hard heart and cannot pray...]

John Dod

The Lives of the Puritans, V. III