MANY THANKS FOR THE CHALLENGES
During our challenges, we give thanks to God our Father. It is through them we become closest to Him. We grow in our wisdom as we plunge ourselves into each obstacle, praying to God to guide us, to help us as we overcome the battles we have been given. As success comes, we have a special song in our hearts, filled with words of love, thanksgiving, goodness and compassion for our Lord.
We will never reach a dead end, no matter the conflict in front of us. God will be there listening to our prayers, giving us the strength and courage to prevail. A new song of thanksgiving begins, our Lord with us, as we travel every leg of our journey.
~Marie T. Morrison~
Showing posts with label challenges. Show all posts
Showing posts with label challenges. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Thursday, July 14, 2011
THE PUZZLE
I do get puzzled by what I am given at times. Do not mix this up with anger, as they are not the same. A puzzle provides a challenge, anger provides trouble and stress. A challenge is worthy, anger is not. Continue to welcome puzzles in life, while turning away any kind of anxiety.
~Marie T. Morrison~
~Marie T. Morrison~
Sunday, June 5, 2011
FINDING THE CALM
Patience is a never-ending practice, taking tremendous perseverance. What works in one instance may not work for another. What we tolerate in friends is different for family members. Tongues can be sharper, according to the circumstance. God keeps us on our toes, giving us daily challenges, even testing our own skills at completing a given task. Remember the Spirit dwelling within, finding the calm, to keep us at peace.
~Marie T. Morrison~
~Marie T. Morrison~
Sunday, December 12, 2010
THE CHALLENGE!
Challenges come in all sizes. Not only that, the size of the challenge can be small to one person, yet be quite large to another. Either way, respect is given to the beholder, urging one on to carry the given cross, doing what is possible to make it lighter. It can’t be done alone; God must have His hand in it.
I recall my cross country skiing days. Every time I would try to ski down a slope, after trudging up the mountain, I would fall numerous times. This went on for several years. I knew who my true friends were, as they continued to ask me to join them, though I would slow the group with my incessant spills. I’m surprised myself that I kept at it, as I would be wet and cold by the end of the day, being embedded deep into the snow each time my body made contact with it.
One night, while conversing with God, I was exasperated, wishing I could stay up on my skis for once. His reply to me was so simple; “I will hold you up. Remember that!” I couldn’t wait for the next ski trip. Nine of us began our downhill glide, going through the trees and leaning to the left or right to get around the snow covered bushes. I felt the wind on my face, passing one friend after another, grinning big. To God, I was saying, “I did it! Look at me! Thank you!”
I was the second one down the mountain. The first person there was laughing, not believing his eyes, as I was always the last one to get back to the car. As the others came in, they, too, were laughing, talking of me zooming by them, leaving a trail wind behind.
Challenges do come from God. He knows what He is doing, wanting us to break down the barriers placed before us, strengthening our wisdom. They are the building blocks, teaching us how to experience life to the fullest. Our new knowledge spreads, all of us learning from one another.
The lesson learned is taught to the next generation. I remember how afraid I used to be on a certain part of the road I had to travel daily. I would be nervous the moment I began my drive, dreading what was ahead of me. It took another conversation with God for me to switch my thinking, looking at this part of the road as an exciting portion of my drive rather than a scary one. Soon, I couldn’t wait to reach that point, to prove to both God and myself I could handle it easily. I shared this experience with my own children, as they expressed how they hated that same stretch of road. They quickly forgot how that part of the ride had been a scary one. There were not fearful sections anymore, only new challenges to meet and overcome.
Driving in a snowstorm used to unsettle me. Now, I only have to say a prayer to God, telling Him we will get through it together. He doesn’t let me down. A former student and friend, Andrea, said how great it is to live where the temperatures drop below zero in the winter. She said the ‘challenge of the very cold is one I enjoy.’ That is my dear Andrea for you. She never seems to have a bad day, looking forward to the challenges in her daily life, keeping a chipper voice along with her contagious smile.
It is a choice on how to approach the given challenge. For instance, I could make my health and pain control me. Long ago, though, I decided I control my life, not my pain. There is only one chance at living in this world. I wasn’t going to let it waste away. God is there to help carry the burden, which is only another word for challenge. The weight is heavier if God is not part of the equation. I only need to recall what he once said to me, “I will hold you up! Remember that!”
I recall my cross country skiing days. Every time I would try to ski down a slope, after trudging up the mountain, I would fall numerous times. This went on for several years. I knew who my true friends were, as they continued to ask me to join them, though I would slow the group with my incessant spills. I’m surprised myself that I kept at it, as I would be wet and cold by the end of the day, being embedded deep into the snow each time my body made contact with it.
One night, while conversing with God, I was exasperated, wishing I could stay up on my skis for once. His reply to me was so simple; “I will hold you up. Remember that!” I couldn’t wait for the next ski trip. Nine of us began our downhill glide, going through the trees and leaning to the left or right to get around the snow covered bushes. I felt the wind on my face, passing one friend after another, grinning big. To God, I was saying, “I did it! Look at me! Thank you!”
I was the second one down the mountain. The first person there was laughing, not believing his eyes, as I was always the last one to get back to the car. As the others came in, they, too, were laughing, talking of me zooming by them, leaving a trail wind behind.
Challenges do come from God. He knows what He is doing, wanting us to break down the barriers placed before us, strengthening our wisdom. They are the building blocks, teaching us how to experience life to the fullest. Our new knowledge spreads, all of us learning from one another.
The lesson learned is taught to the next generation. I remember how afraid I used to be on a certain part of the road I had to travel daily. I would be nervous the moment I began my drive, dreading what was ahead of me. It took another conversation with God for me to switch my thinking, looking at this part of the road as an exciting portion of my drive rather than a scary one. Soon, I couldn’t wait to reach that point, to prove to both God and myself I could handle it easily. I shared this experience with my own children, as they expressed how they hated that same stretch of road. They quickly forgot how that part of the ride had been a scary one. There were not fearful sections anymore, only new challenges to meet and overcome.
Driving in a snowstorm used to unsettle me. Now, I only have to say a prayer to God, telling Him we will get through it together. He doesn’t let me down. A former student and friend, Andrea, said how great it is to live where the temperatures drop below zero in the winter. She said the ‘challenge of the very cold is one I enjoy.’ That is my dear Andrea for you. She never seems to have a bad day, looking forward to the challenges in her daily life, keeping a chipper voice along with her contagious smile.
It is a choice on how to approach the given challenge. For instance, I could make my health and pain control me. Long ago, though, I decided I control my life, not my pain. There is only one chance at living in this world. I wasn’t going to let it waste away. God is there to help carry the burden, which is only another word for challenge. The weight is heavier if God is not part of the equation. I only need to recall what he once said to me, “I will hold you up! Remember that!”
Friday, September 10, 2010
AT LONG LAST
Greetings! At long last, I am back to my writing. It has been quite awhile since I felt well enough to write. I went in to get medical tests done, only to come out worse than before the tests. Apparently, the tests triggered something else in the body, causing additional problems.
At times, I have felt so ill that I began to wonder if I would ever have a quality of life again. Those fleeting thoughts only lasted seconds, as I knew my life was much better than that of others. I had food to eat, water to drink, a roof over my head and a dear family to care for me. I also felt that my suffering was nothing compared to that of our Lord Jesus. In fact, I became closer to Jesus because of all the additional problems.
It is easy to take for granted what each of our days brings us. We tend to be busy from the moment we open our eyes and get out of bed each day. There is the morning rush, getting out the door, not wanting to be late for our destinations. Around us, everyone else is also running, usually with a sense of worry. “Will there be much traffic? Will I find a parking place? I hope I can get a seat and not have to stand during the ride. Why do I have to attend that meeting? It is always such a waste of time.”
Nowhere, in these conversations with ourselves, or with another person, is there a thought for God. We are just too busy. Our days remain busy, taking care of this need and that, forgetting the need to say a prayer, thanking our Lord for another day. At the end of the day, there is again the traffic to deal with on the way home, the meals to fix, the family activities to attend, the helping with a child's homework, and the house to clean. There is the television show to watch, so everything has to be complete by then. Once again, there is not the time to think about a prayer, praising Jesus for getting through one more day.
It is a vicious cycle, day in and day out. It is not until our health changes, and we cannot keep up with our hectic lives, do we sit back, remembering whom it is that lets us have a family, gives us beautiful sunrises and sunsets, and makes fertile ground so we may have food on the table.
Though I continue to wear out easily, I am adjusting to my new quality of life. I continue to pray for others listed in my prayer journal, aware we are never alone as we carry our crosses. Overcoming our challenges is a motive of God’s, teaching us to become stronger in our faith. It is faith that gives us hope. Once we have hope, we will believe God is right there with us, as we climb through the obstacles to reach our goals. If we fall, God will help us rise and persevere, no matter the journey. Thank you, dear Lord, for always being there.
At times, I have felt so ill that I began to wonder if I would ever have a quality of life again. Those fleeting thoughts only lasted seconds, as I knew my life was much better than that of others. I had food to eat, water to drink, a roof over my head and a dear family to care for me. I also felt that my suffering was nothing compared to that of our Lord Jesus. In fact, I became closer to Jesus because of all the additional problems.
It is easy to take for granted what each of our days brings us. We tend to be busy from the moment we open our eyes and get out of bed each day. There is the morning rush, getting out the door, not wanting to be late for our destinations. Around us, everyone else is also running, usually with a sense of worry. “Will there be much traffic? Will I find a parking place? I hope I can get a seat and not have to stand during the ride. Why do I have to attend that meeting? It is always such a waste of time.”
Nowhere, in these conversations with ourselves, or with another person, is there a thought for God. We are just too busy. Our days remain busy, taking care of this need and that, forgetting the need to say a prayer, thanking our Lord for another day. At the end of the day, there is again the traffic to deal with on the way home, the meals to fix, the family activities to attend, the helping with a child's homework, and the house to clean. There is the television show to watch, so everything has to be complete by then. Once again, there is not the time to think about a prayer, praising Jesus for getting through one more day.
It is a vicious cycle, day in and day out. It is not until our health changes, and we cannot keep up with our hectic lives, do we sit back, remembering whom it is that lets us have a family, gives us beautiful sunrises and sunsets, and makes fertile ground so we may have food on the table.
Though I continue to wear out easily, I am adjusting to my new quality of life. I continue to pray for others listed in my prayer journal, aware we are never alone as we carry our crosses. Overcoming our challenges is a motive of God’s, teaching us to become stronger in our faith. It is faith that gives us hope. Once we have hope, we will believe God is right there with us, as we climb through the obstacles to reach our goals. If we fall, God will help us rise and persevere, no matter the journey. Thank you, dear Lord, for always being there.
Friday, April 30, 2010
BUSY, BUSY
I have not been keeping up with my writing. This is not good, as it indicates I am not growing spiritually. God has not been able to fill me with His words because I have not taken the time to listen to Him. I have put other things first. Reflecting on what I have been doing, other than my normal routine, leaves my mind blank. It indicates I have put trivial things before praying with God, so trivial I do not even remember what they were.
It is quite easy to get too involved with the mundane executions of daily life. Sleeping an extra hour, reading the two newspapers and solving the daily puzzles as I sip my tea, tending to the dogs and picking up the house are only a few activities on how I fill my day.I am embarrassed to say how long I may stay on the computer, or trying to fix a problem this laptop gives me. One daughter wants me only to text message her from my cell, wasting another bit of time. Why do I give in? Because no matter how much I try to call instead, she will not pick up the phone. I toss it back and forth, asking myself, which will take the least amount of time, to text or to keep trying to call her. Since this is her only bit of rebellion as a teenager, I go along.
Back to what I was saying, on not having my time with God. I do talk about God a lot, conducting classes five days a week, sometimes twice a day. I make my lesson plans, being well prepared. However, this still is not giving me the special time God and I need together, just the two of us. I have managed to put Him on the back burner. Prayer time while I do my routine at the pool has been eliminated. This is hurting God in two ways; I am not having my talk time with Him and I am not taking care of the body He has given me. I preach to others about obeying the Two Great Commandments of loving God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind, and loving my neighbor as myself. He has blessed me with a beautiful spirit, intertwined with His, yet I am not nourishing it, tending to it so I may continue to grow in my love for Him. I have managed to place many obstacles in the path, preventing His love and kindness to prosper within my soul.
I must return to practicing the Fruits of the Holy Spirit, those of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self-control. It is okay to quit rushing to meet my self-made expectations. Maybe I will be able to cross everything off on my list of things to do, but what good is it if I have made no time for God? He is part of me in everything I do, yet I do not pause to praise Him and His mighty works. A dark void will overpower me if I continue to live my life this way. Maybe this has already happened to people I pass on the street, why they are not smiling and their eyes are sad.
Prayer needs to be my focal point,forgetting about those things on my list that I want to check off. Instead, 'pray' should be written at the top, middle and end of my list! Recently, I came across a “Three Minute Prayer,” by Father Lukefahr. In the first minute,he says to think about a wonderful blessing you have received in the past 24 hours. Thank God for this blessing. In the second minute, think about a significant failing you had in the past 24 hours. Ask Jesus to forgive you. In the third minute, think about a challenge you are to meet in the next 24 hours, praying to the Holy Spirit to help and guide you as you accept the challenge. As for my challenge,I ask the Holy Spirit to help me erase the obstacles I have placed on the path to prayer. Let Him guide me, as I pray to Jesus for forgiveness, not making God my priority. May I put one foot in front of the other, taking small steps, allowing me to feel His presence as I open up the door to let Him in.
It is quite easy to get too involved with the mundane executions of daily life. Sleeping an extra hour, reading the two newspapers and solving the daily puzzles as I sip my tea, tending to the dogs and picking up the house are only a few activities on how I fill my day.I am embarrassed to say how long I may stay on the computer, or trying to fix a problem this laptop gives me. One daughter wants me only to text message her from my cell, wasting another bit of time. Why do I give in? Because no matter how much I try to call instead, she will not pick up the phone. I toss it back and forth, asking myself, which will take the least amount of time, to text or to keep trying to call her. Since this is her only bit of rebellion as a teenager, I go along.
Back to what I was saying, on not having my time with God. I do talk about God a lot, conducting classes five days a week, sometimes twice a day. I make my lesson plans, being well prepared. However, this still is not giving me the special time God and I need together, just the two of us. I have managed to put Him on the back burner. Prayer time while I do my routine at the pool has been eliminated. This is hurting God in two ways; I am not having my talk time with Him and I am not taking care of the body He has given me. I preach to others about obeying the Two Great Commandments of loving God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind, and loving my neighbor as myself. He has blessed me with a beautiful spirit, intertwined with His, yet I am not nourishing it, tending to it so I may continue to grow in my love for Him. I have managed to place many obstacles in the path, preventing His love and kindness to prosper within my soul.
I must return to practicing the Fruits of the Holy Spirit, those of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self-control. It is okay to quit rushing to meet my self-made expectations. Maybe I will be able to cross everything off on my list of things to do, but what good is it if I have made no time for God? He is part of me in everything I do, yet I do not pause to praise Him and His mighty works. A dark void will overpower me if I continue to live my life this way. Maybe this has already happened to people I pass on the street, why they are not smiling and their eyes are sad.
Prayer needs to be my focal point,forgetting about those things on my list that I want to check off. Instead, 'pray' should be written at the top, middle and end of my list! Recently, I came across a “Three Minute Prayer,” by Father Lukefahr. In the first minute,he says to think about a wonderful blessing you have received in the past 24 hours. Thank God for this blessing. In the second minute, think about a significant failing you had in the past 24 hours. Ask Jesus to forgive you. In the third minute, think about a challenge you are to meet in the next 24 hours, praying to the Holy Spirit to help and guide you as you accept the challenge. As for my challenge,I ask the Holy Spirit to help me erase the obstacles I have placed on the path to prayer. Let Him guide me, as I pray to Jesus for forgiveness, not making God my priority. May I put one foot in front of the other, taking small steps, allowing me to feel His presence as I open up the door to let Him in.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
HAPPINESS-with typos corrected!
Happiness is having God in our hearts.
Happiness is feeling God's happiness in our hearts.
Happiness is finding the soul-mate God planned for us.
Happiness is making a life-long commitment with this soul-mate.
Happiness is having soul-mates create an extension of themselves.
Happiness is watching these little beings develop their own gifts from God.
Happiness is having a toddler, not talking yet, taking my hand, to show me a ladybug.
Happiness is that though this tiny child cannot talk yet, can speak volumes within the silence.
Happiness is seeing the glistening dew as the sun rises.
Happiness is looking at the oranges and yellows cast upon the land as the sun sets.
Happiness is running into an old friend.
Happiness is having long conversations with this old friend, reminiscing about the past,
While also talking about what has happened since then.
Happiness is making a new friend.
Happiness is laughing, talking, and crying, with the new friend.
Happiness is stepping outside to get the morning newspaper, hearing the singing of birds,
After a long, long winter.
Happiness is watching the birds come to bird feeders, arriving in-mass,
To enjoy a meal.
Happiness is having a beautiful garden, filled with flowers of every kind and color.
Happiness is knowing my spouse will be the one to pull the weeds in the garden,
along with tending to every care and need.
Happiness is having my first words uttered each morning be,
“Good morning, God!”
Happiness is having my last words uttered each night be,
“Good night, God! Thank you for another day!”
Happiness is listening to the music I love.
Happiness is feeling how the music reaches deep into my soul.
Happiness is seeing my child smiling on stage,
Performing in front of an audience.
Happiness is having the emotions flow
As I watch my child.
Happiness is seeing the silhouettes of distant mountains,
Admiring in awe their massiveness.
Happiness is reaching the base of the mountains,
Feeling the earth under my feet.
Happiness is hearing the crickets chirp,
A sound of summer.
Happiness is that hearing how many chirps there are in 30 seconds, and adding 15 to it,
I will know what the temperature is at that moment.
Happiness is loving the beautiful shade trees of summer.
Happiness is sitting under those trees, having a delicious picnic.
Happiness is reading a good book.
Happiness is remembering what made the book special many years later.
Happiness is lending out a good book to a friend.
Happiness is hearing the friend share the same excitement as I had while reading it.
Happiness is being with the grandparents.
Happiness is listening to their stories of their younger years.
Happiness is a blue, blue sky.
Happiness is admiring the majestic clouds,
Sitting magnificently in the sky.
Happiness is having a good work-out.
Happiness is being glad when the work-out time is over.
Happiness is winning a competition.
Happiness is seeing how all those practices paid off.
Happiness is viewing the vast ocean and the beauty of it,
Casting off rays of greens and blues.
Happiness is sitting on the soft beach sand,
Hearing the waves splash, the cold water reaching my feet as I daydream.
Happiness is having a delightful conversation with God.
Happiness is hearing what God has to say to me during our dialogue.
Happiness is knowing God never leaves me alone,
Happiness is knowing God always helps me carry my burdens.
Happiness is being given a challenge to stretch my mind, body and soul.
Happiness is accomplishing the challenges I was given,
Recognizing God had a hand in it.
Happiness is playing a board game with family.
Happiness is enjoying the laughter and conversation
As the game is played, bringing everyone close together.
Happiness is seeing the golden leaves of fall.
Happiness is hearing the giggle of children,
As they are covered with fallen leaves.
Happiness is noticing a flowing mountain river.
Happiness is sitting on a rock in the middle of the river,
Writing a letter to a loved one.
Happiness is watching the snow fall.
Happiness is loving the wintry scene only God could give us.
Happiness is knowing all that makes me happy are gifts from God.
Happiness is praising God, thanking Him for the wonderful life He provides for all.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
COMPARING THE CROSS
So often, as we go through something which brings us unbearable pain, there is the feeling no one has gone through something as bad as we have. True, there are incidents which I feel are beyond comprehension in the depth of pain, such as the death of a child. But, as others go through personal pain, we are not the ones to judge how heavy the cross is that they carry the burden upon their shoulders. It is easy to judge, but this isn't what God wants of us.
Yes, I have judged, I must admit. But immediately, I do feel God telling me to calm down; He will take care of things. Are my thoughts going to be the ones who changes this person? No, as they are just thoughts. I wouldn't dare go up to that person and say, “You don't know what a REAL problem is...” To this person, it is a real problem. How this person feels is not going to affect what is going on in my own life. If we begin to get angry or upset about it, this takes over, rather than focusing on our own heaviness.
Maybe, just maybe, we can pray to God, asking Him to help those we know in need. I know, it may be as simple as a broken fingernail, which to us is ridiculous. But to a teenager, this is a moment of distraught. Why not turn into this person, acknowledging the problem. The person may feel as if someone really understands the weight of that cross. It won't hurt us to say “I'm sorry.” Only two words!
Praise God, thanking Him for what He does do for each of us. Make known how He has been there, helping us to carry our cross. Pray that He will be there to help others carry their cross. It may appear minor to us, but to another, it is major. Let God decide how to handle it.
As for me, every time I think of my cross being heavy, I think of those passing away before their time. Immediately after this first thought, I think of how Christ suffered on the cross, bringing to my own mind words that I cannot express . Only picturing what He went through brings grimace to my face and pain to my heart.
This may be the same picture people have in their minds as they go through their own suffering. Let us pray to Christ to be there, to help one and all.
Yes, I have judged, I must admit. But immediately, I do feel God telling me to calm down; He will take care of things. Are my thoughts going to be the ones who changes this person? No, as they are just thoughts. I wouldn't dare go up to that person and say, “You don't know what a REAL problem is...” To this person, it is a real problem. How this person feels is not going to affect what is going on in my own life. If we begin to get angry or upset about it, this takes over, rather than focusing on our own heaviness.
Maybe, just maybe, we can pray to God, asking Him to help those we know in need. I know, it may be as simple as a broken fingernail, which to us is ridiculous. But to a teenager, this is a moment of distraught. Why not turn into this person, acknowledging the problem. The person may feel as if someone really understands the weight of that cross. It won't hurt us to say “I'm sorry.” Only two words!
Praise God, thanking Him for what He does do for each of us. Make known how He has been there, helping us to carry our cross. Pray that He will be there to help others carry their cross. It may appear minor to us, but to another, it is major. Let God decide how to handle it.
As for me, every time I think of my cross being heavy, I think of those passing away before their time. Immediately after this first thought, I think of how Christ suffered on the cross, bringing to my own mind words that I cannot express . Only picturing what He went through brings grimace to my face and pain to my heart.
This may be the same picture people have in their minds as they go through their own suffering. Let us pray to Christ to be there, to help one and all.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)