NEVER

NEVER

Taking a chance is what the soul wants. It will be heartily nourished with faith, rendered by the one who never gives up.

~Marie T. Morrison~

 

WHAT WILL STAY

WHAT WILL STAY

Sweep away fear. Faith will stay behind.

~Marie T. Morrison

A GREAT NEED

The greatest need in life is God. He keeps the body and soul together, awakens the senses, revives the spirit, gives wisdom to our choices, forgives misdeeds, arouses our faith, encourages hope and provides unconditional love.

~Marie T. Morrison~

A CHANGE IN THE ROUTINE

Change is not what we expect in our routine lives. God is now ready for us to take in a new breath, filling it with new wisdom and spirituality. Embracing the Holy Spirit, there will be a passionate love for God and a deep emotion for the faith only now uncovered because of new discoveries. Feeling invigorated, let it be understood how God is always there to give courage  as transformations are made during all of our journeys.

~Marie T. Morrison~

THE SENSES OF FAITH

We cannot see faith,
nor taste it.
We cannot touch faith
nor is it something we can smell
or hear.

I do see the man living his faith,
Saying things will be okay,
God gave him a beautiful family,
That prayers give them hope.
To overcome present obstacles.

As farmers invite neighbors
To enjoy plentiful food
From the crops of the land,
A taste of faith is experienced,
With prayers to God whispered,
For the land He gave them to be toiled.

A newborn child,
Cuddled in the warmth of its parents,
It’s new skin so soft and smooth,
Is touching faith,
A mother and father,
Devoting themselves to God & prayer,
Knowing they are bringing a new soul into the world.

Faith has no set fragrance, yet it surrounds us.
As we sit in fields looking out in gratitude at God’s glory,
There it is in the whiff of pine needles, a wild rose,
A child’s breath ,in the rich soil at our feet and in the salty ocean waves.

Praying to God, my best friend, I hear him talk to me.
That is faith. I hear faith in God’s creatures,
The birds singing their morning tunes, the chipmunks chatting for the nut.
I hear faith speaking in the rippling stream, the flowing waterfall and at sea.

We only need to open the senses to know faith is awaiting,
God will be there with us, to experience every wonderful sensation
In this beautiful world of His!
~M.T. Morrison~

THE SENSES OF FAITH

We cannot see faith,
nor taste it.
We cannot touch faith
nor is it something we can smell or hear
.
I do see the man living his faith,
Saying things will be okay,
God gave him a beautiful family,
That prayers give them hope.
To overcome present obstacles.

As farmers invites others
enjoy food aplenty ‘
From the crops of the land,
A taste of faith is in the fine food,
For prayers to God were said,
The land He gave them will be toiled.

A newborn child,
Cuddled in the warmth of its parents,
It’s new skin so soft and smooth,
Is the result of faith from
A mother and father,
Devoting themselves to God & prayer,
Knowing they are bringing a new soul into the world.

Faith has no set fragrance, yet it surrounds us.
As we sit in fields looking out in gratitude at God’s glory,
There it is in the whiff of pine needles, a wild rose,
A child’s breath ,in the rich soil at our feet and in the salty ocean waves.

Praying to God, my best friend, I hear him talk to me.
That is faith. I hear faith in God’s creatures,
The birds singing their morning tunes, the chipmunks chatting for the nut.
I hear faith speaking in the rippling stream, the flowing waterfall and at sea.

We only need to open the senses to know faith is awaiting,
God will be there with us, to experience every wonderful sensation
In this beautiful world of His!
~M.T. Morrison~

PRACTICE WILL MAKE IT DEEP

One way to want more prayer in your life is to pray for it. As with everything in life, it does take practice. The more devotion, the easier it will become. Take time for silence during prayer, as God will want to respond. Listen in sincerity. Your faith will deepen, as will your love for God.
~Marie T. Morrison

TAKING OVER

As struggles appear, humility becomes powerful, the material goods not mattering at all. Taking over are courage, strength and faith, as God bestows mercy and love upon His blessed and precious children.
~Marie T. Morrison

THE SIZE OF FAITH

If the words “I can’t do it” are expressed, recall that all the faith you need is the size of a mustard seed.
~Marie T. Morrison~

GIFTS OF COURAGE

All it takes to have courage is a prayer to the Holy Spirit, to remind the self that yes, indeed, one has power, strength, faith, love and self-control, gifts bestowed upon us, ready to be used when needed! ~Marie T. Morrison~

AS ONE

What can bring about togetherness? A friendship can. Laughter can. Love can bring one or more together. Marriage does. Gathering for a funeral does, to share tears and memories. Writing a letter to tell a story or recall a treasured moment are lovely moments of togetherness. Above all, having hope, having faith, never giving up and praying to God brings everyone together, no matter where they are in the world, no matter the religion, the disability, the level of wealth. We are one, all seeking the same thing. Together.
~Marie T. Morrison~

WHAT MAKES THE BEAT

Our heart does not beat alone, as God’s heart also beats within us, His Spirit always there. Joining the pulse of life is faith itself, the heart of our existence. The sensation of feeling blessed never goes away, always being thankful for the beautiful moments to enjoy among God’s glory.
~Marie T. Morrison~

EVERY CHANCE

For every chance of a temptation, there is also a chance of hope. All that is needed is faith. With faith comes God’s love. Feeling His love gives us the strength to continue on any spiritual journey given to us.


~Marie T. Morrison~

A TINY SLIP OF PAPER

During the years of teaching the youth about faith, I alwasys tell them my favorite piece of Scripture, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you man move mountains. Nothing is impossible!” This verse, in Matthew: 17:20, gives a beautiful lesson, telling us that no matter the level of faith we have, it does make a difference. It means God is definitely a part of our lives. Once we realize this, we can understand we never walk alone; God will be there to support us, urging us to keep going, never to give up.

I write this piece of Scripture down on a small slip of paper for each student, attaching the very tiny mustard seed at the end of the verse. I ask them to put this paper in a special place, never to forget how God will be there at all times for them. They may go through feelings of disillusionment as they grow through the years, but always having that itsy-bitsy size of faith within their souls means they can become whatever they want to be.

One year, I had made extra slips of this verse and attached seed. I thought it might be nice to give to adults sitting around me at Mass, which followed the teaching of my class that day. I turned around to hand the slip to a man I had not noticed before, sitting behind me. He took the slip and as he read the words, he lips started to quiver. I read it as him thinking I had just done the silliest thing, attempting to stifle a laugh. I told myself to not be embarrassed, that I was just being loquacious me,

As many of us do, I returned to sit at the same place for Mass, week after week, with this man and his wife always sitting behind me. We became friendly, always greeting one another with a hello and a hug as we took our seats. They began to watch my three children grow as the years went by, exchanging small gifts with one another from time to time.

We became close enough that phone calls between one another occurred, to check up on one another. One morning, the gentleman called, to tell me something special. He asked me if I remembered the day I had handed him that slip of paper with the verse and mustard seed. I said I did, not adding what my thoughts had been, of feeling rather foolish. He continued, telling me that on that particular day, it was the first time for him to return to the Church, being away for ten years. He had fought his alcoholism during that time, now being sober. He was nervous about going to Mass, wondering if he would be accepted and if he would be able to feel comfortable returning to Church. He was still not quite sure if his faith was ready to be a participant in the Mass again. Giving him that piece of paper he said, then reading the verse and seeing the mustard seed, had made him want to cry. He was trying not to, biting his lip so he would not burst into tears.

He told me that this tiny slip of paper is his most treasured possession. He keeps it in his wallet, looking at it often. He said one day, when he reached into the wallet to it pull it out, it was not there, leaving him frantic. He pulled the wallet apart, wondering how he could have lost it. Only then did he remember of a secret compartment within the wallet. He had recently placed it there, in fear it would fall out otherwise. He let out a huge sigh of relief.

It has been 15 years now since I handed it to him. Once in awhile, during Mass, he will tap my daughter on the arm, to show her that sliver of paper, a grin on his face. God had such a big part in all of this. Here we were, two strangers, making a huge impact upon one another, all because of a slip of paper, hardly bigger than a mustard seed.

~Marie T. Morrison~

COURAGE

Courage is standing up for what one believes in. It means to accept what is ahead, rather than giving in, fearing what is to come. Accepting the given, realizing God is there no matter what, is heard through the power of prayer. Courage prevails. Feeling the Spirit of God, to the depth of the soul, gathers will beyond the unbelievable. Have faith.


~Marie T. Morrison~

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.

Hope, Faith and Wisdom

When I lose something, I get mad at myself, wishing the item could speak, saying, "I am over here!" Until I find my lost item, I have a hard time doing anything else. My mind is remains focused on the displaced article. I do stay calm while searching, unlike my husband. As I hear the sounds of frustration coming from the other room, I know he is madly trying to find something. I stay quiet, not wanting to add to his anxiety.

Eventually, we do find what we have misplaced, letting out a sigh of relief. We easily forget how much time we spent looking, moving on with our lives. It is not always so easy, though to forget and move on when a life is lost. I recently heard a story from a 13 year old, about her mother passing away when she was only ten. As the story unfolds, I forget to take a breath, as it is such a tragic occurrence. I am learning not only about the loss of a mother; this young person feels responsible for her death. Why? Because a goodnight kiss was not shared the night before this terrible fate.

For three years, this child has internally taken the blame. I do what I can to console this young person, attempting to ease the thoughts, that it had nothing to do with a goodnight gesture. It was an unexpected illness. I wish I could make life as it was before for this precious little being. What I can do is remember to keep life in perspective. If something is not where I usually keep it, it is no big deal. I will picture the solemn face of an innocent child understanding the true meaning of a loss. Though somber, the young teen tells me hope and faith remain. Someday, mother and child will reunite in Heaven. Once again, I learn it is the wisdom of a child where I learn the true meaning of life.

EYES WIDE SHUT

Years ago, I saw the movie, “Eyes Wide Shut.” At the time, I thought it was such an odd name for a movie. It starred Tom Cruise, so of course I had to see it. One cannot turn down a movie with Tom Cruise!


This was a fascinating film. I now understood the given title. It made perfect sense. Now, it is part of my list of idioms. I often refer to it while talking about faith and spirituality.

People may say they have spirituality and faith; it is their actions that count. Their eyes are open, believing in the two, but they are actually not seeing what is behind the terms. Not understanding how to live a spiritual life has the eyes remain shut.

They do not have to stay this way. A little bit of effort can grow into being fully aware of how to live a life to its fullest. It can begin with a simple hello and a smile while passing someone in the grocery aisle. Staying patient in the grocery line, as someone goes for a handwriting of the year award while writing out the perfect check, makes the spirit grow a little more. Not getting angry in the store’s parking lot, as someone zooms by, has those eyes open up a little further.

Initiating small practices of caring and kindness is how spirituality develops. In a restaurant, I ask the name of our server, if I do not see a nametag. There is a complete change in body posture as the person responds. The waiter is pleased to be recognized as a person, rather than being an object who waits upon another. A number of years ago, at the end of our meal, the waiter came over, knelt beside me on one knee, and began to tell me how he recently lost his grandfather. He was emotional, expressing to me how much his granddad had meant to him. I let him talk; I only listened, resting my hand on his arm. As he finished what he was saying, I told him I would say prayers for him, to help him get through these tough times. I added that I was not just saying the words that I would pray; I actually would, as I am quite spiritual. He replied that he could tell I was, that is why he told me his story. He had been holding in the feelings of his grandfather from everyone. When he met me, he finally felt he could say what had been building up inside of him. I was surprised and honored at the same time.

Listening is another way of practicing faith, a faith in God, in others and in my own being. I am no better than my fellow man. No matter the clothes another person wears, the job one holds or the society where an individual resides, all must be treated with dignity. It is not an easy task, but practicing this means applying faith in any situation given to me, As a result, spirituality is part of everyday life. It becomes as easy as breathing. Living out the faith becomes automatic.

I pray for those with eyes wide shut, that they may experience the beauty in life as I see it. I want those eyes, behind a glass shield, to break out and become aware of everything and everyone, caring, loving, listening, understanding,exercising patience and being respectful, wherever they are. I pray that they will see what opportunities stand in front of them, enjoying a fulfilled life, all by learning to live the faith, not just to believe in it.

WHAT IS FAITH?

What is faith?

It is to know that though

We cannot always see the sun,

It rises each day.

It is to know that though

We cannot always be in the

Same room of our loved ones,

We still love them deeply.

It is to know that though the night is black,

There is no emptiness within its vast darkness.

It is to know that though

We cannot see our Creator,

He is always there.

It is to know that though

We cannot touch Him,

He never stops touching us with

His blessings.

It is to know that in the darkness,

He is there to keep us safe

It is to know that no matter

What is given to us,

He is there holding us,

Never, ever letting us go.



~Marie T. Morrison

UNEXPECTED

In the musical performed by my daughter's theater class this weekend, there was a humorous line which has stayed with me. One cast member said it was an 'unexpected' surprise, the other cast member asked if there was really any other kind of surprise. It set all of us laughing. In Stephen King's book “On Writing,” these are the things we need to learn about. If it is a surprise, it is of course unexpected!

There is much in life which is unexpected. There can be an untimely death, an undiagnosed illness, or coming across a friend from long ago, sitting right across you at the cafe. The unexpected can also bring about new friends, within the workplace, at a Church committee meeting, or the sitting across from someone at that same cafe.

We should never turn our head when the unexpected happens. Rather, we should accept it with God's redeeming grace. I remember sitting across from a stranger at cafe, many years ago. She was alone, with a little one, about the same size as our little one, both us having the baby carrier sitting upon the tables We asked her to join us. Exchanging a discourse on what each of us did for a living, it came out that someone at her husband's work, the putting together of a major film, was looking for a private tutor during the works of putting together the film. Phone numbers were exchanged, and within days, I was tutoring two children during the duration of the filming of this film. It was a fun experience, though I kept wishing it would be Robert Redford picking up the children at my door, rather than their nanny.

I had hoped, it would lead to more tutoring, but it did not happen. I had not gone out to assert myself to gather new clients. How would anyone know about me if I didn't let them know I was here, expressing my beliefs in how I, as a teacher could educate their child while they were on set!

It is the same today; how is anyone going to know about the good Lord's Grace and His Spirit, to be shared among others, if we keep silent? We need to live our lives in a way where we are never too distant, now saying what we truly believe in. We must feel the power of Christ as we go out to reach others. We are not to ignore the filthy guy asleep on the sidewalk, the person asking for help with his car, nor the person attending to every day needs. These people can be the ones to turn our lives around, just as Abraham did in the Old Testament, saying there is only one God, and this is the God to be worshiped. God is the one sending others to be part of us, recalling our own rule under Him; to always kneel, washing of the feet of our brethren, not looking at the conditions of our brother or sister.

Just as I had hoped for other movie clientèle to come visit me, we hope others will go find God. In either instance, it does not happen by itself. I needed to bring myself to the film office, to say I was there, ready to serve. In the same way, we need to bring ourselves and others to God, ready to serve Him at all costs. At times, we may feel this is impossible. It is then we must remember the Scripture of Matthew 20:17, where we read our re you God saying, 'I assure you that if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can see to this hill, “Go from here to there!” and it will go. DO have the faith. It is what keeps each of us moving!

Reflect upon your love for God. Pray, meditate. Ask Him how you can you do everything, serving Him at all possible times. May you become closer to our dear Lord as you open the shuttered windows, inviting Him in, telling Him you will do all possible to have a better life, blessed with His Grace!