Please pray for us teachers. The ones teaching online, the ones teaching in person, the ones teaching both at the same time. The ones who are parents, too. We are trying so hard and we are so exhausted. And it's only October and it all just keeps shifting. Thank you. Peace to all.
Abundant mercy and blessings for caring enough to continue your commitment to our kiddos. 💜
I have an 11year old sweetheart granddaughter. I worry about her everyday. I can only hope there are people like you to guide her and teach her and be a light for her.
How does one carry the world in their heart? When someone ask me to pray for them or a particular situation, my answer is, "I will be carrying you in my heart." That's my most authentic response, since I'm not one who sees God reaching in and changing things. Mostly I just see God just sitting with me and saying, "yeah, this sucks but let's not let it suck and you be alone.
Grateful that I suddenly remembered that the world doesn't depend on my getting the prayers right. "You know our needs before we ask, and our ignorance in asking."
My 81st birthday was last week, and I fear I may not live long enough to outlast the pandemic. This is not how I envisioned spending my last time on earth. It's difficult to remain positive and not be severely attitude-challenged by my own declining physical state, and especially the state of my country when many people I know just don't seem to care. I repeat the Optimist's Creed to myself several times daily, but still the anxiety monster looms. God help us. God help me. Thank God for Nadia and for The Corners.
Just filled with immeasurable sadness today. I cried while playing “The King of Love l, My Shepherd Is” in services this morning. “I nothing lack if I am His/And He is mine for ever.” Those words just felt unbelievable. Hard to imagine belonging these days, but I’m trying.
God, I am angry. They say anger is a secondary emotion hiding underlying sadness or fear. I suppose that is true.
I am angry that the message of jesus christ has been replaced with pharisees and con artists promising health, wealth, and power. I am angry at people doing evil in the name of ‘good’. I am angry that people i love have chosen to believe lies and gossip. And yet, even as i pour out my anger my grief bubbles to the surface. Grief for lost connections. Grief for the deceived. I am reminded that Jesus did not seek the crowds...i am reminded that Jesus saw each one....i am reminded that peacemakers are blessed....i am reminded that light always defeats darkness. O God deliver me from all deception and bring me and everyone into the true grace and mercy that flows from heaven.
I can't even pray. The virus doesn't scare me nearly as much as the white supremcists that have crawled from under the rocks. The ill-educated bloated apricot scares the liver out of me as does the leader of the Senate and the potential Supreme Court. I'm not even sure I can groan anymore for the Spirit.
Oddly, watching West Wing reruns calms me. Who knew? And the 1990's tv show Cybill.
I dig out The West Wing when things seem particularly bad over in the US. "Ill-educated bloated apricot"--awesome nickname for Combover, and thanks for the laugh. I send you a big hug from Canada.
G*d/Nameless/Whatever You Are, thank you for all the shit I often take for granted, like waking up, sleeping in, sun, warmth, electricity, coffee, and small acts of kindness by (possibly) random people. Thanks for books that leave wisdom for posterity, for Viktor Frankl and his book Man’s Search for Meaning, which helps me a lot when shit hits the fan. Thank you for artists, musicians, ministers, teachers, and for people who make it a goal to inspire others whatever their current role or profession. Help me access enough of the wisdom surrounding me so I can improve at transcending all the bullshit that also surrounds. 🙏🏻❤️
“Our generation is realistic, for we have come to know man as he really is. After all, man is that being who invented the gas chambers of Auschwitz; however, he is also that being who entered those gas chambers upright, with the Lord's Prayer or the Shema Yisrael on his lips.”
Dear God, all the people are hurting. Including the ones I don’t like. Nobody knows what they are doing. I have no confidence in any of our leaders to know what to do. And everyone is scared. Something has gone wrong with the whole world. Everything is chaos. No matter who wins this election, I fear more violence. I fear much more death and destruction. I am watching the deterioration of mental health of friends, aquaintances, strangers, and enemies alike. But I know that other people in other times and places must have felt the same. All I can do is sit with my fears and anxiety and pray you are here even if I don’t feel your presence. Help us, oh Lord, save us from ourselves if you can. (All will be well and all will be well and all matters of things shall be well. ~Julian of Norwich)
amen to all - AND Father if i may - the political divide in my life is now bleeding into my cult member husband criticizing our children for allowing our grand daughter to “not like the bad man who yells” (her words and opinion).
monster is the word of the day - help for loving the monsters in the world as myself - help for taming the monster in me - patience - SO MUCH PATIENCE! please, come Lord Jesus - we need you!!!
My fear monster is so huge right now. I know I cannot vanquish it and I’m not sure I trust God to do it either. So much is at stake and my faith is feeling pretty dried up at this point.
Yup catastrophic thinking creeps in easily. I was up walking the floor last night with severe heartburn from under-medicated reflux and man - I was all over the place with the 'what ifs' - it's easy to fall prey to it. Trick is recognizing when it happens and just stopping it. Seems you're doing a fine job of it. I'm the biggest introvert I know and even I am starting to crack under the strain of never seeing anybody except my family. If they don't open up the libraries soon....libraries are my refuge. Hang tight Nadia - we got this. We are all praying for you!
Me, too. I had trouble sleeping because of worry and fear about a medical issue, and the strain of living alone and being alone most of the time because of the pandemic. I prayed...and finally slept.
Like you, Chris, I miss the library so much. I can access e-books and order books to borrow by curbside pickup, but it just isn’t the same.
“We all yearn for what we have lost, but sometimes we forget what we have” Mitch Albom. Lord remind me in this moment of all that I have in your presence.
Thank you all for your prayers. She passed within an hour of my previous comment. Made for a rough morning pre-worship, but I was able to be with the family and then break the news to the congregation. From diagnosis to passing was less than a month, this was very sudden please keep her family and our congregation in your prayers.
Please pray for us teachers. The ones teaching online, the ones teaching in person, the ones teaching both at the same time. The ones who are parents, too. We are trying so hard and we are so exhausted. And it's only October and it all just keeps shifting. Thank you. Peace to all.
Abundant mercy and blessings for caring enough to continue your commitment to our kiddos. 💜
I have an 11year old sweetheart granddaughter. I worry about her everyday. I can only hope there are people like you to guide her and teach her and be a light for her.
How does one carry the world in their heart? When someone ask me to pray for them or a particular situation, my answer is, "I will be carrying you in my heart." That's my most authentic response, since I'm not one who sees God reaching in and changing things. Mostly I just see God just sitting with me and saying, "yeah, this sucks but let's not let it suck and you be alone.
Grateful that I suddenly remembered that the world doesn't depend on my getting the prayers right. "You know our needs before we ask, and our ignorance in asking."
you don't even need words.
My 81st birthday was last week, and I fear I may not live long enough to outlast the pandemic. This is not how I envisioned spending my last time on earth. It's difficult to remain positive and not be severely attitude-challenged by my own declining physical state, and especially the state of my country when many people I know just don't seem to care. I repeat the Optimist's Creed to myself several times daily, but still the anxiety monster looms. God help us. God help me. Thank God for Nadia and for The Corners.
I will hold vigil for you 💜
Bless you, Lori!
May the peace which passes all understanding be with you in these days of chaos and always!
Just filled with immeasurable sadness today. I cried while playing “The King of Love l, My Shepherd Is” in services this morning. “I nothing lack if I am His/And He is mine for ever.” Those words just felt unbelievable. Hard to imagine belonging these days, but I’m trying.
God, I am angry. They say anger is a secondary emotion hiding underlying sadness or fear. I suppose that is true.
I am angry that the message of jesus christ has been replaced with pharisees and con artists promising health, wealth, and power. I am angry at people doing evil in the name of ‘good’. I am angry that people i love have chosen to believe lies and gossip. And yet, even as i pour out my anger my grief bubbles to the surface. Grief for lost connections. Grief for the deceived. I am reminded that Jesus did not seek the crowds...i am reminded that Jesus saw each one....i am reminded that peacemakers are blessed....i am reminded that light always defeats darkness. O God deliver me from all deception and bring me and everyone into the true grace and mercy that flows from heaven.
Amen and Amen
I can't even pray. The virus doesn't scare me nearly as much as the white supremcists that have crawled from under the rocks. The ill-educated bloated apricot scares the liver out of me as does the leader of the Senate and the potential Supreme Court. I'm not even sure I can groan anymore for the Spirit.
Oddly, watching West Wing reruns calms me. Who knew? And the 1990's tv show Cybill.
Love the bloated apricot thing.....
I dig out The West Wing when things seem particularly bad over in the US. "Ill-educated bloated apricot"--awesome nickname for Combover, and thanks for the laugh. I send you a big hug from Canada.
G*d/Nameless/Whatever You Are, thank you for all the shit I often take for granted, like waking up, sleeping in, sun, warmth, electricity, coffee, and small acts of kindness by (possibly) random people. Thanks for books that leave wisdom for posterity, for Viktor Frankl and his book Man’s Search for Meaning, which helps me a lot when shit hits the fan. Thank you for artists, musicians, ministers, teachers, and for people who make it a goal to inspire others whatever their current role or profession. Help me access enough of the wisdom surrounding me so I can improve at transcending all the bullshit that also surrounds. 🙏🏻❤️
“Our generation is realistic, for we have come to know man as he really is. After all, man is that being who invented the gas chambers of Auschwitz; however, he is also that being who entered those gas chambers upright, with the Lord's Prayer or the Shema Yisrael on his lips.”
-Viktor Frankl
Dear God, all the people are hurting. Including the ones I don’t like. Nobody knows what they are doing. I have no confidence in any of our leaders to know what to do. And everyone is scared. Something has gone wrong with the whole world. Everything is chaos. No matter who wins this election, I fear more violence. I fear much more death and destruction. I am watching the deterioration of mental health of friends, aquaintances, strangers, and enemies alike. But I know that other people in other times and places must have felt the same. All I can do is sit with my fears and anxiety and pray you are here even if I don’t feel your presence. Help us, oh Lord, save us from ourselves if you can. (All will be well and all will be well and all matters of things shall be well. ~Julian of Norwich)
Julian of Norway is a hero.....
I need saved from myself all the time
amen to all - AND Father if i may - the political divide in my life is now bleeding into my cult member husband criticizing our children for allowing our grand daughter to “not like the bad man who yells” (her words and opinion).
monster is the word of the day - help for loving the monsters in the world as myself - help for taming the monster in me - patience - SO MUCH PATIENCE! please, come Lord Jesus - we need you!!!
Bless your granddaughter in her clear need of vision.
My fear monster is so huge right now. I know I cannot vanquish it and I’m not sure I trust God to do it either. So much is at stake and my faith is feeling pretty dried up at this point.
You are not alone. Sending love for your drought. I’ll send over a water bottle full of hope over the universe when I can find the tap. ♥️
Hang on, He is faithful!
My husband died three years ago and I thought by now there would be some kind of new normal but there is not and it’s hard God.
Amen
I hear this in my soul. Lifting you up in prayer as others did for me at three years widowed
And the people say "Amen", and may we all make it through yet another week.
Yup catastrophic thinking creeps in easily. I was up walking the floor last night with severe heartburn from under-medicated reflux and man - I was all over the place with the 'what ifs' - it's easy to fall prey to it. Trick is recognizing when it happens and just stopping it. Seems you're doing a fine job of it. I'm the biggest introvert I know and even I am starting to crack under the strain of never seeing anybody except my family. If they don't open up the libraries soon....libraries are my refuge. Hang tight Nadia - we got this. We are all praying for you!
Me, too. I had trouble sleeping because of worry and fear about a medical issue, and the strain of living alone and being alone most of the time because of the pandemic. I prayed...and finally slept.
Like you, Chris, I miss the library so much. I can access e-books and order books to borrow by curbside pickup, but it just isn’t the same.
I hope your medical issue resolves in the best way possible. I know all too well how that stuff can keep you up nights.
Thank you, Chris, and I hope the same for you.
“We all yearn for what we have lost, but sometimes we forget what we have” Mitch Albom. Lord remind me in this moment of all that I have in your presence.
For Melinda and her family as they navigate hospice care, and all that that means.
Shortly after posting this I received word from her daughter that they are rushing to the hospital as she’s not doing well.
Praying
I am praying for them right now.
Thank you all for your prayers. She passed within an hour of my previous comment. Made for a rough morning pre-worship, but I was able to be with the family and then break the news to the congregation. From diagnosis to passing was less than a month, this was very sudden please keep her family and our congregation in your prayers.
I will continue to pray for her family, for you, and for the congregation.