“Something SPIRITUAL would carry me into a new life I would have never known.”

“I read the words in Scripture that promised God’s forgiveness. He would forgive me, I read, because that was His nature. He is a forgiver. He loves me & wants me to be close to Him. And so, He forgives me not for any reason, not because I deserve it, but simply because that is who He is. He is merciful and forgives me, and wipes the slate clean so that we — He and I — can be close again. Then I remembered; I needed to forgive God! I needed to rid myself of my anger and blame for the troubles in life He had given me. I needed to wipe the slate clean, but how? Forgive not because there is a reason that I can understand; Forgive because You, God, created me in Your image, are You also are a forgiver.”

“Oftentimes, the Holy Spirit tends to be an afterthought. We don’t really draw upon the Spirit within us. What are the gifts of and in the Holy Spirit? Service to others, and not just to be served; a forgiveness for life not being everything once hoped for; a forgiveness of friends & neighbors, and for self, for not being as perfect as we think it should be; freedom to live without judgement. God gives the Spirit in this awakened way to those who deeply want it; the gift of forgiveness has already been given. Just for today, I begin to live in this priceless gift.”

“Never relinquish any work or give up the thought of any accomplishment because it seems beyond your power. God will help you in all good work. Only give it up if you feel that it's not God's will for you. In helping others, think of the tiny seed under the dark, hard ground. There is no certainty that, when it has forced its way up to the surface, sunlight & warmth will greet it. Often a task seems beyond your power, but there is no limit to what you can accomplish with God's help. Prayer for the Day “I pray that I may never become discouraged in helping others. I pray that I may always rely on the power of God to help me.”