Friday, January 4, 2013

Quick Takes #6 Love, Prayer and Trees



--- 1 ---

So I am pretty impressed with myself for posting quick takes two weeks in a row, that is if I finish this in the next 46 minutes before it becomes Saturday.

--- 2 ---

I read a great quote from Pope John Paul II and have done a lot of thinking about it lately. 
"Yes, God alone is our true and unfailing support, just as love and prayer are the only sure spiritual levers with which it is possible to lift up the world."- Pope John Paul II (1994)
This resulted in a post on Tuesday and my goal of a weekly series related to love and prayer and its power to lift the world.  Excited about the first post on Tuesday.  If you are interested in adding to the series please let me know.  Stay tuned!

--- 3 ---

Excited about outdoor adventures this weekend.  After last winter with no snow after November 1st I am going to take advantage of all the snow on the ground.  Let's just hope I don't freeze.

--- 4 ---

How late to you keep your Christmas tree up?  I am ready to take down all the decorations and lights and put the Christmas cards away but I really want to keep the tree for a little while longer.  It was such a big effort to find it, cut it down, get it home and inside and then get it to stand up straight that it just doesn't seem right to take it down yet.  Plus when it is in the living room I can pretend we live in a forest.

--- 5 ---

More about Christmas trees.  What kind of tree do you get.  We got a white pine this year (These are the ones with 5 long needles).  It looks and smells a little different but I am really liking it.  The only downside is that it seems to have very weak branches and some of the ornaments have fallen off.  This will have to be something that we consider next year when we pick out a tree.  A tree with strong needles is imperative.  Good thing we don't have many ornaments.

--- 6 ---

One more thing about trees.  (I am really into trees if you can't tell.)  I was out on Cape Cod last weekend and I was reminded how I love watching the trees as you drive towards the Cape.  As you get closer to the ocean the trees become shorter and more twisted.  It is almost like they become a completely different plant.  I could just look at them all day.

--- 7 ---

As you probably know Jen is in the hospital so keep her in your prayers.  Also keep my family in your prayers as they are going through some struggles.

Have a great weekend!


For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Love and Prayer, JPII

"Yes, God alone is our true and unfailing support, just as love and prayer are the only sure spiritual levers with which it is possible to lift up the world."- Pope John Paul II (1994)

I don't think we have any doubt that the world needs to be lifted up.  That is for certain.
But how are we supposed to do that?

With Prayer and Love.

John Paul II states it very clearly, with prayer and love.  John Paul II has seen what we are up against, he has experienced our world, he know what we face and he still says that it must be met with prayer and love.  Not worry, anger, arguments, hate, frustration, war, protests or ignorance.  But with prayer and love.

Instead of worrying, say a prayer.
Instead of arguing, show them your love. 
Instead of letting anger build up inside of you, pray for peace.

For it is with love and prayer that we can lift up the world.

If we want to enact some real change, which we must, we need to pray and love.  

So often I worry about problems in the world today.  Then I get angry about them.  Maybe I will argue about the topic with someone.  Soon I will get frustrated because I feel like I can't do anything to fix the problems anyway.  This is not the way to lift the world.  The world can be lifted through love and prayer.  And this is something that I can do.  I can treat others with love. I can share God's love with others, and I can pray.  Pope John Paul II is giving us a sure response to the world around us.

Last night while waiting for the new year to start the topic of new years resolutions came up.  I am not a big fan of new years resolutions because I often forget about them or they become irrelevant, but wouldn't it be great if I could remember this all year.  

That prayer and love are the secrets to lifting up the world.

To help myself (and others) remember this I am going to start a weekly series about people (saints, friends, family) who lift up the world with prayer and love.

Hope you will join me on a journey to lift up the world through prayer and love.  (If you would like to add to this series send me an email at seashore3612 at yahoo dot com.)

Joining in with Jen and the women of Soli Deo Gloria