Letter from a Friend

Another one of my inspirations that continues to fill me with hope many years later. I bought a framed piece of art in 1990 with this beautiful message. It spoke to my heart. Little did I know the true significance of its message. God relentlessly pursues our hearts...he's been pursuing mine for decades. Thank you, Jesus, I finally turned towards you.

May you realize just how much God loves you, too.

From my collection of inspirations...

Letter from a Friend

I am writing to say how much I care
for you and to say how much I want
to know you better.

When you awoke this morning, I
exploded a brilliant sunrise through
your window hoping to get your
attention, but you rushed off without
even noticing.

Later, I noticed you were walking with
some friends so I bathed you in warm
sunshine and perfumed the air with
natures sweet scent, and you still didn't
notice me. As you passed by, I shouted
to you in a thunderstorm and painted
a beautiful rainbow in the sky and you
didn't even look.

In the evening, I spilled moonlight onto
your face and sent a cool breeze
to rest you. As you slept, I watched
over you and shared your thoughts, but
you were unaware that I was so near:

I have chosen you and hope you will
talk to me soon. Until then
I will remain near. I am your friend and
love you very much.

Your friend Jesus.

Under His Wings

Almost 20 years ago, I received this piece of inspiration from my friend Ginny. She is a beautiful angel that entered my life to offer me encouragement, support and provide spiritual nourishment as I began a journey of recovery and growing faith in God.

a poem about letting go and trusting...

Under His Wings

As the eagle must force her young from the nest,
To teach them how to fly,
So our Father must press us out
Of routine things he'd have us try.

And just as the eagle guards her own
to insure their safety in flight,
Our Lord is near when we try our wings -
We're never out of his sight.

But should the eaglet begin to fall,
the Eagle swoops down from above
to rescue its young and bear it up
on wings of strength and love.

So how can we doubt the eagles creator,
the One who made us all,
would fail to save and deliver us,
if we should start to fall.

~ BJ Hoff

Broken Dreams

A friend offered me this piece of encouragement almost 20 years ago...it has carried me through many rough patches along the way. From my collection of inspirations...

a beautiful poem about letting go and trusting God...

Broken Dreams As children bring their broken toys With tears for us to mend, I brought my broken dreams to God Because He was my friend. But then instead of leaving Him In peace to work alone, I hung around and tried to help With ways that were my own. At last I snatched them back and cried, "How could you be so slow" "My child," He said, "What could I do? You never did let go." - Author Unknown

Inspirations of the week...

A experienced a chain reaction of inspirations this week...one after another...after another...after another. The closer I moved towards God...in praising Him and walking in His will, the more He revealed himself to me. Some of the inspiring messages that I've received this week include:

'Everything' Lifehouse (drama)
A new post on Life is Full of Unhandled Exceptions filled me with the spirit, rekindling the fire within to praise God for his loving mercy and grace. This video is amazing. May it move your spirit.

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. ~ James 4:8

Thank You, Jesus!
Over the weekend, Thankful Paul dropped by my blog to say hello. I decided to return the favor in-kind and visit his blog, Jesus and the Atheist. What I discovered amazed me...a powerful testimony of a new believer in Christ. It reminded me of the power and grace that only God can offer. May you be blessed and inspired by his testimony.

Be Blessed Movie
One of the blessings that I received this year was to reconnect with a good friend from High School. Over the years we've lost touch with each other...traveling along our separate paths. During the Spring, Leslie, reached out to me through classmates.com. What a delight to hear from her almost 20 years later.

Today, I received an email from her with a link to a motivational movie on 'Finding Joy. The past few months, I've felt anything but Joy'...so, what a delight to receive this gift. I explored the Simple Truth's website and found this movie on Blessings. Gifts are meant to be shared...May you be blessed and inspired by this movie.

I'd love to hear what inspires you...

Trust in Christ = Hope for a Future

How can I serve thee, Lord?

A thought, a prayer, a small gesture towards a friend in need...
that, I believe, is how Christ calls me to serve Him in my day.

We may never know the impact someone's words or gestures
have in changing someone's outlook, heart or mind. I've found
that when I extend kindness and serve others ahead of my own needs,
God raises me to a new level of grace...one where the desire to serve
Him increases.

Lord, deliver me from my selfish ways that I may serve those in
need of hope, love, and faith today. Let your light shine through
me that others may see your Glory and be drawn to you.

In Christ, Hope is born anew. His Light casts out the darkness.
The promise of His love is everlasting.

*******************************************

A friend of mine is battling with depression, spiritual
warfare and a deep sense of hopelessness in her life.
I thought I might offer her a bit of hope to cast a ray
of light into this dark season of her life.

I found this little heart rock in my travels and added some
scripture quotes to this beautiful stationary to create a card for her -
A reminder that trusting Christ offers hope for our future.


(click on the image for a close-up of the sweet little heart rock)

Great Light of the World...

Great Light of the World - Bebo Norman

Transformational imagery created using original photography (see Golden Radiance post) and Kaleidoscope software (PhotoEchoes)

The Promises of the Holy Spirit

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
~ Ezekiel 36:26


I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.
I will counsel you and watch over you.
~ Psalm 32:8


And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
~ John 14:16


When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth;
~ John 16:13

Prayers of Abandonment

Image on prayer card with *Brother Charles of Jesus prayer

*Prayer of Abandonment of Brother Charles of Jesus

Father, I abandon myself into Your hands;
do with me what You will.
Whatever You do I thank You.
I am ready for all, I accept all.
Let only Your will be done in me,
as in all Your creatures,
I ask no more than this, my Lord.

Into Your hands I commend my soul;
I offer it to You, O Lord,
with all the love of my heart,
for I love You, my God, and so need to give myself--
to surrender myself into Your hands,
without reserve and with total confidence,
for You are my Father.


The Third Step Prayer
(from page 63 of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous)

God,I offer myself to Thee-
To build with me
and to do with me as Thou wilt.
Relieve me of the bondage of self,
that I may better do Thy will.
Take away my difficulties,
that victory over them may bear witness
to those I would help of Thy Power,
Thy Love, and Thy Way of life.
May I do Thy will always!

Copyright ©Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.


My personal prayer...

Holy Father, thank you for your grace and mercy working powerfully in my life. You are my strength, my guiding force. In you, I find peace and purpose. I offer myself to thee Lord, to use me according to your will. I lift up my fears and anxieties to you, knowing and trusting that you will work everything out according to your will. Please clear the clouds of doubt from my mind that I may see the path ahead. Let your will be done, not mine.

God, I lift up my hands in prayer, my heart in surrender and my will to be conformed to your ways. Relieve me of the bondage of my fears and doubts. Forgive my lack of faith in your love for me. Empty me of all desires, demands, needs and expectations of myself and others that aren't according to your will and plan for me. Fill me with your peace, purpose and strength.

In your Son's precious and Holy name I pray

A Thrill of Hope...

"For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
~ Isaiah 9:6 (New International Version)

May the Holy Spirit fill those empty and lonely places of your heart, may you rest quietly and peacefully in his gentle embrace. May God's love and grace fill your hearts to overflowing this Christmas. Wishing you the blessings of His overwhelming Peace, His unfathomable Love and His unending grace. I pray that during the days ahead that your hearts be filled with a renewed sense of Hope.

Blessings,
Kimberly

Christmas Songs - Josh Groban - Oh Holy Night.mp3 - Josh Groban

Cinque Terra Sunset ~ Manarola

Where on earth can you experience such amazing beauty? Cinque Terra National Park - 5 coastal villages perched along the rocky coastline in the province of La Spezia in the region of Liguria, Italy. The villages are linked and accessible by train cutting through the mountainside. For the more adventurous ones, 15 miles of cliffside footpaths provide a birdseye view of the terrain. Manarola ended up being our destination for dinner and sunset on our first stop in Italy. Chris and TJ enjoyed a leisurely Italian meal at an outdoor cafe (lower left corner below pink/yellow houses overlooking harbor). Venturing along the cliffwalk, just round the bend, I discovered a quiet little bench tucked into the wall. What a treat...a delicious dinner with a view of the coast...opera music wafted down through the air above me as I discovered a live cliffside performance going on above me. The setting sun soothed my spirit. The capstone of the evening was our walk from Manarola to Riomaggiore as the sun blazing burnt orange/pink in the sky set behind us and the luminous moon rose before us. Amazing!

Road Trippin' to Italy, July 13-23, 2008

Kimberly ~ first-time European traveler


(Left to right) TJ and Chris ~ Seasoned travelers

Partial Vacation Checklist:

• Jeeves (our faithful British GPS guide)
• 2 Svergies (Expats from California)
• 1 Bostonian
• Sense of humor (required)
• Patience (extra helpings)
• Diet Coke & Godis (tasty treats for the guys)
• Cameras and good memories (Priceless)
• 1 non-down pillow (now a permanent resident of Etap Hotel in Mannehiem, Germany)
• 50 cent euro for the WC (a whole blog could be dedicated solely to my experiences with European toilets)

Truly the adventure of a lifetime...a whirlwind tour of Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Austria...more photos to be posted with the adventurous tales of My European Vacation :-)

Here's the Itinerary:

Sunday July 13 - Hamburg, Germany
Monday July 14 - German castle country
Tuesday July 15 - Swiss Alps - Wengen, Switzerland
Wednesday July 16 - Cinque Terra
Thursday July 17 - Pisa, Tuscan countryside, Sienna, San Gimignano, Florence
Friday July 18 - Explore Florence (museums, churches)
Saturday July 19 - Venice, Italian Alps
Sunday July 20 - Salzburg, Austria
Monday July 21 - Germany
Tuesday July 22 - Sweden

Grace

Effortlessly gliding through the still waters of life?

Do you know people who seem to glide through life with ease and grace? Everything seems to fall into place for them. Job opportunities fall into their lap. They find that special someone. They seem to rise above life's difficulties with faith and a hopeful attitude. Outwardly, it appears that they navigate through life effortlessly...similar to a Swan gliding across the pond.

It's easy to fall into this trap. You know the one...comparing someone's outsides with your insides. Several times a day I find myself crawling out of the self-pity trap. After a bit of self reflection, I realize that I want to covet the success of others without putting in the time and effort (e.g. hours praying for God's guidance and direction, daily disciplined footwork that leads step by step towards my desired dream or goal) to obtain the results. When I'm honest with myself, I begin to notice the dreams and goals that I have accomplished...one step at a time, with God's grace and a lot of footwork.

Remember the Swan gliding effortlessly across the still pond? Well, if you looked underneath the pond's surface, you'd see the his little webbed feet paddling at top speed.

God offers me this same Grace...

“If God wants you to do something, he'll make it possible for you to do it, but the grace he provides comes only with the task and cannot be stockpiled beforehand. We are dependent on him from hour to hour, and the greater our awareness of this fact, the less likely we are to faint or fail in a crisis.” -Louis Cassels (1922-1974)

Photograph taken at Spy Pond, Arlington, MA

A Mother's Day Tribute

Daffodil Kiss ©1997 Kimberly Nyce

Long forgotten memories, once hidden from her sight,
Dance in rhythmic shadows, embracing dark and light.
A tiny bulb lies patient, anticipating birth,
Cradled in the womb of darkened mother earth.

Nourished by a mother’s breast, the sweetness of its flow,
Feeding tender shoots in hopes that they will grow.

The time arrives, as the gentle wind whispers softly in her ear.
Arise, Awaken 'Lil Daffodil, Spring is here!
In praise, her body arches upwards reaching for the light,
Released from her mother’s womb, she has blossomed through the night.

Her amber chiffon bonnet pulled gently round her face,
Floats amidst a sea of bows and ivory satin lace.
Her head bowed prayerfully, lies gently against her breast.
Quietly she slumbers, her thoughts now laid to rest.

The Zephyr wind blows softly, sending love your way,
From your ‘lil Daffodil on this Mother’s Day.

* Poem written for my Mom on Mother's Day, 1997.
Image taken in downtown Wickford, RI

One-of-a-Kind

From whose lips would you long to hear these words whispered?
...from a loved one, a friend, a spouse, a lover, a parent?

How would it feel to know that...YOU matter in this world to someone; YOUR presence is appreciated; YOU carry weight in this world?

I've waited for friends and family to utter these words. Always a part of me hopes that somehow these words will satisfy my insatiable hunger and thirst for love. They never do satisfy me completely. The words spoken seem to fall short of my heart's grasp. I am left hungering for more. My expectations soar beyond reasonable limits...always just out of reach, out of sight...missing the obvious that surrounds me.

God showers his love upon me daily. He whispers His Love for me in simple gestures - a butterfly lighting upon a flower; the stranger who smiles and nods as I pass by; the heart rocks that I stumble upon; the warm breeze caressing my cheek; the moon casting its light to guide and direct me home; a unexpected phone call or card from a friend or family member; the kindness of a stranger; the answered or unanswered prayer that turns out to be a blessing...the list is endless. When I awaken to these subtle messages around me, I realize just how much I am loved.

God's love always satisfies me...His grace fills me to overflowing. Patiently, I await those precious moments when I feel His presence washing over me.

His sweet nectar, poured out freely, nourishes my spirit, beckoning me forth to blossom into full Glory.

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” (Jeremiah 31:3)

Know you are...LOVED!

©2008 Kimberly Nyce - Writings from the Chrysalis Collection
Original photograph taken at Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, MA. Watercolor effect applied to image.

When was your first time?

Window to the Soul ©1996 Kimberly Nyce

In an effort to arouse my (dormant? reluctant? sleeping? MIA?) creative muse within, I've decided to explore the roots of my beginnings as an artist. This, I hope will remind me of my true calling and personal vision...the one that fuels my desire and passion. It's an insistent internal urging which calls me forward...that desire to encourage and support others in awakening to the beauty of God's creation, both internally and externally.

The image pictured above is one that I consider to be the image that catapulted me into my life as an artist. I think I was born with artistic vision, though it wasn't something that I discovered until much later in life.

Several years ago, I enrolled in a writing course at Lesley University. One assignment asked us to write a paper about a momentus occasion in our lives. I thought back a few years to that trip to New Mexico.Yes, that one! An intense 2 week road trip that eventually led to a transformation of my spirit, and ultimately changed me forever. I've included an excerpt from this paper (unedited) to give voice to that 'budding' artist within...

"...The first time I truly felt like an artist was during an afternoon in Santa Fe, New Mexico, August 1996. The day I ventured out to explore Santa Fe's artist communities, I stepped into my own light. I felt confident and alive. I was walking along Canyon Road, a haven for artists. Confidently, I strode through the adobe-lined streets connecting Canyon Road. The mystical charm and the muted earth tones of the hills and plains seeped into my pores and filled me with a sense of overwhelming peace. I slipped the black nylon strap of my camera across my shoulder. The weight of the green canvas bag, resting against my side, felt substantial and self-assuring. Nestled safely inside, lay my Pentax PT 30 camera, an extension of my eyes and soul. In the adjoining compartment, standing upright was a 70/200 zoom lens capped on both ends to protect and shield the lens. With this I could see the most amazing details or capture the sweeping expanse of the desert hills.

I wandered down a side street and my eye caught sight of a small window box tucked quietly inside the entrance wall of an artist's studio. Like a cresting wave, a sense of authority surged within me. My body assuredly stepped backwards, arms cocked at the elbows, head bent forward and camera tilted sideways as I sized up the image within the small frame of my camera. My thoughts flowed and my body swayed, as I intuitively knew this was a great picture. Pride swept through me and a humbled silence fanned in its wake. I couldn't explain in words what had happened but my soul had been transformed in an instance. All those years of searching for meaning and my "gift" were lost in an eternal moment of joy, as I became myself.

My palms, once slick with insecurity, reached for awakened dreams with a firm resolve. When I looked through the lens of my camera, each picture that emerged reflected my soul. My heart opened up and my mind's thoughts ceased their incessant chatter. A stillness replaced the noise and I felt my awareness slip into my heart. I was seeing for the first time. I had been awakened to another realm. The world seemed to reveal its beauty and grace to me. Nature became alive to me and I felt a soul connection."...

Reach Higher

When you need a little inspiration or motivation in your life to go after your dreams...turn up the volume, lift your arms higher and reach for the stars as you listen to this song by Gloria Estafan...

Underneath the Glacial Mask...

Layers of darkness obscure the truth and the light burning brightly within me - a well chosen smile deceptively worn to hide my fear or insecurity or an an icy glare and hardened heart worn as protective gear in the games of life. What would be revealed if I allowed my well-worn masks of pretense to melt away in the Light of Truth? In those rare moments, when the masks falls away and I'm left with myself...raw, vulnerable and real...what then, would you see?

Do you glimpse the 'real me'? The woman with laughing eyes and a Chesire grin; a lonely soul who seeks solitude and beauty in nature; a timid and insecure woman on the brink of becoming herself; a strong, courageous warrior willing to face life's challenges; a strong-willed rebellious forty two-year old having a temper tantrum; a student of the spiritual life; All of these and more represent some aspect of myself. Despite the darkness, though, a pure joy and radiance exists...underlying it all. At the very core, flowing deeply within, the joy and pure essence of God's love is there. I feel it pulsing...expanding within me or contracting depending on how open I am to life. When I peel away the fears and lies, I'm left with the Truth.

What's under your mask?

Image taken on a cool winter's day at Walden Pond, Concord, MA.

Seeing Through Kaleidoscope Eyes

These images were created with Kaleidoscope software (Photoechoes.com) using my original photographs of nature as seen on this website.

Kaleidoscope: Changing Perspectives

Unity of the Spirit*

Unity of Women*

Have you ever looked through a Kaleidoscope? When I was a kid, peering at life through this magical tube offered hours of entertainment. Whole new worlds of color, light and patterns came into view. With a quick twist or turn of the tube, the images changed and transformed into new perspectives.

Life often resembles a Kaleidoscope...with its multitude of experiences constantly changing and evolving with each twist and turn along our sojourn through this world. How we perceive these experiences (positively or negatively) depends upon whether we view these experiences with 'Light' or in darkness.
"The Lord will be your everlasting light" (Isaiah 60:19)

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)


*Note: The image (Unity of the Spirit) was created from the photograph (Unity of Women, 1997) using Kaleidoscope software from Photoechoes.com.

Lean on Him

Why is it so difficult to let go of what I want, what I think I need, what is best for me and to completely and unreservedly surrender to God's will in my life?

Maybe, because I think I know better than God what's best for my life? No...I've disproved that theory too many times to know it's not true.

Why then? Well...it's simply FEAR.

I've spent a good part of my life making my own decisions, determining what's best for me, pursuing relationships, jobs and that next 'thing' that will satisfy that place inside me that longs for relief, comfort, hope, excitement...

Now, I'm asked to surrender 'My' will to God's will. My fears rise up in mutiny at the thought of letting go of the 'reigns' of my life and allowing God's will to guide me. How many times have I told myself, "I can handle it myself or if I only get what I want, then I'll be happy"?

If I'm honest with myself, when I reflect back on 'my decisions' (especially the ones where I didn't consult God) the results usually ended in disaster. I'll admit that I'm predisposed to selfishness. Who doesn't enjoy the rush of Immediate gratification when we get what we 'think' we want? On the flip side, however, when I don't get what I want, I tend to pout, sulk and blame God for his lack of timing, unfairness and any other blame I put on Him.

I don't like to WAIT for His will to play out in my life...especially when it comes to relationships, jobs, friends, creative pursuits, family...basically, any area of my life.

God's will for me isn't always easy to understand or accept at times. It's often frustrating, exasperating, baffling and confusing. Though, to God, His will is perfect for me. My mind doesn't see the whole picture...the intricate plans woven through time that unfold daily. When I look back over my life, it's easier to see the 'big' picture, the view from God's eyes.

What is needed if I want to be at peace with His will and not My will?

When I learn to be open and willing to believe that God's will is always so much better for me than my feeble attempts, then I am more able to let go and trust in Him.

Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight." (NIV)

"Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart;
don't try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for GOD'S voice in everything you do,
everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep
you on track." (MSG)

Becoming a Butterfly

God's power to transform our lives from the inside out is not only visible in outward appearance. More importantly, our hearts and minds are renewed and transformed at a very deep level.

When I'm ready and willing to change, the first thing I must be willing to release is all that I think and believe that I am. Letting go of the old self is required for a new life. Am I willing to let go and trust God to transform me into a new creature? God's design for our lives is always perfect. Trust and let go!All that I was, All that I am and All that I am to become...I will surrender to Him. Lord, create in me a pure and clean heart that lives for you. Let all that I do be a reflection of your Divine love and grace. Let your light shine through me that others may see your Glory.

Transformation of the Butterfly

SHE HAD ME AT MOO

Spiritual Transformation

Butterfly: The Mysteries of Transformation
[a short video presented by Humanity Healing Foundation]





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*If you landed on my site looking for more detailed information about the phases of a butterfly, check out these links:

The Glorious Butterfly
[site includes information on raising monarch butterflies, videos of butterfly metamorphosis, christian perspective of transformation process, stories and images of butterflies, lesson plans for kindergarten and pre-schoolers]

Butterfly emerging from the chrysalis
[site includes slide show of complete metamorphosis of the butterfly]

Picturing God Through His Creation
[blog includes images of the metamorphosis of a butterfly; offers a Christian perspective on transformation]

The Butterfly Site
[#1 site for the most complete and current Butterfly information; includes biology, pictures, links and more]

The Children's Butterfly Site[site includes information, photos of life cycle of butterflies; links to Butterfly and Moth resources on the web; translations available in Français, Deutsch, Español,Italiano, Nederlands]

Butterfly Sites on the Web
[this site includes a list of resources on the web with full description of websites]

God Doesn't Shout

God wants to speak to me. I'm often too busy to really listen. It's difficult to hear His still small voice speaking to me when my world is full of noise and distraction (internal and external). It is only when I begin to turn off the sounds (turn off the radio, turn off the cell phone, turn off the computer...) that my mind begins to slow down. The internal voices drift off and I am left with the pure sound of silence. I pray that my heart and mind will be open to hear God's calling.

"Silence is the first language of God; all else is a poor translation." ~ Thomas Merton

He said: "Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord,for the Lord is about to pass by." Now there was a great wind,so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake, and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence—and then there came a voice to him that said, "What are you doing here Elijah?" —I Kings: 19:11-13

Crooked or Straight?

"The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out." ~ Proverbs 10:9

In·teg·ri·ty
Pronunciation: \in-ˈte-grə-tē\

1. firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values
2. an unimpaired condition; soundness
3. the quality or state of being complete or undivided (wholeness)

Integrity Self-Assessment:

• Am I living in alignment with God's will? or am I living according to my selfish desires?
• Do my actions match my words, or do I say one thing and do another?
• Am I the same person in all areas of my life or do I say and do things to adapt to whatever group I am with?
• Do I keep my commitments and my word or do I make empty promises and excuses?
• Am I truly being honest with God about all my thoughts, actions and behaviors... the ones that I don't really want to share with anyone (especially God)... the thoughts of lust, self-righteous anger, jealousy, judgment or resentment?
  

LORD, I pray that when I start to walk down the wrong path and stray from what I know is right (which I often do) that you will guide me back with a firm and gentle hand.

Image taken at Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, MA

Be Still

The sermon series at my church is focusing on making space for God in our busy lives. I race through my work days with anxious anticipation of the weekend. The weekend finally arrives! My weekend begins with a fast-paced agenda. Satisfaction comes as I start to check off my 'to-do' list...now I feel productive, worthwhile, as though I'm 'doing' something good that offers a sense of accomplishment. Work and activity provide the illusion of a worthwile life...the more I work, the more I feel as though I'm being useful and of service. In order to feel better about myself, I work harder, try harder and "do" more so that I don't lose that feeling.

What is the cure for a restless mind and heart?
Where do I make space for God in my life?
When do I slow down and just rest?

If I want to know God, I need to spend time with him.

"As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God."
— Psalm 42:1

Letting go of the activities, the busyness, the distractions in my life seems at times difficult, yet it is essential if I desire to know God more fully...to experience His power and presence in my life.

Slow me down Lord that I may hear your still small voice whispering to my heart...



"Be still, and know that I am God."


"Be still, and know that I am..."


"Be still, and know that I..."


"Be still, and know that..."


"Be still, and know..."


"Be still, and..."


"Be still..."


"Be"

(Psalm 46:10) Variations on a psalm

Image taken at Great Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary, Concord, MA

Decluttering the Mind

Each day, I need to review my thoughts, attitudes and actions and determine whether or not I've harmed anyone or need to make amends. When I refuse to acknowledge my part in any situation, I'm at risk of building up resentments and anger. Eventually, these will block me off from God and my fellows. A retreat leader once referred to these unresolved issues as 'tumors of unforgiveness'. Without resolution of these long-standing issues, my chances for peace and inner contentment diminish and I'm left with bitterness and a hardened heart.

In the past, the solution to anger or resentment towards a perceived offense or injury was to cut someone out of my life rather than deal with the conflict. I thought the problem would be solved by avoidance. The only treatment I've found to be effective is 'spiritual surgery'. God is the ultimate healer. I go to Him with an attitude of honesty, humility and a willingness to see the truth. If an amends is needed, I go to that person to reconcile the differences.

I'm trying to practice this in my daily life. It's not always easy to do. I enjoy being 'right' and feeling superior to others at times. When I look more deeply into these attitudes, underneath I uncover a deep sense of fear and insecurity. I ask God for tolerance of others opinions that may differ from my own. I ask for humility to see myself as I am through God's eyes. I ask for God to remove the fear of others opinions of me, the fear that I'm not enough or someone else if better or has more. I pray for an attitude of love and forgiveness for myself and others. When I live more in the Truth, I experience a greater sense of peace in my mind and heart.