"For this momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to what is seen but to what is unseen; for what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal." - 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 

Have you ever felt so down like you're in a chasm or deep hole that you just can't crawl out of? Are you feeling like the walls surrounding you are caving in on you, brick by brick, one by one? Do you wonder how you're ever going to get out of this "funk"? Do you need to put caution cones around you so that others will avoid you and not be the brunt of your depression and anger? 

Become childlike. Look up. Look beyond. See the God waiting for you with outstretched arms. Imagine your arms outstretched, reaching out to your mother or father waiting to hold you in their arms, close to their heart. 

Instead of looking at the bricks falling in, look at the bricks as building blocks to be constructed into a wonderfully-made work of art, created as you are by the God who loves you. 

Just remember: this too will pass. The pit you are in will be restored again, and patched over so that all signs of your present troubles will be removed. 

O Master Carpenter, patch over the holes in my life. Be my bricklayer to rebuild me anew in Your love. Amen. 

TAGS: Inspiration, Prayer

“'Who will bring me down to earth?'” - Obadiah 1:3 

Have you ever known someone who is so stuck on themself? Seems like they walk around all day with their head in the clouds. "Smell me," we say about them. 

But has that "someone" ever been you? Have you ever been so "puffed up" after making a great play in a ballgame, hearing a thunderous ovation after a performance, getting a pat on the back after signing a tough business deal, or acing an examination at school? 

While those can be worthy reasons to celebrate, we must remember the source of the good that has happened to us. If not, we will, usually, inevitably, be quickly reminded of that source. 

God has a knack of bringing us down to earth in a flash. That great day you had yesterday turns into a day of disasters today. We've all been there. 

Enjoy the moment. Proudly keep your head in the clouds. But know your God brings you down to earth. Make the ride a smooth one. 

Father God, as you remind us through your Word: "Though you soar like the eagle, and your nest is set upon the stars, from there I will bring you down." (Obadiah 1:4) Thank you, God, for the ride. Amen. 

TAGS: Inspiration, Prayer

"Do not abandon me in time of trouble, in the midst of storms and dangers." - Sirach 51:10 

They say the pandemic is easing and the COVID threat is decreasing. They say that the inflationary pressure on the economy is reducing. They say that Ukraine is regaining ground in the conflict with Russia. They say that the number of mass shootings is improved over the past years. They say the US southern border is secure. They say that a rising number of Americans believe that the US is on the right track. 

You feel great with all of this good news. Or at least you should. After all, that's what "they say." 

But how should, or do, you feel? Do you feel like crying out, "God, where are you?" Do you feel like God has abandoned us? Do you feel like God doesn't care? 

When the priest was asked about how to stop the mass shootings in the US and throughout the world, his reply was, "It's a simple but difficult question ... God help us." 

Let us turn over all of our simple questions to a God who never abandons us in time of trouble, or in the midst of storms and dangers. 

And let us pray: God, help us. Amen. 

TAGS: Inspiration, Prayer

Fear looks down, 
Worry looks around, 
Faith looks to Him. 

Where do you find yourself? With so much happening in our lives, our country, and our world of late, it's hard to keep a solid perspective. 

Am I fearful and feeling down because there is so much out of my control? 

Do I worry when around me is so much chaos and uncertainty? 

Or do I have faith in God that everything is in His power and trust that He will make all things new? 

God can fill us with joy. Joy comes when we take our eyes off our circumstances and remind ourselves of God’s eternal goodness. Jesus said we were to look at the beauty of birds and flowers and see how they are looked after… they do not worry! (Matthew 6:25-34) 

When we have fear and worry, we focus upon the problem, but when we look to God in faith, He can lift us above our circumstances and give us hope and an inner joy, even in the bleakest of times. 

Fear looks down, 
Worry looks around, 
Faith looks to Him. 

Find yourself in Him. 

TAGS: Inspiration 

 Photo by todd kent on Unsplash

"He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?'" - Matthew 16:15 

Jesus, I believe that you are the Christ, 
The son of the living God, 
Fully God and fully man. 
Sent to be my Redeemer and my best friend, 
To wash away my sins, 
To live in and know the deepest places of my heart, 
And to make me worthy of a life with You everlasting. 
--SOURCE: Reflection for 02/22/2022: “Who Is Jesus To You”, The God Minute 

So, who do you say that He is? 

TAGS: Inspiration

AUTOBIOGRAPHY IN FIVE SHORT CHAPTERS 
by Portia Nelson 

I 
 
I walk down the street. 
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk 
I fall in. 
I am lost ... I am helpless. 
It isn't my fault. 
It takes me forever to find a way out. 
 
II 
 
I walk down the same street. 
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. 
I pretend I don't see it. 
I fall in again. 
I can't believe I am in the same place 
but, it isn't my fault. 
It still takes a long time to get out. 
 
III 
 
I walk down the same street. 
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. 
I see it is there. 
I still fall in ... it's a habit. 
my eyes are open 
I know where I am. 
It is my fault. 
I get out immediately. 
 
IV 
 
I walk down the same street. 
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. 
I walk around it. 
 
V 
 
I walk down another street. 

© 1977 Portia Nelson, There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk: The Romance of Self-Discovery 

It's simple math: repeating destructive habits + accepting responsibility = making a positive change. 

Is there a hole in your sidewalk that is writing your autobiography? 

TAGS: Inspiration

"For we are his handiwork, created for Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them." - Ephesians 2:10 

The fuzzy red flowers at the end of the arching branches of the bottlebrush tree are attractive to butterflies, hummingbirds and honeybees, and add a soft, whimsical touch and a splash of color to the landscape. 

Fuzzy, attractive, soft, whimsical and colorful. While these words describe the flowers at the end of a branch of a specific tree, they are also adjectives that can be used to describe persons in the species of humanity. 

What words would I use to describe me? What words do I think other persons would use to describe me? If my pet could talk, what words do I think it would use to describe me? 

What words would I like to hear God use to describe me? May my life work be directed toward hearing those words said of me by God. 

O Loving Father, help me to hear the words You speak of me and fashion myself into the person You want me to be. Amen. 

TAGS: Inspiration, Prayer

"God created mankind in his image..." - Genesis 1:27 

Do you see it in the photo above? What does it look like to you? A person? An animal? Just an old tree? What tickles your imagination? 

The hands of Nature carved this design into the tree. Without knowing the true intent, its interpretation is left to the eye of the beholder. On the other hand, there's probably a number of people who walk right past the tree and never stop to notice the artistic creation on its trunk. 

Similarly, God created us. In his image, he created us. We look at a tree and see Nature's hands at work. We look at another person and see God's hands at work. 

Or do we? 

Thinking of a busy downtown street, do we walk by each other, never stopping to notice the creations passing us by? Or do we take time to notice each handcrafted, unique, one-of-a-kind image of God? 

Master Creator of all things, thank you for creating each of us in your image and likeness. May we always take time to observe and acknowledge your handiwork with care and affection. Amen. 

TAGS: Inspiration, Prayer

"For no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely Jesus Christ." - 1 Corinthians 3:11 

Take sand, gravel or crushed stone, mix it with water and cement, and you have concrete. Concrete is strong in compression (it won't bend) but weak in tension (it can crack); therefore, you usually have to reinforce it with steel, carbon, glass or plastic bars or fibers. Now throw in some agents or additives to handle freeze-thaw cycles, temperature swings, and corrosion resistance. Because concrete production is time-sensitive, once the ingredients are mixed, you must put the concrete in place before it hardens. 

You can look at your spiritual life as being similar to concrete production. 

What are your ingredients? What makes you strong (you won't bend) or weak (you can crack)? What are your reinforcements? What is needed to keep you stable, balanced and grounded? 

Unlike concrete, it takes a lifetime before the ingredients are mixed, placed, and hardened to form the basis of your spirituality. 

Master Builder, show me the right recipe for creating a strong foundation. Amen. 

TAGS: Inspiration, Prayer