Good morning and happy Monday before thanksgiving, I pray your morning has started in a good way and that you are all wearing smiles, a smile is the most perfect accessory for any thing you choose to wear! As this week begins I know that many of you are full of "to do's" many of your are stressing over all that must be done to make ready for the holiday dinner on Thursday. Remember that no one is ever going to be completely satisfied with everything you do, the more you stress the more there will be mess..(dawn-ism) of the day! Take deep breaths this week, allow offers of help and most of all remember the reason for this holiday...give thanks. Enjoy the time you have with your family and friends and make fun memories, people will remember what you laughed and cried about much longer than they will remember how your prepared the bird, how you whipped the potatoes and how you baked the sweet goodies!
In prayer this morning as I sat in the quiet splendor of my home, I prayed my usual morning prayers, asking God to bless each of you abundantly this day, to hold each of you in his arms and to allow you peace, calm and comfort! I know that in each prayer that I pray I ask him for peace, calm, and comfort and I know that you might think it is a little monotonous..to me it is not. It is my wish for each of you every day. Peace in mind that "the storm is over" calm in heart that you might feel his sheer, pure, love. and Comfort in body that any illness or pain be stilled so that you have room to feel His peace and calm. I pray for these three things with humility and with true intent as I know when you have peace, calm, and comfort you have the greatest of gifts! I asked God to bless my sister, her husband, my nephews, and his family as they bid "farewell" to their sister and aunt, Laura. One of the finest most gentle women I ever had chance to meet. Only once did I meet her but there was so much love and kindness in her hug, there was so much life and spirit in her eyes, there was so much goodness in her soul. The battle of cancer was a big one for her, she fought with all her might and with each new problem, she stood determined to win. I know that she is with our Father in heaven now, she is soaring high with the angels, there are no longer limitations, she is enjoying all of the bounty that was promised her for living her life the way she should and for never letting her faith wane. God is holding her in his lap today as she is sad to see all of her family and friends weep for their loss, He is assuring her that one day you will all join her and life, just as you knew it here with her, will still be filled with love only Laura will be in perfect form with no pain nor sickness. I pray that each of you feel her loving spirit today and that you know without doubt that she lives in each of your hearts and that she is always with you. In the breeze that rustles the leaves on the trees, in the sunshine that warms your face, in the song of the bird, the chirp of the crickets and in the flight of the butterfly. Look all around you at the beauty bestowed upon you by God and see her. As I was closing my prayer I asked God to give hope to those today who seem to be unable to find any, I asked God to touch each of you with his heart and to allow his strength be yours. God is good, listen to his still quiet voice and allow him to lead and guide you! In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.
I came across this story this morning and loved it, God does speak to each of us every day, we must take time to listen and to hear him. We must follow the Holy Spirit's promptings and be obedient. Be his servent and allow him to do a mighty work through you!
A Quite Voice Within
Author: Unknown
As a teacher of origami, Art Beaudry was asked to represent his school at an exhibit at a large mall . He decided to take along a couple hundred folded paper cranes to pass out to people who stopped at his booth.
Before that day, something strange happened — a voice told him to find a piece of gold foil paper and make a gold origami crane. The voice was so insistent that Art actually found himself rummaging through his collection of origami papers at home until he found one flat, shiny piece of gold foil.
“Why am I doing this?” he asked himself. Art had never worked with the shiny gold paper; it didn’t fold as easily or neatly as the crisp multicolored papers. But that little voice kept nudging. Art tried to ignore the voice. “Why gold foil anyway? Paper is much easier to work with,” he grumbled.
The voice continued. “Do it! And give it to a special person.” By now Art was getting a little cranky. “What special person?” he asked the voice. “You’ll know which one,” the voice said.
That evening Art carefully folded and shaped the unforgiving gold foil until it became as graceful and delicate as a real crane about to take flight. He packed the exquisite crane in the box along with about 200 other colorful paper cranes he’d made over the previous few weeks.
The next day at the mall, dozens upon dozens of people stopped by Art’s booth to ask questions about origami. He demonstrated the art. He folded, unfolded and refolded. He explained the intricate details, the need for sharp creases.
Then, suddenly, there was a woman standing in front of Art. Was this that special person? Art had never seen her before, and she hadn’t said a word as she watched him carefully fold a pink piece of paper into a crane with pointed, graceful wings.
Art glanced up at her face, and before he realized it, he found himself reaching for the gold-foil crane he’d labored over the night before. Carefully he picked up the gold crane, and gently placed it in the woman’s hand.
Art said: “I don’t know why, but a voice told me to give you that golden crane. The crane is the ancient symbol of peace,” Art said simply.
The woman didn’t say a word as she slowly cupped her hand around the fragile bird as if it were alive. When Art looked at her face, he saw tears filling her eyes.
Finally, the woman took a deep breath and said, “My husband died three weeks ago. This is the first time I’ve been out. Today….” She wiped her eyes with her free hand, still gently cradling the golden crane with the other. Then she said very quietly, as tears streamed down her face. “Today would have been our ‘golden’ wedding anniversary.”
Then the lady said in a clear voice, “Thank you so much for this beautiful gift. Now I know that my husband is at peace.
“Don’t you see? The voice you heard, it was the voice of God, and this beautiful crane is a gift from Him. It’s the most wonderful 50th wedding anniversary gift I could have received. Thank you for listening to Holy Spirit within your heart.”
And that’s how Art learned to listen very carefully, when the Holy Spirit speaks to him within, and tells him to do things he may not understand — now or even later.
Are you listening, my friend? God may be speaking to you.
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