I and Thou: A Parent’s Prayer

A Parent’s Prayer

Our Creator who art above the firmament,
hallow our inner spirit.
Thy wisdom come.
Thy will be done,
on the path we walk each day.
Give peace to our sons and daughters,
and forgive us for what we did not know,
as we forgive them for what they did not know,
and lead us not into a dark tunnel of gloom,
but deliver us from the stronghold of estrangement.
For you are the Creator of all wisdom, forgiveness, love,
and acceptance forever and ever. Amen

– Ruth E. Walton

Estrangement, Mothers & Parenting, Spirituality, Uncategorized

Image Credit: Pray for You: Found on Pinterest – Artist Unknown

I and Thou: It’s All About Perspective — IandThouReflections

Fall into the Bible – Part 3 Artwork: Light on a Straight Path by Cynthia Jewell Pollett
In this blog post, I will look at these “fall” phrases in The Bible where the word “fall” and the personal pronoun “me” is used. Go ahead and read each of them. Fall on me – Psalm 69:9 […]
I and Thou: It’s All About Perspective — IandThouReflections

I and Thou – Where is your Peace?

Beaver Lake, New Jersey. It doesn’t change. Year after year, the lake is the same. The kiddie beach, teenage float, wiener roast, square dance and the boat parade is the same. The Sunday Church Service on the lake (only accessible by small motor boat or kayak) is the same. The clay tennis courts are the same. The clubhouse is mostly the same. The only change is the Pic_BL5 people. The people are older, wiser and sometimes different. Owners come and go as homes pass down through the generations. A fairly timeless place. A place of peace. A place of serenity. A place of community.

Are you in the right place at this right time?

Photo Credit: Ruth Walton

A placed deemed worthy. Worthy of you. A place to flourish. A place to excel. A place to find peace.

God wants you to feel peace. A sense of peace in the community. A peace in the world around you. A peace in fellowship with others. Do you have this peace?

God’s world is heavenly. It is a world of goodness, love, and peace. A place where there are no politics or any other volatile issues. One day, the world will change. It will become the world God planned for all along. A world that is hard for the human mind to grasp.

God is real. Sometimes too real. God is in each of us, waiting for us to hear. Just like you. It takes strong faith and a full surrender to find the peace that God wants you to have. The peace that all is well. The peace that allows God to work miracles. The peace that will enable you to enjoy your work. Passion. Calling. Peace.

God wants you to find a Beaver Lake.

Philippians 4:7 NIV
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I and Thou – Heed the Voice

God knows it is hard to follow the right path. The heavenly direction does not make sense from a worldly perspective. God knows those who hear and seek to emulate. Has the Holy Spirit ever prompted you to do something unusual? One time, I had the distinct nudge to open my wallet and give all the cash I had to a Nun at a check-out line at a Walmart in Morristown, NJ. The cashier thought I was nuts. It is these quiet moments when God calls – it is so Blog_Pic29 important to listen. Giving is important. God gave freely. God gave Jesus to the world. Jesus gave freely. Jesus gave wine at the wedding feast. Jesus gave healing to the blind. Jesus gave peace to the demonic. Jesus brought life back to Lazarus. Jesus healed the person with paraplegia.

In everyday life, you can encourage and support people in seeking the light of God’s presence. Maybe in the moment and maybe in a moment decades or generations from now. God’s light shines through humanity; yet, it is difficult to explain. You can agree, God is hard to define. Although God’s divinity is a mystery, you are deeply connected. God cares. God understands. Do you have a sense of peace, joy, and comfort? God is a Father. A heavenly Father. A caring, loving Father who wants to protect His children. Jesus was His messenger. Jesus is the one who walked the earth and experienced pain, humiliation, betrayal, peace, and salvation. Jesus was resurrected to redeem humankind. One day all will see that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. All of this shall pass. And all those who bow down to the glory of the Father will have salvation and eternal life. Those who reject God will be forever separated. What a glorious day it will be when all who accept God’s grace will become one with God! Accept God into your life today and still yourself and hear the voice of the Holy Spirit, say, “You are mine.”

I and Thou – The Gift of Time

Christmas time. Holiday gatherings. Gifts. Christmas can be stressful; especially when your heart is larger than your pocketbook. You wrestle with the premise of gift-giving, and you wrestle with materialism. How do you find the right balance for your family? Consider the gift of time. Time to write a note. Time to write a poem. Time to make a hand-made gift. Blog_Pic27

During this holiday season, surround yourself with people who love you. You may not be a millionaire; yet, God knows you feel like a million bucks when you are spending time with family and friends. You will not be judged for not having the “perfect” gift. The “perfect” gift is presence…not presents! And, for family members who cannot be present for the holidays, give them grace. Wish them well. Love them from afar.

God wants you to keep your mind open to new ideas and new beginnings. Use this holiday season to refresh. Pause. Take a moment to reflect on where you have been, where you are now and what the future may hold. Whether you stay in your hometown or are led to a new and exotic place, God will be with you. God will guide you. Say, “Yes!” God is in you, and you are in God. God wants to give you the gift of time. You deserve to take a break and work on something uplifting…that will fill your heavenly basket.