April 3, 2016

Sunday Sentiments: Praise for the Wind and Sun

Posted by ShariCakes under Religion & Faith, Sunday Sentiments | Tags: , , , , |
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Canticle of the Sun
Saint Francis of Assisi

Most High, all powerful, good Lord,
Yours are the praises, the glory, the honor,
and all blessing.

To You alone, Most High, do they belong,
and no man is worthy to mention Your name.

Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures,
especially through my lord Brother Sun,
who brings the day; and you give light through him.
And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor!
Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.

Praise be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon
and the stars, in heaven you formed them
clear and precious and beautiful.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind,
and through the air, cloudy and serene,
and every kind of weather through which
You give sustenance to Your creatures.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water,
which is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
through whom you light the night and he is beautiful
and playful and robust and strong.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Mother Earth,
who sustains us and governs us and who produces
varied fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

Praised be You, my Lord,
through those who give pardon for Your love,
and bear infirmity and tribulation.

Blessed are those who endure in peace
for by You, Most High, they shall be crowned.

Praised be You, my Lord,
through our Sister Bodily Death,
from whom no living man can escape.

Woe to those who die in mortal sin.
Blessed are those whom death will
find in Your most holy will,
for the second death shall do them no harm.

Praise and bless my Lord,
and give Him thanks
and serve Him with great humility.

AMEN

 

The very stones will cry out!

Have a very Blessed Sunday,

Shari 001

 

May 6, 2011

Look up…

Posted by ShariCakes under Life, Religion & Faith | Tags: , , , , , , , |
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My eyes are cast down. My spirits are in limbo. Neutral, disenchantment, stagnant – I gaze ahead  with no focus, oblivious to any thing outside my line of vision. I feel like a cloud of dread has hovered over me. A bubble of doom. A grey shroud of “bad luck” has held me idle in my misery. There is no looking ahead, no hopeful prayers or wishes. The waiting has driven me crazy. I have wallowed in this madness for weeks. I have tried to control things that are beyond the realm of possibilities.

Yesterday, anxious with things left undone and worry of what to do, I prayed. I asked God what do you want me to do? What should I do? Should I make those phone calls? Should I wait? Should I sit back a neglect things to be done? How late in the day is too late? Confused and upset. I dialed the phone. One call after the other reminded me again – I am not in control of any of this. I relinquished any and all thoughts and I walked away. Literally, I walked away from the phone.

At that moment my answers would come. One by one the phone calls came, my loose ends were beginning to secure themselves. I walked away, I gave up control and I waited. My relief had come in some form of answers and accomplishments. Last night I was able to rest my mind a bit.

This morning, I decided to sit outside in the sun and have my coffee. As I gazed out at the line of trees in the front yard, I noticed the lush green leaves. Its like they appeared over night and I never noticed. My focus has been at eye level and focused on too many negative things. The words that came to mind at that moment were “Look Up”. Look foward and away from the things that are keeping you bound to misery and negativity. Look at the crisp blue sky, feel the fresh crisp breeze and behold the beauty outside of the walls that you have made. Stop focusing on all the negative things that are consuming you and look up – look to God, surrender to His Will – He will take care of you.

Here’s to looking to God and yielding to His Will.
Love and Prayers,

 

April 18, 2010

Shades of Spring

Posted by ShariCakes under Life | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |
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Spring is upon us, yes and the weather is still quirky, but all around the signs of spring are showing their colors.

This year it seemed that Easter came and went, just too fast. Saint Patrick’s Day was barely over and the bunnies hopped in and out like jack rabbits. Easter was gone, the candy remained in the baskets and the leftover ham still lingered in the refrigerator. The signs of Easter were all around. However, the signs of life are continuing to show themselves.

For many people the bleak blank sights of winter have a way of affecting mood, balance and motivation. We all need color in our lives, we all appreciate color in some form – my favorite color is blue – shades of blue, blue greens, teals, purple blues etc. I truly believe that one needs the soft pastels of spring to lighten the mood and show that hope and life are not dead.

 Just when it seems that the blank, cold gray will never end suddenly the flowers begin to bud and show their beauty. One of my favorite times to enjoy is when the soft little petals blow in the spring breeze – like a spring snow shower – it’s not damp, cold or plain. It’s soft, warm and peaceful. Suddenly, the sun is shining, the birds chirp with joy, the green returns to the grass and the colors of the earth break forth with gladness.  It seems that Easter comes just when we need it. When we just can’t take the darkness anymore and the cold, bitter winter seems relentless, our time of joyful celebration arrives. There is nothing like the sun shine on an Easter Sunday to remind us of the risen Christ.  In our humanness we need the cycles of life and seasons to remember, reflect and reconcile our lives and minds to our Lord. Easter and spring is just the right time and place to remind us of the hope that we still have in Christ.

I could never understand the views of anyone who didn’t believe that flowers and trees were not created by God. No man could create life in its most intricate details and design. Even with our medical science, biological knowledge and botany technology – life and the human body continue to amaze us. Well, I continue to be amazed at how we have been designed and the awe I see in creation. I know that our Lord created us with a purpose and he continues to show himself, however complicated and complex.

 Our Creator God, is not simple, but is complex and our life in a relationship with the Lord seems complicated. HE askes nothing of us except devotion, love and trust – we however are self-driven, self-reliant and at the mercy of the world’s schedule and timing. It was not in God’s design for us to be tied down to the worlds demands. He never meant for us to live in a world with so much pain and saddness, dilemma and confusion. He allows us freedom to choose and asks for our trust – and yet we still take it all upon ourselves in the hope of finding that joy. Time and time again, season after season we are reminded that the true joy, hope and Love reside with Him. He sent us his hope and mercy, when he sent Jesus. We are never forgotten by our Lord, he is faithful through it all. We were never promised perfection, but peace. Peace of mind knowing that our stuggles will be half as hard and life will be twice as good when we are in communion with him. He will take care of all of the struggles if we just let him – if we just let go. He reminds of this in Matthew 6:26. Our heavenly Father cares for us and sends us hope each day and season. So this season, this spring – as you see the beauty in the shades of spring, remember the hope that we have as we continue on life’s journey. Never forget but be reminded of the promise and the hope that is with us always.