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To Honor His Birth: What Gift will you Give?
"Verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel;
for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do.
If any man serve me, let him follow me;
hold up your light that it may shine unto the world.
Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up;
he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness,
but shall have the light of life.
Jesus saith, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
For I have given you an example,
that ye should do as I have done.
If ye know these things,
happy are ye if ye do them."
No gift is more treasured by the Son of God
than the gift of your becoming:
Turbulent Waters
By Matt Moody
All boats float equally well in still waters,
but when waters are rough,
small boats are vulnerable
and sometimes sink!
It is easy enough to float along in life when waters are still.
But in times of trouble and turbulence, it is then
we see the size of our character
and learn how large or small we are.
The purpose of Life is not to avoid troubled waters,
but to navigate them faithfully
with patience and compassion.
Life's problems are not solved by running away
or by going around, but by facing,
straight on.
To master a difficulty, we must go through it!
A path with no obstacles provides no test of character.
Those who would win the prize must be proven.
It is not how troubled the sea, but how steady the pilot.
It matters not the comparative point in the journey,
but whether we are facing the right direction
and making unwavering progress.
And the direction we must face, in every case . . . is Love.
Mother Teresa taught:
"We cannot do great things,
only small things with great love."
In easing another's heartache, we forget our own.
Life's richest reward is not paid in silver or gold,
but in fortitude forged
as we faithfully travel through troubled waters.
Gibran wrote: "Our pain carves out a larger space for love to fill."
Without a tear in our eye,
we could not see the beauties of a rainbow.
So be glad, as you sail unsettled seas
knowing that your greatest reward
is your own becoming:
Becoming a more wise and wonderful you!
Recovering the You that is True
Life is a journey wherein we chart a course
toward Light and Love,
or allow wind and waves
to decide a lesser destiny
along the course of least resistance.
Boats of all size float equally well in still waters.
But it is the bigger boats that survive stormy seas,
while small ships sink in the same rough water.
And so we must be Large,
Large in Character,
Large in Love.
(Changing Your Stripes, 2nd Edition, page 139).
Becoming "large in love" is not accomplished through determined will power or positive self affirmation or vivid visualizing:
"Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?"
His Love flows to you, and through you, as you release your will and yield to His Will—you experience a mighty change through the miracle of His Redemption.
"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you:
and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh."
Here's more insights about the only change that matters: A Change of Heart.
Read the Christmas Message for 2008!
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