Lord of all Hopefulness

Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,
Whose trust, ever childlike, no cares could destroy,
Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,
Your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.

Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,
Whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe,
Be there at our labors, and give us, we pray,
Your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day.

Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,
Your hand swift to welcome, your arms to embrace,
Be there at our homing, and give us we pray,
Your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.

Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,
Whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm,
Be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,
Your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.

prayer for hard times

Let me use disappointment as material  for patience:

Let me use success as material for thankfulness:

Let me use suspense as material for perseverance:

Let me use danger as material for courage:

Let me use reproach as material for longsuffering:

Let me use praise as material for humility:

Let me use pleasures as material for temperance:

Let me use pains as material for endurance.  {John Baillie]

Per Crucem

By Your cross and passion deliver us Lord

Pieta by Melinda Kirigin Voss

Good song when wanting to confess sin

The SOG Plan by Ken Sande--helpful advice for relationships

from Ken Sande  http://www.rw360.org/2013/04/28/the-sog-plan/

• Self-Aware
• Other-Aware, and
• God-Aware

This simple acronym was not a panacea. But as Megan and the rest of our family developed the habit of channeling our thoughts, emotions, and actions through this grid, our relationships steadily improved.

We found that the best way to implement the SOG Plan was to develop the habit of asking ourselves the following types of questions.

Self-aware: How am I feeling and acting? More specifically …

• What am I feeling? (Typical answers: competitive, irritated, insecure, envious, embarrassed, defensive, frustrated, fearful, angry, hopeless)
• Why do I feel this way? (I failed at something. Didn’t get what I want. Fear I’ll lose something. Someone criticized me. Tried to control me. Betrayed me.)
• What am I inclined to do? (Assume I know more than others. Clam up. Speak too much or too forcefully. Accuse or justify. Press others to see things my way.)
• What will I do instead? (Listen patiently. Seek to understand. Avoid jumping to conclusions. Speak gently and graciously.)

Other-aware: How am I affecting others? More specifically …

• What do others seem to be feeling? (Note their words, body language, tone of voice)
• What do others seem to need? Want? Fear?
• How am I impacting others? (Am I confusing, irritating, frustrating, hurting, judging, manipulating, or punishing them?)
• Is this really the best time to talk, counsel, or correct?
• How can I serve others? Look out for their interests?
• How can I demonstrate genuine love and forgiveness?

God-aware: How is God involved? More specifically …

• Who is God? What is he like?
• What could he be up to in this situation?
• Am I acting in faith or unbelief? Do I trust in him or myself?
• What difference does the gospel make?
• How can I pray? What Scriptures can guide me?
• How can I show that I love, trust, and obey God above all things?

These questions have many variations. The point is that we always need to be thinking three-dimensionally, to be self-aware, other-aware, and, most-importantly, God-aware.

This is the essence of relational wisdom. It works for impulsive teens like my daughter, who is now twenty-one, thriving spiritually, relationally, and academically, and glad to have me share her story.

By God’s grace, it can also work for you and me. At home, in the workplace, and at church. However frustrated, detached, resentful, or relationally clumsy we or others might be at times, God can use something as simple as a SOG Plan to steadily transform our lives and relationships.

- Ken Sande

Reflection questions:

• Which elements of the SOG Plan are described by the following passages: Matt. 22:37-39; Eph. 4:30-32; Phil. 2:1-11; Col. 3:12-17).
• Think of someone who seems to be exceptionally self-aware. Other-aware. God-aware. How does it show it their lives?
• Which of their awareness skills would you most like to develop? Why?
• Which of these three dimensions is most important? Why?

To learn more about how to apply the SOG plan in your life, visit Discover Relational Wisdom.

Permission to distribute: Please feel free to download, print, or electronically share this message in its entirety for non-commercial purposes with as many people as you like.

© 2013 Ken Sand

I Believe JJ Heller

Tchaikovshy-Hymn of the Cherubim

Blessed angel spirits offer praise undying,
Ever crying Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of Sabaoth.
Saints and Martyrs praise thy Name, Trinity lifegiving,
Earthborne sorrow leaving before Thy throne,
Evercrying Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth.
Father omnipotent, mighty in glory, Christ,
Thy Son, our Saviour who died that we might live,
Holy Spirit, mystic dove, dwelling with us ever more,
We praise Thee, Blessed Trinity.
With the Angels' sacred hymn,
All thy might proclaiming,
With the mystic cherubim
in songs of praise we join,
Holy, Holy, Holy,
Join we all in songs of praise for ever;
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
Lord God of Sabaoth.

[not sure of the correct translation--also found this as an intro

We, who mystically represent the Cherubim,
And chant the thrice-holy hymn to the Life-giving Trinity,
Let us set aside the cares of life
That we may receive the King of all,
Who comes invisibly escorted by the Divine Hosts. Alleluia

Is this emotion pleasing to God?

Good Advice from Ken Sende--this is a quote :

Do a 180

 

Sin-tainted emotions often provide helpful navigation points … and excellent opportunities to practice the six core skills of relational wisdom.

 

When you realize that you are feeling anger, bitterness, jealousy, contempt, or any other negative or distressing emotion, ask yourself two questions.

 

First, “Is this emotion pleasing to God and consistent with his character and will?”

 

If the answer is “probably not,” ask yourself the second question: “In what direction is this emotion seeking to move me?”

 

Once you’ve clearly identified the direction that you are inclined to go, the best course of action will often be to “do a 180,” that is, to do exactly the opposite of what you feel like doing.

• Do you want to turn your back on someone who ignored you during a time of need? Then take the initiative to encourage and serve that person.
• Do you feel like sharing embarrassing information about someone who gossiped about you? Instead protect that person’s reputation and draw attention to her virtues and accomplishments.
• Are you tempted to shun someone who has deliberately rejected your advice? Surprise him by seeking his counsel and implementing his worthwhile ideas.
• Do you secretly hope that someone who rejected you will be hurt in the same way? Pray daily that God will graciously spare her from such harm.
• Was someone disloyal to you, and now you have a chance to the same in return? Amaze her by standing fast as her friend and supporter.

Radical stuff. Crazy in the eyes of the world. Exactly the opposite of what we feel like doing. But precisely the course that God calls us to walk as his image bearers:

 

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

 

“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same…. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful (Luke 6:27-36).

 

This kind of unworldly behavior requires you to exercise all six disciplines of relational wisdom:

• Self-awareness - “What am I feeling? Why? What am I tempted to do?”
• Self-engagement - “What will I do instead?”
• God-awareness - “What is God like? How does the gospel apply to this situation?”
• God-engagement - “How will I trust, imitate, and obey Jesus right now?”
• Other-awareness - “What are the other person’s needs? Struggles? Interests?”
• Other–engagement - “How can I encourage, bless, and serve him?”

Doing a 180 is of course inappropriate in situations involving abuse or danger of serious harm, when we should instead follow our protective instincts and seek help from God-ordained authorities (Matt. 18:15-20; Rom. 13:1-7).

 

But when emotions are churning during the normal disappointments and trials of life, doing the opposite of what you feel like doing--without expecting any benefit in return--can put you on a course that imitates God’s mercy and grace to you (Eph. 5:1-2), and gives you the best chance of preserving a relationship you might otherwise loose.

 

- Ken Sande

 

Reflection Questions:

• How do these passages support the concept of doing the opposite of what our feelings are leading us to do? Luke 23:34; 1 Samuel 24; Romans 12:19-21; Acts 7:54-60
• How does doing the opposite of what we feel like doing give us an opportunity to imitate God (Rom. 5:8)?
• Think of a time when you let negative and distressing emotions guide your words and actions toward another person. How did it feel initially? How did the situation turn out in the long run? Were you glad or sad that you followed your emotions?
• Are you in a challenging relationship that is triggering emotions that seem to be moving you to distance yourself from another person or to say or do hurtful things toward him? What would be opposite course of action? Do you think that is where God wants you to go?
• Why is it essential that you do these things without expecting the other person to do anything for you in return?

Permission to distribute: Please feel free to download, print, or electronically share this message in its entirety for non-commercial purposes with as many people as you like.

 

© 2013 Ken Sande

Bach, cello suites Yo-Yo Ma

The painting is "Mill on a River" by Claude Lorrain Suite
 No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007
Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008 16:34
Suite No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009 35:35
Suite No. 4 in E-flat major, BWV 1010 55:09
Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011 1:19:44
Suite No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012 1:43:29

the little things

“It never occurs to me that I can possibly separate anything from love,” she said. “For example, I will speak of washing dishes. If I have the attitude that this is a beautiful ‘little thing’ that I can give to God, then washing a cup becomes an adventure! Do you get the picture? Every little thing should be done perfectly, completely, connected with God. Otherwise, it ceases to be interesting. It has no sense and no being. Doing little things with our whole hearts is our vocation.”

—	Catherine Doherty