I'm Sorry

I'm so sorry for the way the church has treated you.

Carpenter

Even Jesus was a carpenter.

Dawn Treader

My own plans are made.
While I can, I sail East in the Dawn Treader.
When she fails me, I paddle East in my coracle.
When she sinks, I shall swim East with my four paws.
And when I can swim no longer, if I have not reached Aslan's country, or shot over the edge of the world in some vast cataract, I shall sink with my nose to the sunrise.

-Voyage of the Dawn Treader; C.S. Lewis

No Greater Love

Let nothing so disturb us, so fill us with sorrow or discouragement, as to make us forfeit the joy of the resurrection.

-Mother Teresa "No Greater Love"

Happiness

I am the only person responsible for my own happiness.

-Nana

Your Love is Strong

Heavenly Father,

You always amaze me.
Let Your Kingdom come in my world, and in my life.
Give me the food I need to live through today.
And forgive me as I forgive the people who've wronged me.
Lead me far from temptation.
Deliver me from the evil one.

Your love is strong.

Together and Apart

God, keep us together and apart.

Most Kind Christ

Oh Most Kind Christ,

Draw us weaklings after Yourself.
For unless You draw us, we cannot follow You.
Give us a courageous Spirit, that we may be ready.
And if the flesh is weak, may Your grace go beforth.

For without You we can do nothing.

And particularly not go to a cruel death for Your sake.
Give us a valiant Spirit, a fearless heart, a right faith, a firm hope, a perfect love.
That we may offer our lives for Your sake, with the greatest patience and joy.

Amen.

Risk is Freedom

To laugh is to risk appearing a fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk rejection.
To place your dreams before the crowd is to risk ridicule.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To go forward in the face of overwhelming odds is to risk failure.

But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing. The person who risks nothing does nothing, has nothing, is nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he cannot learn, feel, change, grow, or love. Chained by his certitudes, he is a slave. He has forfeited his freedom. Only a person who takes risk is free.