Why are we afraid to live?

"Why am I afraid to dance, I who love music and rhythm and grace and song and laughter? Why am I afraid to live, I who love life and the beauty of flesh and the living colors of the earth and sky and sea? Why am I afraid to love, I who love love?" from Eugene O'Neill's play The Great God Brown

Making our home in Jesus

"Freedom in Christ produces a healthy independence from peer pressure, people pleasing, and the bondage of human respect. The tyranny of public opinion can manipulate our lives...the expectations of others can exert a subtle but controlling pressure on our behavior...In Christ Jesus freedom from fear empowers us to let go of the desire to appear good, so that we can move freely in the mystery of who we really are. Preoccupation with projecting the "nice guy" image, impressing newcomers with our experience, and relying heavily on the regard of others leads to self-consciousness, sticky pedestal behavior, and unfreedom in the iron grip of human respect...

"My ravenous insecurities made my sense of self-worth rise and fall like a sailboat on the winds of another's approval or disapproval...Living by grace inspires a growing consciousness that I am what I am in the sight of Jesus and nothing more. It is His approval that counts. Making our home in Jesus, as He makes His in us, leads to creative listening: Has it crossed your mind that I am proud you accepted the gift of faith I offered you? Proud that you freely chose Me, after I had chosen you, as your friend and Lord? Proud that, with all your warts and wrinkles, you haven't given up? Proud that you believe in Me enough to try again and again? Are you aware how I appreciate you for wanting Me? I want you to know how grateful I am when you pause to smile and comfort a child who has lost her way. I am grateful for the hours you devote to learning more about Me; for the word of encouragement you passed on to your burnt-out pastor; for your visit to the shut-in; for your tears for the [handicapped]. What you did to them, you did to Me. Alas, I am sad when you do not believe that I have totally forgiven you or you feel uncomfortable approaching Me." 
 
Taken from Brennan Manning's book The Ragamuffin's Gospel

This week I have been inspired by these words. I hope they serve to encourage you as well.
- Mary Anne

For your weekend

May your weekend be full of the things you love the most

You're not special - a powerful commencement speech

And read... read all the time... read as a matter of principle, as a matter of self-respect. Read as a nourishing staple of life. Develop and protect a moral sensibility and demonstrate the character to apply it. Dream big. Work hard. Think for yourself. Love everything you love, everyone you love, with all your might. And do so, please, with a sense of urgency,
And then you too will discover the great and curious truth of the human experience is that selflessness is the best thing you can do for yourself. The sweetest joys of life, then, come only with the recognition that you’re not special.
Because everyone is.

http://www.theswellesleyreport.com/2012/06/wellesley-high-grads-told-youre-not-special/

Music

Don't practice your art, but force your way into it's secrets. For it and knowledge can raise men to the divine. ~ Ludwig van Beethoven

Day by day

"Father God,
i praise you and thank You for this day.
i pray for a thankful and contented heart.
i pray I would be a blessing to someone today.
i pray I would do right by my family and friends
and love them as you would have me to.
deliver me from the evil one.
forgive me for my sins and help me forgive the faults of others.
teach me to love as you love.
help me to make decisions with integrity.
i thank You for the provisions of this day.
i praise You.
Amen."

Small things

"Oh the ineffable holiness of small things" ~ Father Timothy K.