Posts by Ralph Patrick
“Taking Off Your Shoes”
“Take your sandals off, the ground where you’re standing is holy.” Exodus 3 “Earth is crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God, but only he who sees takes off his shoes.” Elizabeth Barrett Browning I knew a family, they were from Iraq as I recall, who would occasionally visit the church I…
Read More“When God’s Eyes Are Smiling.”
“Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; Let the sea roar, and all its fullness; Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the Lord.” “For the joy set before Him Jesus endured the cross, scorning its shame.” Hebrews…
Read More“Daylight Savings Time”
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be opened.” Ephesians 1:18 “And you too have come into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled with light, and to shine.” Mary Oliver “Praise the Lord . . . Praise him, O sun and moon. Praise him, all you shiny stars.”…
Read More“Light in The Darkness”
“The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.” John “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” MLK I am writing this in the early morning darkness. Darkness surrounds me. Darkness envelops me. Darkness seeps into me and sometimes…
Read More“God is Smiling”
“The Lord bless you and keep you, The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you, the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.” “The most universal expression of all is a smile.” Bill Bryson When was the last time you smiled? Not in a “smile for…
Read More“Va-Lent-Tines”
“This is love, not that we love God, but that God loves us.” 1 John “How do I love Thee? Let me count the ways.” Elizabeth Barret Browning How do you love God? How does God love you? Those are pertinent questions as we embark on the forty-day journey through Lent. It’s quite certain that…
Read More“Love and Lent; Body and Blood.”
“Take and eat, this is My body; take and drink, this is My blood.” Jesus at the Last Passover“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is within you?” St. Paul in The First Letter to The Corinthians What is this Wednesday? Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday How will you…
Read More“Listening to The Voice of God.”
“This is My Beloved Son, listen to Him.” The voice of God at the Transfiguration of Jesus. “If a person is talking to God it’s called prayer; If a person is says they’re hearing the voice of God it’s called schizophrenia.” Lily Tomlin If you could ask God any question, what would it be? When was…
Read More“Meeting a Special Lady on Monday”
“God appears to us disguised as our life.” “You Say it is a sin that I love the dog above all else? The dog stayed with e in the storm, the man, not even in the wind.” St. Francis When you read the title of this what did you think? I’m betting it was something…
Read More“Friends”
“No longer do I call you servants . . . I call you My friends.” Jesus—as recorded in The Gospel of John “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” Hymn “A friend in need is a friend indeed.” My mother Jean Who is your friend? Why? What do you most value about him/her? I’ve been…
Read More