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MONDAY THOUGHT 6/28/10

Step Back From the “I Want!”

It was 15 years ago this month, in June 1995, that I spent five days in prayer, silence, and soul wrestling in a private retreat at a monastery south of Dubuque.  My life had been shattered, as my wife of 23 years had told me she wanted out, had found her true soul mate. 

I entered the monastery angry and scared.  I left five days later fortified in strength and faith.  It was the beginning for me, as I slowly began to loosen my grasp on what I call the “I want” syndrome, in which I had always used God for my purposes.  I left with a simple thought:  “Lord, I wish not only to accept your will, or even to embrace your will, but to seek your will and to do your will.  Amen.” 

My point:  Let go of what you want and open your heart, your soul and your mind to the joys and possibilities God has waiting for you.  No, I’m not going to tell you that my life has been a stroll down Easy Street since 1995.  On the contrary, it has been a series of challenges.  But wherever I have walked, I believe that, when I try to let God guide me, my footsteps, my trials and my joys all have a wondrous purpose … God’s purpose. – jri

Enjoy the many blessings of this day, and be sure to share them with others, especially those who feel abandoned.  God bless.

John Ingrisano
DailyConnections
Family Finances Conference Center
Custom Communications
204 Lakeview Drive
Algoma, WI 54201
(920) 559-3722
June 28, 2010

THURSDAY THOUGHT 6/24/10

We Are the Miracle Workers 

I have friends who do not believe in miracles, who say that such things, if they ever took place, are oddities of the past and not of today.  Nor do they believe that God directly intercedes/intervenes in the affairs of this world.  They believe (if they believe at all) that God gave us the instruction book, dropped us off on this scary planet, and beat feet back to … well, only God knows where.

But they do not realize that God gave us the power to perform miracles.  No, God may not speak to us from a burning bush, but He gave us the voice to do so.  Just as important, He gave us the ability to act and to – and here’s a novel idea  – love one another. 

My point:  God chose us to be miracle workers.  We are His servants (correction, His sons and daughters, not his servants) empowered to perform miracles of transformation in the hearts and lives of others.  We are His instruments.  We have tremendous power to turn pain into healing, loneliness into love, fear into peace, doubt into faith. – jri 

I hate to be a bother, but would you please put me on your prayer list.  I am facing some challenges and need the support of some of you miracle workers.  Thank you and God bless.

John Ingrisano
DailyConnections
Family Finances Conference Center
Custom Communications
204 Lakeview Drive
Algoma, WI 54201
(920) 559-3722
June 24, 2010

FRIDAY THOUGHT 6/18/10

Flaws

A Father’s Day Thought:  When I was young, like many young people, I was arrogant, intolerant of others’ foibles, and cock-sure of what I knew.  When it came to  my father, I saw every one of his flaws:  He tended to be cold, arrogant, emotionally cruel, highly critical. 

Gradually, as I got older (and, yes, perhaps I also mellowed a bit and I got to be a little less perfect myself), I saw things less harshly, more accepting of his weaknesses and imperfections.  No, he would never get “The World’s Greatest Father” award, but he did love me in his way (a way that prevented him from expressing it) and he did the best he could.   

My point:  Not really sure.  But I do know that I now have three wondrous children of my own, all in their 30s.  I am blessed in that all three of them have come to love and accept me with all my flaws.  I guess that makes me pretty darn blessed. – jri 

Have  joyful weekend.  Be loving, caring and forgiving of others, if only so that they may be loving, caring and forgiving of you.  God bless. 

John Ingrisano
DailyConnections
204 Lakeview Drive
Algoma, WI 54201
(920) 559-3722
June 18, 2010

WEDNESDAY THOUGHT 6/16/10

Using God

When I was young, I shamelessly used God, treated Him like the awkward fat kid who would let me borrow his car so I would be His friend.  When I got a bit older, I treated God as my vice president of operations: I made all the decisions and expected (and often got) His support.  The funny thing is that while I was strutting around like a peacock giving orders, and getting pretty much all that I asked for (demanded?), the truly genuine and fulfilling blessings were those for which I never asked.  I was using God … and He was humoring me.

It’s a bit different today.  God’s the boss and I know it.  I try (not always successfully, I might add, but I do try) to ask what He wants and then try (again, with mixed results) to listen rather than issue orders and requests.  My requests to God these days are simple:  “Lord, please give me faith, strength and guidance.”

My point:  The best decisions come from God, not from us.  Just put yourself in His hands and then say “Thank you” for the blessings He provides. – jri

Who knows best?  God or us?  That question is at the heart of most doubt and most fear.  No need for doubt or fear.  No need to try to figure out God’s next move for us.  Just trust. Amen. 

John Ingrisano
DailyConnections
204 Lakeview Drive
Algoma, WI 54201
(920) 559-3722
June 16, 2010

TUESDAY THOUGHT 6/8/10

Unshackled

I confess that I have sat in church for years wondering why we pray for “freedom for prisoners.”  On one hand, yes, I guess we are praying for convicts and those incarcerated for political purposes … though I’m not always sure why.  On the other hand (and this only dawned on me recently) I think we also are praying for freedom for those enslaved and imprisoned by their own self-destructive habits – ego, drugs, alcohol, fear and worry, avarice, even things like obesity and gluttony – people who live in a seemingly endless cycle that saps their dreams and robs them of hope.

It seems to me that so many of us squander our freedoms – our God-given free will and spiritual liberty—to self-indulge in pointless self-destruction.  We use our freedom to become shackled in some way that limits us. 

My point:  We are all searching for that something to heal the wound in our hearts, to fill the hole in our souls.  Unfortunately, too often, or at least it seems so to me, we choose answers that pour salt in the wound and that pick at and enlarge the gaping sinkhole of our souls.  No matter how long we search and how many options we choose, there is only one answer – and this I have found and know to be true — that eases the pain, unlocks the shackles, and fills that yawning gap with the balm of peace and truth and joy.  And that would be our Lord, Jesus Christ.  Period! — jri

 Pray for all who struggle.  As for ourselves, I love that simple phrase:  “Let go and let God.”  He does know what He is doing.  Trust. 

John Ingrisano
DailyConnections
204 Lakeview Drive
Algoma, WI 54201
(920) 559-3722
June 8, 2010

MONDAY THOUGHT 6/7/10

Men & Worship

Most men I know tend to be spiritual and emotional loners.  We aren’t big on sharing.  If one of my friends was diagnosed with cancer or divorced from his wife, I might not hear about it for months … and only then from his wife, daughter or mother.  (I can rarely provide the names of my friends’ children, and never mind about their grandkids.)  Unfortunately, when we do that – when we play the stoic – we too often mentally abandon other men and, most of all, our wives and children, all of whom can gain strength from us and who look to us for support and guidance and strength.

So, when I helped organize a men’s group at our church, I knew I was spitting into the wind.  “Ah, I don’t do that stuff,” was the most common response;  the second most common was no response at all.  The third: “If you expect me to hold hands with a bunch of guys and sing Kumbya, you’re nuts!”  (BTW, we don’t do either, but, yes, hugs do happen … sometimes.) 

It’s a small group, and even then, when we meet on the first Saturday morning of each month, we are much more comfortable focusing on food, sports, cars and, the weather. 

Still, last Saturday, five of us met, and we ended up praying a bit and then discussing the challenges of faith and life.  Once we got rolling … WOW!  I confess, it was downright spiritually and emotionally moving, balm on my hoary old soul, strength to  my weary spirit … and just good to connect beyond, “Hey, how ‘bout dem Packers?”  

My point:  Guys are good at toughing it out and, trust me, I’m one of the best, proud to be still standing after a whole lot of setbacks and challenging times.  But we all have the same hopes, fears, weaknesses and doubts.  We’re not alone.  Most of all, when we do manage to connect and we do share, we strengthen and support each other and, in turn, our loved ones, who count on us.  So, don’t be afraid (I know, I know: “I ain’t afraid of nuttin!”) to share.  You just may inspire other men and, just as important, the women and children who count on you.  – jri 

Bonus point:  Gentlemen, I see way too many married women in church on Sunday, kids in tow, husband nowhere in sight.  I invite you to give it a shot, if only because (A) it will make your lady happy and (B) it’s a darn good example for kids to see men in church.  Give it a shot.  God bless.

John Ingrisano
DailyConnections
204 Lakeview Drive
Algoma, WI 54201
(920) 559-3722
June 7, 2010

WEDNESDAY THOUGHT 6/2/10

Pity the Evildoers

As people who know me know, I have a soft spot in my heart for stray dogs.  This translates into a high tolerance for people who are self-serving and/or just flat out weak in their convictions.  

That’s why I kind of pity King Herod, arrogant yet indecisive, who managed to get it wrong at every turn.  (If he said it would be a sunny day, I’d bring my umbrella.) Sure, he was a lapdog to the Romans, but still, he was king.  Had it made.  But he spent most of his life not sure whether to wind his butt or scratch his watch.  And everybody used him, manipulated him, took advantage of him.  Sad. 

My point:  Pray not just for the troubled, but also for the trouble makers.  They can be a sad lot, in spite of their power and trappings. – jri

One of the things Jesus told us was to love our enemies.  Easier said than done, I know.  Still, today, why not pick out a person who, as my mother would say, has done you dirt, and pray for that individual?  Odds are that he or she is a sad, lonely, Herod-like soul.   God bless.

John Ingrisano
DailyConnections
204 Lakeview Drive
Algoma, WI 54201
(920) 559-3722