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FRIDAY THOUGHT 12/21/12

THE DARKEST DAY

Today is the start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere.  It is the shortest day of the year from sunrise to sunset.  Nature looks grim, devoid of life.  The earth appears dead.  However, we know otherwise.  It is a time of natural, necessary slumber, a time that prepares the world to spring back to life in a few short months.  Without winter, there could be no spring.

It is often the same with us, when darkness comes into our souls.  There have been times in my life when I thought it was over.  My prospects hopeless, my soul seemingly dry as dust, I saw no future, just darkness.  However, looking back, I now know that those were times of inner preparation, times when my soul was quietly healing, growing stronger – no, not sleeping or dead – building strength and setting my spiritual roots more firmly.  Then, when God was ready, my renewed soul would spring forth with more joy, more clarity, and more strength than ever before.

My point:  On this winter solstice day, remember that God sees in the dark.  Grim, challenging times are nothing more than times of renewal and preparation.  Use them as times of reflection, prayer, surrender.  The light does not go out, even though we may not always be able to see it. – jri

Christmas is four days away.  On behalf of Susan and me, I want to take this opportunity to wish you joy and peace during this sacred season.  I also want to thank you for your prayers and support, as well as your patience as I have attempted over  yet another year to share my sometimes self-indulgent faith journey with you.  Also a reminder:  Don’t just believe in God; instead, just believe Him.  He is awesome … always.  God bless you.

John Ingrisano

4279 Hunter Road

Gainesville, GA 30506

www.dailyconnections.net

December 21, 2012

WEDNESDAY THOUGHT 12/19/12

A HEART FOR CHILDREN

I do not like President Obama, either personally or politically.  However, a friend reminded Susan and me in a letter the other day that we should pray for him.  “Wouldn’t it be a kick if he gets converted and leads the country back to God?” wrote Carl.  “That sounds like the thing that God would do.”  Then he refers to Paul’s conversion.  It got me thinking.

Then this morning, Susan said that, no matter what we think of Obama, he seems to have a heart for children.  The killings of the children in Newtown, Connecticut, seemed to genuinely trouble him.  Also, Obama seems to dote on his own children.  This is something with which we can all connect.

My point:  Pray for our leaders – Republican, Democrat, all.  For me, this reminder that Obama has a heart for children is a starting point for prayer for the President.  So, especially in this Christmas time and as our country continues to face potentially devastating times ahead, I know that Susan and I will pray for President Obama and all our elected officials.  We urge you to do the same.  – jri

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

– 1 Timothy 2:1-4

And I exhort you NOT to respond with political commentary on this posting.  My intention, as a follower of Christ, is to encourage all of us to pray for the President and for this country, not to engage in political debate.  God bless and have a joy-filled day.

John Ingrisano

4279 Hunter Road

Gainesville, GA 30506

www.dailyconnections.net

December 19, 2012

TUESDAY THOUGHT 12/18/12

NO CHOICE

Pardon the rambling nature of this thought; I’m still trying to wrap my mind and heart around it:  When I was younger, like many people, I chose my beliefs.  I believed in literature and art for a spell; the power of my sheer own will and personal charm; objectivism, naturalism, and even Buddhism, mostly because they felt so good, so right, so comfortable and comforting.  Today, I also believe in capitalism, the U.S. Constitution, the value of a good dog, and the satisfaction that comes from the aroma of a great pasta sauce simmering on the stove.

That’s what makes my faith in God so different.  I have no choice.  Instead, I was chosen.  Big difference; nothing arbitrary about it.  My faith is an unstoppable, immovable force (no contradiction in those two terms).  It propels me along, anchors me down, and is beyond my control.  I can get angry at God (there are times when my prayers are a growling, I’m-so-fed-up lecture) and there are times when I walk away … or try to, at least.  But then I’ll roll over in the morning and realize that ignoring God would be like ignoring the existence of the breaking dawn.

My point:  Don’t get too close to God, don’t open your mind and your heart … unless you are prepared to be overwhelmed by a truth that goes far, far beyond the logic of one-plus-one equal two.  Given all the choices in the world, the choice of God is immutable, irrefutable, unbelievable, and totally believable.  – jri

My life has been transformed in the last 12 month.  God-driven and God-led, it has unfolded before my eyes in the most improbable and unlikely of ways: rediscovering and rekindling a love from more than four decades ago, a love built on caring, sharing, gentleness, and a mutual, active, pray-together faith in the Lord.  It is a life surrounded by loved ones, both family and friends, and – though certainly not problem-free – filled with peace, caring, integrity, and joy.  Though I’m supposedly a writer, I find all this still difficult to express, except to say that I find my life to be blessed beyond belief. Amazing grace.  Amen.

John Ingrisano

DailyConnections
(770) 314-2649

December 18, 2012

THURSDAY THOUGHT 12/13/12

PEACE

Jamie died several years ago, eaten up by cancer.  A man of faith and at peace with God, he inspired others to the very end.  Recalling that supposed tragedy, I found myself thinking recently that we ask God for this, that, and then more.  We pepper and pester Him with our petitions.  Yes, many of our pleadings are for good things: healing of broken bodies, battered souls, ruined finances, and shredded relationships.

His response?  Sometimes He slips us what we want.  (We call those miracles.)  However, He always offers us what we need.  And that is … His peace.  Time and again, this is His gift to us, and I have found that when we accept that gift, all other needs are met, regardless of the outcome.

My point:  It is not a new Volkswagen or even a miraculous cure of cancer that is God’s greatest gift.  It is His peace and our acceptance of this gift.  When we sit in stillness (yes, even amid the raging storm) and just let God’s peace enter into and flow over us, our prayers have been answered. – jri

I am a busy guy, big on multi-tasking.  And I am prone to lock, load and fire my prayer list at God like a machine gun … and when done, check this task off my to-do list.  I must drive God crazy.  Every now and then, though, I do stop, sit still, clear my head, and offer a simple prayer:  “My Lord and My God.”  I repeat it quietly to myself over and over again, until my tight shoulders unkink, the world fades away, and I am able to just sit, quietly and peacefully, in the welcome presence of My God.  May God’s peace fill your heart, soul, and life today.

John Ingrisano

DailyConnections
(770) 314-2649

December 13, 2012

WEDNESDAY THOUGHT 12/12/12

AMNESTY!

When my children were in their teens, their  mother and I wanted to make sure they knew they could always turn to us when in trouble, even if they had done something downright less-than-brilliant.  So, if they were in trouble, all they had to do was pick up the phone and say one word – “Amnesty!” – and they would not be interrogated or punished.

God does the same with us.  When we screw up, He doesn’t say, “Gotcha!”  Nor does He say that what we did is okay.  He simply forgives us when we recognize our foolishness (sometimes even when we don’t).  He grants us amnesty.

My point:  When we have sinned or not trusted as we should (that trust part keeps me busy), all we have to do is ask.  In fact, sometimes we don’t even have to ask.  God just forgives us.  That’s kind of nice.  No matter how many times we screw up, God still loves us and forgives us.  We get to start fresh as many times as we need.  Ahhhhh. – jri

A couple of comments about the dialogue between Jesus and the woman caught in adultery:  First, she did not ask for forgiveness; Jesus simply refused to condemn her.  He didn’t demand an on-your-knees, groveling confession, complete with lurid details.  No, she didn’t have to grovel or beg.  Second, Jesus also did not condone her sin.  Third, He gently cautioned her to change her ways, saying, “Go and sin no more.”  He did not lecture her or moralize at her until her eyes glazed over.  Imagine going up to a person who had wronged you and just saying, “It’s okay.  I care about you,” and then just loving that person in silence.  Amnesty.  Grant it often, just as it is often granted to us.

John Ingrisano

DailyConnections
(770) 314-2649

December 12, 2012

TUESDAY THOUGHT 12/11/12

JOYFUL, MY FOOT!

Susan and I tithe, try to “walk across the room”  to support fellow faith travelers who have sore souls, read scripture and pray together each morning, and make many mistakes, yet try to accept forgiveness.  We sleep with clear consciences each night, knowing that we try to follow God’s way and do His will.

Still, that doesn’t mean God gives us a free pass on tough times.  This weekend, I got home after nearly two solid weeks on the road.  I limped in the door physically and emotionally drained, battling a flu bug and struggling with some holiday family challenges.  One of the dogs has a persistent itch; there is a dead, less-than-redolent mouse somewhere in the laundry room; and … well, you get the picture.

Tired, snarly and annoyed, feeling nipped at at every turn, my prayers for a day were I’ve-had-about-enough lectures to God.  (Yes, I even wagged my finger at heaven.)  I felt burdened, forgotten, borderline cheated.  (Meanwhile, Susan, God bless her, listened, waited patiently and prayed silently for her sore-souled husband.)

And then, and then, and then:  I awoke this morning filled with awareness, patience, a keen sense of God’s love, patience, and forgiveness, along with a heaping dollop of sheepishness for my trying to tell God how to do His business.

My point:  I have come to believe that God ALWAYS gives us what we need, but not always what we want.  Tough times are gifts given to us to steel, temper and strengthen us (and maybe remind us how weak we really are).  And, yes, He is ALWAYS there, beside us, watching over us.  Always.  Thank God. — jri

Before Susan and I re-met face-to-face this year, we had begun to speak on the phone a thousand miles distant.  Gradually, something neither of us had done with others before, we began to pray together, awkwardly at first, then with more confidence and trust.  These prayers, I believe, formed the foundation of our new-found relationship.  (For those who do not know, she and I had been engaged in the late 60s, right out of high school, and then lost touch for 42 years, before re-meeting and then marrying this July.)  Spiritually, we travel shoulder to shoulder, being each other’s strength and joy.  What a joy-filled, blessed relationship.  Thank you, Lord.

John Ingrisano

DailyConnections
(770) 314-2649

December 11, 2012