Living by Default

When we learn to live by faith and not by fear, when we keep out eyes towards the light and not in the shadows and when we learn to do this the majority of our day then we can change our lives drastically.
The faith will make over our lives and our affairs.
Websters dictionary says that the word default means, failure to act or appear. When you are living outside of faith you are living by default.
Your life will be all hope one day and all fear the next.

Listening, Seeing, Living

If the sun came out after a summer rain would you notice how the rain drops on the leaves look
like tiny prisms?

If the wind blew apple blossoms from the trees along the walk way where you were stepping would you be grateful for the gesture that flowers were being laid beneath your feet.

If a child smiled up into your face from a mothers shopping cart would you realize the gift that the child ,not even knowing you ,chose your face to look into and offer up an unconditional greeting.

As you were hurrying into work in the morning did you look to your right and see the morning sunshine sparkling on the dew in the open field.

When you eat do you savor the flavor, the texture ,the aroma? Do you ever think about everything that had to take place in order for that food to be in front of you?

Do you ever sit in the quiet? Do you ever get perfectly still. listening to your breathing, feeling the chair beneath your body and not thinking of anything but the moment?

Do you ever hold a flower in your hand and breath in the fragrance, feel the softness of the petals, look into the center and notice its incredible design.

When you step outside in the morning do you breath in the morning air, taking in the freshness down to your toes, bathing yourself in glory?

Do you listen to the rain fall? Do you watch it dance in the puddles? Do you smile at the cleansing. Do you enjoy the melody?

When a bird sings do you stop for a brief moment and in your heart do you say thank you for the song?

Do you look up at the moon? Do you think about how many people it is shining on? How the glow is comforting and the stars are twinkles of joy?


Do you take in the laughter of a child, the smell of a cookie, the gift of a hello, your soft pillow, the sweet bliss of desert on your tongue, the kiss on a cheek or touch on your shoulder, the breath of a puppy, cool grass beneath your feet, sand on your toes, the smell of a baby, the sound of "I love you"
Do you ever walk through the day being profoundly grateful?

Do you live? Really really live?

If They Fall One Will Lift Up the Other

There is a Nilotic proverb ( from African Traditional Religion) that says:

"A friend is like a source of water during a long journey."

There is so much truth in that one sentence.

Proverbs 18:24 says
Some friends play at friendship but a true friend sticks closer than ones nearest kin.

American Indians have a belief that:
We are bound to our relatives through blood.
We are bound to our spouses through intimacy.
But our friends are held in a far different place than these because we choose them ourselves.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says
Two are better than one...
For if they fall, one will lift up the other.
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.

Honor your friends and the gift that they are to you.
Treat them with kindness and offer to them a listening and compassionate heart.

Peace and Grace
COHolley
Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times.