FORGIVENESS IS THE KEY TO EVERYTHING

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Nothing that is worth doing can be achieved in our lifetime;
therefore, we must be saved by hope.

Nothing which is true or beautiful or good makes
complete sense in any immediate context of history;
therefore, we must be saved by faith.

Nothing we do, however virtuous, could be accomplished alone;
therefore, we must be saved by love.

No virtuous act is quite as virtuous from the standpoint
of our friend or foe as it is from our own standpoint;
therefore, we must be saved by the final
form of love, which is forgiveness.

—Reinhold Niebuhr

This post is an excerpt from Prayers for Calm by Becca Anderson, which can be found at Amazon.

Prayer and Love

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HOW TO PRAY

Jesus taught that effective prayer must be:
Unselfish—not alone for oneself.
Believing—according to faith.
Sincere—honest of heart.
Intelligent—according to light.
Trustful—in submission to the Father’s all-wise will.

—Byron Belitsos

BECOME A MIGHTY EXPRESSION OF LOVE

Let my heart be the vessel of God’s Love.
Let my thoughts be the blossom of God’s Love.
Let my words be the expression of God’s Love.
Let my actions be the fulfillment of God’s Love.

—David Ridge

This post is an excerpt from Prayers for Calm by Becca Anderson, which can be found at Amazon.

SEVEN STEPS TO EFFECTIVE PRAYER

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1.
I release all of my past, negatives,
fears, human relationships, self-image, future,
and human desires to the Light.

2.
I am a Light Being.

3.
I radiate the Light from my Light Center
throughout my being.

4.
I radiate the Light
from my Light Center to everyone.

5.
I radiate the Light
from my Light Center to everything.

6.
I am in a bubble of Light
and only Light can come to me
and only Light can be here.

7.
Thank you, God, for everyone, for everything and for me.

—Jim Goure

This post is an excerpt from Prayers for Calm by Becca Anderson, which can be found at Amazon.

BE BRAVE, FOR THERE IS MUCH TO DARE

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I would be true, for there are those who trust me;
I would be pure, for there are those who care;
I would be strong, for there is much to suffer;
I would be brave, for there is much to dare;
I would be brave, for there is much to dare.
I would be friend of all—the foe, the friendless;
I would be giving, and forget the gift;
I would be humble, for I know my weakness;
I would look up, and laugh, and love and lift.
I would look up, and laugh, and love and lift.

—Howard Arnold Walter, 1906

This post is an excerpt from Prayers for Calm by Becca Anderson, which can be found at Amazon.

Open Doorways

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LIVE THE QUESTIONS NOW

Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart
and try to love the questions themselves…
Don’t search for the answers,
which could not be given to you now,
because you would not be able to live them.
And the point is, to live everything.
Live the questions now.
Perhaps then, someday far in the future,
you will gradually, without even noticing it,
live your way into the answer.

—Rainer Maria Rilke

THE DOOR WILL OPEN

Keep on asking,
and you will receive
what you ask for.
Keep on seeking,
and you will find.
Keep on knocking,
and the door
will be opened to you.

—Matthew 7:7

This post is an excerpt from Prayers for Calm by Becca Anderson, which can be found at Amazon.

Peace and Miracles Abound

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TELL GOD WHAT YOU NEED

Don’t worry about anything,
instead pray about everything.
Tell God what you need,
and thank him for all he has done.

If you do this, you will experience God’s peace,
which is far more wonderful
than the human mind can understand.
His peace will guard your hearts and minds
as you live in Christ Jesus.

—Philippians 4:4–7

PAY ATTENTION SO YOU DON’T MISS THE MIRACLES

By some incredible miracle,
the vast ocean of time has borne me up
to its crest for this miniscule moment.
I look around, revel in all that I see,
feel the spray in my face,
elated by the majesty,
the enormity of creation,
grateful beyond belief to be alive.

—Hal French

This post is an excerpt from Prayers for Calm by Becca Anderson, which can be found at Amazon.

Strength to Survive

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KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE

All you who sleep tonight
Far from the ones you love,
No hand to left or right,
And emptiness above—
Know that you aren’t alone.
The whole world shares your tears,
Some for two nights or one,
And some for all their years.

—Vikram Seth

YOU WON’T FEEL THIS WAY FOREVER

That’s how you stay alive.
When it hurts so much you can’t breathe,
that’s how you survive.
By remembering that,
one day, somehow, impossibly,
you won’t feel this way.
It won’t hurt this much.

—Grey’s Anatomy

ETERNAL LOVE FOR ALL IN THE WORLD

For as long as space endures
And for as long as living beings remain
Until then may I too abide
To dispel the misery of the world.

—Shantideva

This post is an excerpt from Prayers for Calm by Becca Anderson, which can be found at Amazon.

Circles of Grace

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These simple suggestions should help you and your Circle get started. Remember, nothing is cast in stone, and you can feel free to improvise until you find your comfort zone. We guarantee you will come away from these gatherings feeling inspired and challenged and with exciting new ideas to share.

First, begin by welcoming your guests. Go around the circle, with each person introducing themselves. For example, “I am Mary Smith and I live in Ohio. I am a writer, literacy volunteer, and mother of two.”

Next read a passage of poetry, prayer, or prose. Now, go clockwise around the circle, and ask each participant why she or he is here and what spiritual sustenance he or she is seeking.

Ask a volunteer to read her favorite prayer or quote.

These group gatherings are wonderful, but personal sharing and discussion of goals can be intimidating at first, so be mindful of your group, and you’ll sense when you will need to wrap things up. Always end on a high note by asking each person to share a prayer story and a blessing to appreciate with gratitude. May your transformation be your inspiration!

This post is an excerpt from Prayers for Hard Times by Becca Anderson, which can be found at Amazon and Mango Media.

Just Ask and I’ll Be There

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And heavier came each task;
‘Why doesn’t God help me?’ I wondered.
He answered, ‘You didn’t ask.’
I wanted to see joy and beauty
But the day toiled on gray and bleak
I wondered why God didn’t show me
He said, ‘But you didn’t seek’,
I tried to come into God’s presence;
I used all my keys in the lock.
God gently and lovingly chided,
‘My child, you didn’t knock.’
I woke up early this morning,
And paused before entering the day;
I had so much to accomplish
That I had to take time to pray.

– Author Unknown

This post is an excerpt from Prayers for Hard Times by Becca Anderson, which can be found at Amazon and Mango Media.

In Stillness, You Can Hear God

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I speak to you.
Be still Know
I am God.

I spoke to you when you were born.
Be still
Know I am God.

I spoke to you at your first sight.
Be still
Know I am God.

I spoke to you at your first word.
Be still
Know I am God.

I spoke to you at your first thought.
Be still
Know I am God.

I spoke to you at your first love.
Be still
Know I am God.

I spoke to you at your first song.
Be still
Know I am God.

– Essene Gospel of Peace

This post is an excerpt from Prayers for Hard Times by Becca Anderson, which can be found at Amazon and Mango Media.