Image by Igor Schubin from Pixabay
The Virtues of Hope
rejoice in tribulation
for God is with us.
Expectancy rests…
trusting, patiently faithful,
in the unseen Good.
Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee. ~ Psalm 33:20-22
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. ~ Psalm 46:1
Image by Felix Mittermeier from Pixabay
What a wonderful day the Lord has provided!
Each dawn is a blessing… new and fresh, with golden opportunities!
A few years ago, in anticipation of sowing the online seeds for this Blisswood site, I also read (from several sources) that a serious blogger needs the strong roots of at least 500 posts to even be considered a beginner blogger.
Quickly accepting the obvious… that I couldn’t (and can’t) do this on my own was a huge relief. I had to let go, and let God help! And, thanks be to God, I’m officially a beginner blogger… 🙂
Thank you for visiting Blisswood!
You’ve helped funnel my writing voice as a creative outlet, moving me to reflect upon my faith and what helps keeps me buoyant on the stormy seas of life. I try to share what’s joyful, optimistic and uplifting… especially during these trying world times.
Thank you for subscribing, and keeping me on my toes!
Thank you for the inspiring suggestions, encouraging emails, and sharing these posts!
Thank you for your prayers!
With continuing gratitude…
Love in Christ,
m. Barbara
Cave Church Image by Dimitris Vetsikas from Pixabay
All of us sin constantly. We slip and fall… The Holy Fathers and the Saints always tell us, “It is important to get up immediately after a fall and to keep on walking toward God. Even if we fall a hundred times a day, it does not matter; we must get up and go on walking toward God without looking back.” What has happened has happened – it is in the past. Just keep going all the while asking for help from God. ~ Elder Thaddeus Vitovnica
Do not be surprised that you fall every day; do not give up, but stand your ground courageously. And assuredly the angel who guards you will honour your patience. While a wound is still fresh and warm it is easy to heal, but old, neglected and festering ones are hard to cure, and require for their care much treatment, cutting, plastering and cauterization. Many from long neglect become incurable. But with God all things are possible ~ St. John of Kronstadt
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Most men are like shavings of wood curled around their central emptiness. ~ St. Theophan the Recluse
Scripture Art by Juliana
When you reap your harvest in your field, and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands ~ Deuteronomy 24:19
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. ~ St. John 12:24
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Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. ~ Psalm 123:1
To repent is not to look downwards at my own shortcomings, but upwards at God’s love, it is not to look backwards with self-reproach but forward with trustfulness, it is to see not what I have failed to be, but what by the grace of Christ I might yet become. ~ St. John Climacus
It’s been said that sorrow looks back… worry looks around… but Faith looks up!
Let’s keep looking up… there’s Sonshine above those clouds!
Image by Dimitris Vetsikas from Pixabay
An Upstairs Cliros Where Choir Sings Behind Congregation
Music is unique among the liturgical arts in that it’s something we have to do every time we come to church. Iconography, architecture, church furnishings, liturgical books, all these are things an artist can produce once and be done with. But music is never finished. As soon as you sing a note it vanishes forever. As soon as the service is over, whatever beauty you achieved during it has to be produced all over again in the next service. ~Benedict Sheehan
Beautiful church singing comes through prayer, attention to the hymns’ text, and by actively watching the director. Liturgical singing is both a physical and spiritual effort… It’s our living Prayer Before the Ambo.
St. Augustine says, When you sing, you pray twice.
For millennium, while Christian Choristers have basked in the spiritual blessings of psalmody, science has more recently determined the physical health benefits of singing. It’s been documented that choral singing synchronizes the choir’s heart rates – especially during slow chants.
In choral church singing, single voices should never stand out. Individuality ceases when we humbly work on hearing each another. Listening carefully is the only way a choir can blend properly to create true harmony. This could be said in regards to many other things in life.
When one has spare time, it’s wonderful to also sing at home… with or without accompaniment. It literally keeps one out of mischief for awhile (yes!), and uplifts our spirits.
Singing spiritual songs from the heart at any time is a musical metamorphosis. Hymns of consolation, joy and thanksgiving help us grow closer to God… and He blesses all who engage in the beauty of His Church!
We ought to offer up doxologies to God with a humble heart, in order that they may be welcome, like fragrant incense. ~ St. John Chrysostom
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ~ Colossians 3:16
Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! ~ Psalm 47:6
Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! ~ Psalm 96:1
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! ~ Psalm 98:4
Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! ~ Psalm 100:2
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. ~ Psalm 104:33
Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! ~ Psalm 105:2
Image by S. Hermann / F. Richter from Pixabay
At the end of BLAME is ME. ~ Anonymous
Simple Patio Nasturtiums Reflect the Brilliant Beauty of God’s Creation
God is everywhere. There is no place God is not… You cry out to Him, ‘Where art Thou, my God?’ And He answers, “I am present, my child! I am always beside you.” Both inside and outside, above and below, wherever you turn, everything shouts, ‘God!’ In Him we live and move. We breathe God, we eat God, we clothe ourselves with God. Everything praises and blesses God. All of creation shouts His praise. Everything animate and inanimate speaks wondrously and glorifies the Creator. Let every breath praise the Lord. ~ St. Joseph the Hesychast
If I have any worth, it is to live my life for God… I am certain in my heart that all that I am, I have received from God. ~ St. Patrick of Ireland
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Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice ~ Psalm 96:11-12
Like clockwork, each September, I literally ache to travel. Somewhere. Anywhere. If only for a few days.
New destinations are required to be off the beaten track. They must include deserted peaceful beaches backed by pristine nature, or jaunts to lofty mountains, nestled by mysterious woodland streams.
Internal summonings such as these are particularly hard to resist, especially with wild geese flying overhead to distant warmer climes.
Today I’m torn between completing weekend chores, or planning an upcoming jaunt. With God’s help, I can do both, and manage to be back in plenty of time to celebrate the wonderful upcoming September Feast Days! [Nativity of the Theotokos (September 21/8) and Exaltation of the Cross (September 27/14)]
We shall see what opportunity God provides. And if not this year, then God willing, maybe a mystery tour next year!
Meanwhile, the end of summer beauty abides close to home. Bees buzz busily on patio flowers, and briny ocean breezes beckon. Joyful birdsong abounds everywhere.
This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. ~ Psalm 118: 23-24
These warm, and hazy September days bring my favourite poem to mind. I hope you enjoy it too!
I Meant to Do My Work Today
I meant to do my work today –
But a brown bird sang in the apple tree,
And a butterfly flitted across the field,
And all the leaves were calling me.
And the wind went sighing over the land,
Tossing the grasses to and fro,
And a rainbow held out its shining hand –
So what could I do but laugh and go?
~ Richard Le Gallienne (1866-1947)
This poem is in the public domain.
