Hope

© 2014 Lana Gray

Hope

Hope is what sits 
by a window and waits 
for one more dawn. . .  

- Joan Chittister

Love Wins

Love Wins

On my good days and bad days

LOVE wins!

In my failures - my lacks - my forgetfulness

LOVE wins!

In my joys and triumphs

LOVE wins!

At the closing curtain of my life

LOVE wins!

At the end of time

LOVE wins!

Ultimately

and

completely

LOVE WINS!

© 2014 Lana Gray

Focus

God, help me focus today on all that is within my reach.  
May what is in the distance not be ignored 
but kept in perspective 
so that I am fully alive, 
fully present.  

© 2014 Lana Gray

Open Hands

Open Hands

When I tightly grasp life

and my own agenda,

I suffocate hope,

I smother freedom.

As I lovingly and

gratefully

open my hands to life, 

hope and freedom flourish.

© 2014 Lana Gray

Integrity

Integrity
Job 1:1-3

The beginning chapter of Job wastes no time in painting him as a man of godly integrity. In today’s world we may describe Job as a “what you see is what you get” kind of man, a person who clearly reveals in action his inner convictions.

When I bring up the concept of integrity in my teaching, I love to use a wood-carved, two-headed rooster. Webster’s definition of integrity as “the state of being whole and undivided” is much clearer when the opposite of wholeness sits before us!

Today I confess to God those divided areas of my life 
- when my words don't coincide with actions,
- when my pride wins over humility,
- when my apathy throws water on the flame of love.

May God in His grace continue to transform me from a divided, two-headed rooster into a whole and single-hearted lover of Himself! 

© 2014 Lana Gray