It was my turn (Ruth) to set the challenge. I have to confess it crept up on me all of a sudden, so I quickly got inspiration for theme from a bookmark that I have stuck near my computer -
God Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.I've had a busy week, going to London, visiting an aunt and friends, then making our way on Eurostar to Disney Land Paris all with 3 young boys. From time to time I would contemplate the theme, and again I have to confess I deffinately was not feeling serene at times. The mixture of hormones and the overwhelming nature of Disney, and dealing with the children left me frustrated and moody. However on the Sunday we ventured into Paris to find an English speaking church and was greatly blessed by the ministry. One of the things that the speaker said was being calm was a choice. We had a time of prayer in small groups where we asked to share a worry or concern, I asked for prayer in dealing with the children. God is so good, he helped and the last few days have been marked with a sense of more calmness and serenity! So, after my busy week of not feeling serene, I've come to realise serenity doesn't just come to those who think about it, it has to accompany an action. A deliberate putting of one's faith in God, acknowledging the gift of his Son Jesus, being deeply sorry for the sins we've committed, the acceptance of forgiveness and then living a life that glorifies God and what he has done. It is in this truth that we find true serenity and the ability to call on God to keep changing us and help us to take control of our minds so we can be SERENE.
Reinhold Niebuhr.
Please enjoy the contributions from the team, if you are inspired please create and tell us, we'd love to see what you make.
Ruth
Pauline
Tanis
Gina
Stacy
Lythan
Hazel
Melita
Kim
Nikki
Mona 
Julie
Esther
2 comments:
what wonderful creations! it is so neat to see everyone's take on the challenge!
Hi! What a lovely theme .... and of course what comes to mind immediately is that prayer BUT I never knew it was Rheinhold Niebuhr - that famous German theologian who if I remember right saw Hitler coming and went to the States: both he and Dietrich Bonhoeffer were aware of the danger long before it was imminent, and I think Niebuhr invited Bonhoeffer to the States in 1939 and wanted him to stay there.
For me that puts a whole new perspective on the prayer: I am interested to find out more of the context.
I've just been to a funeral - a lovely Mass where the Communion hymn was "Be still for the presence of the Lord is moving in this place" - which suggests to me not only the calm and stillness reflected in your projects, but also that stillness is the prelude to the Lord acting in our lives.
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