Orphir and Stenness Church

Forgiveness: 

Forgiveness is the peace you learn to feel when you allow these circling planes to land. 

Forgiveness is for you and not the offender. 

Forgiveness is taking back your power. 

Forgiveness is taking responsibility for how you feel. 

Forgiveness is about your healing and not about the people who hurt you. 

Forgiveness is a trainable skill just like learning to throw a baseball. 

Forgiveness helps you get control over your feelings. 

Forgiveness can improve your mental and physical health. 

Forgiveness is becoming a hero instead of a victim. 

Forgiveness is a choice. 

Everyone can learn to forgive. 

—Fred Luskin in Fred , Forgive for Good

Lord, 

Be Thou within me, to strengthen me; 

Without me, to keep me; 

Above me, to protect me; 

Beneath me, to uphold me; 

Before me, to direct me; 

Behind me, to keep me from straying; 

Round about me, to defend me. 

Blessed be Thou, O Lord, our Father, 

for ever and ever. 

 - Lancelot Andrewes (1555 – 1626; English bishop) 

 

O sing to the Lord a new song, 

    for he has done marvellous things. 

His right hand and his holy arm 

    have gained him victory. 

The Lord has made known his victory; 

    he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations. 

He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness 

    to the house of Israel. 

All the ends of the earth have seen 

    the victory of our God. 

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; 

    break forth into joyous song and sing praises. 

 - Psalm 98: 1-4

Love: 

The roots of love sink down and deep and strike out far, and they are arteries that feed our lives, so we must see that they get the water and sun they need so they can nourish us.  And when you put something good into the world, something good comes back to you. 

— Merle Shain 

Trust: 

I can only fly freely when I know there is a catcher to catch me. 

If we are to take risks, to be free, in the air, in life, we have to know 

that when we come down from it all, we're going to be caught, we're going to be safe. 

The great hero is the least visible. Trust the catcher. 

— Henri Nouwen

 

Life need not be easy to be joyful. Joy is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of Christ. 

William Vander Hoven

Thank You, God: 

My God, 

it has taken me time, but I’m finally learning to trust You. 

When I called, You answered; when I cried, You sent relief; 

when I was in need, You came through. 

You are there for me in every instance. 

I need only look, think, and understand, and I can always find You; 

there You are, always ready to help. 

Thank You, God, for waiting for me. 

— Rebbe Nachman of Breslov in Men Pray: Voices of Strength, Faith, Healing, Hope and Courage

People everywhere will remember and will turn to the LORD. 

All the families of the nations will worship him because the LORD is King, 

and he rules the nations. 

The people in the future will serve him; they will always be told about the Lord. 

They will tell that he does what is right. 

People who are not yet born will hear what God has done. 

 - Psalm 22: 27-28; 30 

If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed. 

“If you can’t do the little things right, you will never do the big things right.” 

 - from Life Lessons from Basic SEAL Training by US Admiral William H. McRaven 

God reveals Himself through people.  Through Moses we glimpse God’s law, Amos showed us His justice, Hosea His love, and Micah His ethical standards.  Someone was kind when we were sick, helped in time of trouble, was friendly when we were lonely.  Someone we had wronged forgave in a spirit of love.  In all such acts a little bit of God is revealed unto us. 

 - Charles L. Allen