Faith Archives - Page 90 of 135

Answering the Demon of Can’t

Can’t is the worst word that’s written or spoken;
Doing more harm here than slander and lies;
On it is many a strong spirit broken,
And with it many a good purpose dies.
It springs from the lips of the thoughtless each morning
And robs us of courage we need through the day:
It rings in our ears like a timely sent warning
And laughs when we falter and fall by the way.

Can’t is the father of feeble endeavor,
The parent of terror and halfhearted work;
It weakens the efforts of artisans clever,
And makes of the toiler and indolent shirk.
It poisons the soul of the man with a vision,
It stifles in infancy many a plan;
It greets honest toiling with open derision
And mocks at the hopes and the dreams of a man.

Can’t is a word none should speak without blushing;
To utter it should be a symbol of shame;
Ambition and courage it daily is crushing;
It blights a man’s purpose and shortens his aim.
Despise it with all of your hatred of error;
Refuse it the lodgment it seeks in your brain;
Arm against it as a creature of terror,
And all that you dream of someday shall gain.

Can’t is the word that is foe to ambition,
An enemy ambushed to shatter your will;
Its prey is forever the man with a mission
And bows but to courage and patience and skill.
Hate it, with hatred that’s deep and undying,
For once it is welcomed ’twill break any man;
Whatever the goal you are seeking, keep trying
And answer this demon by saying: “I can.”

-Edgar Guest

Wordless Wednesday – Can You Spot the Bee?

by Cathy Baker | Faith | 10 comments

Interruption or Divine Intervention?

by Cathy Baker | Faith | 8 comments

I’m not a fan of the interrupted life (unless your name is Piper, of course!) There it is. I said it.

But what if my perceived interruption is actually divine intervention? Enter the study of Jonah.

Becky Kirby and I are eager to meet and greet the 25+ women who’ve signed up for this study, which kicks off Tuesday night. Below is but a nibble from the smorgasbord of truth that awaits:

Power-packed principles:

Interruptions only become positive when we consider the person or circumstances to be more significant than what currently occupies our attention.
A life interrupted by a holy God is a privilege.
Your story begins with God’s call. It is not your legacy or lack thereof that makes you significant. It is God’s call and your willingness to obey it.
Making sense of what God has asked or feeling compelled to cooperate cannot be the prerequisite for choosing obedience. His Word must be enough.

The quote that plunged the deepest through my steel-toed shoes: If you find yourself balking at God’s instructions in your life, it is an indication of the importance you place on God and His will.

Our final word of encouragement to attendees (and ourselves) as we approach Tuesday night: Come anticipating — fully expecting — God to speak, to move, and to divinely intervene on your behalf.

It’s never too late to join us!

My Friday Fave – Downton Abbey

by Cathy Baker | Faith | 5 comments

It’s a Masterpiece. Downton Abbey, that is.

The one year wait for Season 2 to begin seemed to never end, and now it comes to a close this Sunday night. Sniff, sniff.

One character I particularly enjoy is Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham, played by Maggie Smith. This matriarch leads her family with a stern, but loving kind of dignity that when mixed with a tad of meddling and a quick wit, cannot help but remind me of Ma-Ma, my dad’s mother. How could I not love this character? Perhaps this is why I’ll miss it so.

Farewell for now, Downton Abbey, my Friday Fave.

The Wandering Reader Delivers

by Cathy Baker | Faith | 2 comments

“The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
And miles to go before I sleep.”
– Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, Robert Frost

While difficult to pinpoint a favorite Frost poem, Snowy Evening nears the top of my list, which is why this handcrafted/customized necklace was the perfect Valentine’s Day gift.

Everything about The Wandering Reader is impressive: customer service, craftsmanship, and did I mention the affordable pricing? Erin saw me through from beginning to end with ease, so it came as no surprise when this delightful box landed on my doorstep…just in time for the big day.

Do you have a quote from a favorite poem, song, or book you’d like to share via a beautiful handcrafted necklace? Stop by The Wandering Reader, Handmade Gifts and Jewelry for the Bookish today!

(Click on picture above for a closer view.)

Reasons, not Roses

by Cathy Baker | Faith | 4 comments

A half-dozen reasons why I LOVE my heavenly Father:

He is in the details, not the devil. (Genesis-Revelation)

He is a constant and ever-willing source of wisdom. (James 1:5)

He is creative and delights when His children point to Him and say to admirers, “I learned it from my Dad.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

He is the Father of spacious places, continually exposing His children to new opportunities and exciting challenges—refusing to allow a ho-hum existence. (Psalm 18:19)

No matter what I do. Or say. Or think. Or feel. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He’ll never change the way He feels about me. Never. (Hebrews 13:8)