Fireflies of Hope

"African Faith" in France

My nephew is a Mormon missionary in France right now.  He sent an email today and talked about what he has learned about FAITH:

He wrote, "I've been thinking a lot about faith recently and had a thought. There is something I like to call "African faith." I don't know what it is exactly but Cyprien Munazi had it in Montpellier (and still does) and Marie Oulai has it here in Pau. It is an absolute and unwavering confidence in God that everything will work out no matter what. 

"I might have already said this but Cyprien explained it this way: 

"Faith is when your baby gets a fever in the middle of the night, and you know within your heart that it is malaria. He gets hotter and hotter and there is nothing you can do. 

You have nothing to help him but a cloth and water. There are no pharmacies open for medication and if there were, you have no money to buy anything anyway. 

So you pray, and you pray all night. You pray and you fast, and finally when the sun starts to come up and you tell the Lord that no matter what happens, it is in His hands- that you accept whatever He chooses- your baby stops crying and starts to fall asleep, and soon is sleeping peacefully. Dieu merci." 

"I don't have faith like that and have never been asked to. Should I be grateful? We have a lot to learn and me especially. But I do know that faith is a true principle and that God is omniscient and omnipotent. I don't understand everything that has happened in my life but I am grateful that I know the end of the story before I get there. So find a way to exercise your faith and notice the miracles you already have in your life."

"Beauty Tips" Audrey Hepburn's Favorite Poem

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers through it every day.

For poise, walk with knowledge that you’ll never walk alone.

If you ever need a helping hand, you’ll find one at the end of your arm.

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands,

One for helping yourself, and one for helping others.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears,

The figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes, because

That is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.

True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.

It is the caring she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows.

The beauty of a woman only grows during the passing years.

Contrary to what some may think, Audrey Hepburn did not write this beautiful poem, Sam Levenson did. Levenson wrote "Time Tested Beauty Tips" for his grandchild, and it just so happened to be one of Audrey's favorite poems. She read it to her children on the very last Christmas Eve before she passed away.                                                      

Fireflies Poem

Hope will come to me like a firefly
In my hour of ebony fog,
Burning with luminosity
From nowhere else but God.

Excerpt from poem by, 
Gwendolyn Taylor Soper 4.10.06

When Life Gets Too Hard To Stand . . . KNEEL

"Spiritual Imagination for Hope"

I just had to share what a friend of mine, Kurt Walker, wrote today on his Facebook page.  He said he is "PRAYING FOR THOSE WITHOUT THE SPIRITUAL IMAGINATION FOR HOPE."

I love that.  Remember that Einstein said,"Imagination is more important than knowledge".  If your spiritual imagination is a little rusty, calloused or dormant try reading some Psalms from the Old Testament.  Those always awaken my spiritual imagination, and they might help you, too.  Especially chapters 28-40-"ish".  Try underlining, or highlighting your favorite verses in with a yellow colored pencil.  Make notes in the margin that come into your mind.  When you go back to read them again in the future, you'll be glad you did.

HOPE will come to you.  God wants you to be filled with HOPE.  Just use your "SPIRITUAL IMAGINATION".  Pray for spiritual imagination.  I believe the Lord will bless you with new ideas and approaches to your situation.  I believe He will bless you with HOPE.