Wilderness Wanderings

2007 Christmas Message: Gift Giving Year-round

I wanted to thank all of you around the world for reading my blog and encouraging me.  I trust that you have been encouraged.  If you have not already done so, please provide your email so you are informed of updates.                                                                                                                                                       

As I reflect on this Christmas season, the season of giving; I am reminded of having an attitude of gratitude that leads to gift giving year-round.  God loved creation so much that God gave the ultimate gift, Jesus, which is the gift that gives all year. Just as God gave the gift that gives year-round, we should model God’s example in our daily lives. Our world is full of those waiting to see the love of God in action and all of us have the capacity to be a walking epistle to someone desperately in need of a gift – the gift of water, the gift of food, the gift of shelter, the gift of medicine, the gift of education, the simple gift of a smile and above all, the gift of love. Some of my recommendations to give back are (in no particular order - but I must say that I was impressed with the mission of both the Rainbow World Fund and Kiva):

www.unicef.org
www.universalgiving.org
www.ihfonline.org
www.kiva.org
www.charitynavigator.org
www.ccusa.org
www.rainbowfund.org
www.hrc.org

And of course, remember your local charities and houses of worship.

May God bless and keep you

God's Love for you this Christmas Season

Although the holiday season is often very joyous for many, within the GLBT community it can be very depressing and lonely for those who have been disowned or rejected by people who once said they loved them and the churches that once celebrated them. Yet, for others, it is a time to put forth the best face of protection and deception, avoiding questions relating to relationships or their life in general. I have been there and my prayer for you this holiday season is to remind you of God’s love for you. It is bigger than the rejection of your parents, former friends and relatives. It is deeper than any religious doctrine or statement of belief. It is stronger than any earthly relationship. God loves you and God is for you – period. God’s love is amazing, extravagant and everlasting. Don’t allow or accept anything less in your life.

                                                                                 

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                      God’s Love - Paul Mastromarino

I am always with you,
even when you are not able to feel me in your heart.
I love you always,
I surround you with my protecting love,
even when you occasionally forget me.
I listen to your problems,
if you are sincere and receptive, I give you solutions.
I hear your prayers and answer those which are in the best interest
of everyone in your life including, but not limited to, you.

I am the light and the thoughts in your mind,
I am the sight in your eyes,
I am the life in your body,
I am the feelings you feel in your heart.
I am always at work in your life for your greater good,
although you may not always believe this;
hopefully, your faith in me will grow constant.
you must realize:
"my will is whatever is happening in the present moment".
within this moment you must think and act
with integrity, humility and courage,
you must trust in me,
and surrender your will to mine through acceptance.
if you continue to demonstrate acceptance,
integrity, humility, courage and trust,
you will discover the secret of opening your heart to my love.
the greater your faith in me
the more I am able fill your heart with my love.

it is I, who grants you the serenity to accept
the things you cannot change,
the courage to change the things you can
and the wisdom to know the difference.
eventually you will realize the samplings of love
I bestow on you through others
are purposefully designed to draw you closer to me.
it is only I, who loves you unconditionally,
I am an ever-flowing fountain of love, peace and joy,
I will never disappoint you; I will always be with you.
I mete out to you the exact amount of pain you cause others,
because I want you to be compassionate.
I want you to be able to give love and equally as important,
I want you to be able to receive love.
how else will you learn to love me?
how will you learn to accept my love?
the moment you realize the error of your ways,
the moment you sincerely regret the pain you cause others,
I forgive you; I nourish you with my tender mercies.
remember, I never stop loving you for you are my precious child.

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You are more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37, I John 5:4). You are saved by the grace of God. Nothing or nobody can separate you from the love of God- except you.

Cast your burdens on God – meaning you do not have to carry them – why are you carry that baggage – Jesus came to set you free. 

You have come through many things, but you are still here. So rejoice and be encouraged.

Tutu Apologizes to the Gay Community

This article was released today on the UK Gay News website:  UKgaynews.org.uk

MANCHESTER, December 17, 2007  –  Archbishop Desmond Tutu has apologised to gay people all around the world for the way they have been treated by the Church.

The Archbishop recently criticised  the church for being ‘obsessed’ with homosexuality but speaking on the only gay programme on the BBC he goes further and says he’s ‘sorry’.

The Archbishop and Nobel Peace Prize winner says “sorry” to the worldwide LGBT community in an exclusive recorded interview with Ashley Byrne, presenter of Gay Hour, to be transmitted tonight (December 17) on BBC Radio Manchester.

 “I want to apologise to you and to all those who we in the church have persecuted,” Archbishop Tutu says in the interview.

 “I’m sorry that we have been part of the persecution of a particular group.  For me that is quite un-Christ like and, for that reason, it is unacceptable.

 “May be, even as a retired Archbishop, I probably have, to some extent, a kind of authority but apart from anything let me say for myself and anyone who might want to align themselves with me, I’m sorry.

 “I’m sorry for the hurt, for the rejection, for the anguish that we have caused to such as yourselves.”

The interview is something of a “scoop” for BBC Radio Manchester, a local radio station who’s Gay Hour –  officially LGBT Citizen Manchester – is broadcast every Monday.