» Brother Lawrence

Am greatly inspired by Brother Lawrence. Many of you who follow my blog, know that I reference his Christian letters, a whole lot in my posts, and that I also strive to live a life much like his, where we are in continual practice of the presence of the Lord. And it’s a life that one has to practice, over and over to make it a norm in ones daily life. With all that life brings against us, we are so often faced with many challenges, that can some times take us away from the presence of the Lord. Even in such situations, we are to know that we are man, and not God. That we will make mistakes, and fall short of the glory of God (Thank God for Grace :). That we are far from perfect, and that He alone is perfect.

Let me share with you one of Brother Lawrence letters, I hope this will inspire you even more as you practice the presence of the Lord daily in your life.

Reverend and very honored Mother,

My prayers, although they are little value, will not fail you. I have promised to pray for you, and I will keep my word to you. How happy we would be if we could find the treasure about which the Gospel speaks! Everything else would seem as nothing to us. Since the treasure is infinite, the more we dig deeply into it, the more we find its riches. So let us keep increasingly searching for it, and let us not become weary until we found it.

Reverend Mother, I do not know what will become of me. It seems that peace of soul and rest of spirit come to me even while I sleep. If I were capable of suffering, it would be because I do not have suffering, and if I were so permitted, I would willingly console myself with the fact that there is purgatory, where I believe I will suffer to make errands for my sins. I do not know what God holds for me; I am in such great peace that I am not afraid of anything. How could I be afraid when I am with Him? I cling to this assurance with everything in my power. May He be blessed in all things. Amen

Your humble servant,

Brother Lawrence

I enjoy being busy in the kitchen.

Making what I LOVE to make, NOT what I have to make.

That’s as simple as life can get, just being you in your very own kitchen. Not – Martha Stewart, Rachel Ray or Paula Dean, just you.

How beautiful is that

In the presence of you.

It’s simply, yet it means the world to me, because when am cooking, when am doing anything am so often thinking of my Jesus, and all the LOVE He has for us. And it’s not too long before what seems at first as a chore, becomes a beautiful work of art.

He maketh ALL things beautiful

Practicing The Presence of God

Because that is the way it’s meant to be.

He is to be with us wherever we go, to speak with us even when ALL chaos breaks loose.

We are to hear His voice

Practicing the Presence of God, means He is NEVER left behind.

Means that even when it doesn’t makes sense, He is God and He is still good.

We ought to give ourselves up to God, both in temporal and spiritual things, and seek our satisfaction only in fulfilling His will. Whether He leads us by suffering or consolation, all is the same to one truly resigned.

We only deceive ourselves by seeking or loving God for any favors which He has or may grant us. Such favors, no matter how great, can never bring us as near to God as can one simple act of faith. Let us seek Him often by faith.

Whatever becomes of me, whether I be lost or saved, I will always continue to act purely for the love of God. I shall have this good at least, that until death, I shall have done all that is in me to love Him.

Comfort yourself with the Sovereign Physician of both body and soul.

Those who have the gale of the Holy Spirit go forward even in sleep. If the vessel of our soul is still tossed with winds and storms, let us awake the Lord who reposes in it. He will quickly calm the sea.

Let us think often that our only business in this life is to please God.

The end we ought to propose to ourselves is to become, in this life, the most perfect worshipers of God we can possibly be, as we hope to be through all eternity.

The most excellent method of going to God is that of doing our common business without any view of pleasing people but purely for the love of God.

We ought not to grow tired of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed.

God has infinite treasure to bestow, and we take up with a little sensible devotion which passes in a moment. Blind as we are, we hinder God and stop the current of His grace. But when He finds a soul penetrated with a lively faith, He pours into it His grace and favors plentifully.

How can we pray to Him without being with Him? How can we be with Him without thinking of Him often? And how can we think of Him but by a holy habit we should form of it?

The more one knows God, the greater one desires to know Him. Knowledge is commonly the measure of love. The deeper and more extensive our knowledge, the greater is our love.

We must know before we can love. In order to know God, we must often think of Him. And when we come to love Him, we shall then also think of Him often, for our heart will be with our treasure.

I see Him in such a manner as might make me say sometimes, I believe no more, but I see.

God does not ask much of us. But remembering Him, praising Him, asking for His grace, offering Him your troubles, or thanking Him for what He has given you will console you all the time … lift up your heart … little remembrances please Him.

→ Brother Lawrence

Brother Lawrence in the book – The Practice of The Presence of God, brings into our hearts a mirror of PRAYER. More than that, he gifts us with what it truly is to be in a prayerful relation with our Father. Because if we are to ever know what true prayer is. If heaven’s windows are ever to open to us, then it is only in a relationship with our Father, that we will ever get to witness of the glory of such a life.

Once in my life, prayer meant – setting aside an hour or so to pray and give thanks. When the hour was over, He was to walk with me, and me not so much with Him. I was later to learn that – Prayer is a relationship we have with Him. It is not scheduled, but rather in every hidden thought. When walking down the street, and wondering how to pay an unexpected bill. Or, while in the grocery store debating whether or not to help the store clerk bag your grocery. Or if you should tip a not so good waiter. Those conversations that go on in the hidden parts that is our – heads. Those become prayers. Prayers of conversation.

Brother Lawrence “called the Practice of the Presence of God the shortest and easiest road to Christian perfection, the very form and life of virtue, and the great protection against sin.” — Page 13

THESE ARE MY WEEKS PRAYERS

PRAYING FOR –

President Barack Obama, his family and the entire administration

The men & women in the army, their families and friends

My family, children, children’s friends, children’s school, children’s teachers, and my co-workers

The sick, homeless, in need and the less fortunate

Peace in war torn countries

The Presidents of the world

Israel, Japan and Libya

Blog and the blog audience

Personal provision

Health and long life

Wisdom and Understanding

MOM’S IT’S YOUR TURN, PLACE YOUR PRAYER IN THE COMMENT BOX

BY: BROTHER LAWRENCE

Moms, I have never opened a book and even before reading through to the very end, wished with all the wishes in the world, that I never get to that very last page. I have also never read a book about the life of someone, and longed so very very bad to have met this man I now read of. And moms, what brings me to tears every now and then, whenever am confronted by the kind of LOVE that Brother Lawrence had for our God, is the thought that this man who laid down his life for Christ, who seemed to suffer so much, and still LOVED our Lord, is now seated right next to Him.

“Brother Lawrence was a humble monk who spent much of his monastic life working in the kitchen. His life and writings reveal the secrets of daily, moment-by-moment fellowship with God. “In the way of God, thoughts count very little,” he says. Full of realistic honesty, friendliness and simplicity, The Practice of the Presence of God shows that it’s possible to meet God among the pots and pans – in the ordinary, daily events of life.” — Unknown, paperback copy

Have, I mentioned that I absolutely LOVE this book? I really do. It’s like no other book that I have read. I can’t dare categorize it with all the books I have in my library. This one, is special. It bares for me great meaning. And its a symbol, a constant reminder that my walk with Christ can get better. Can be more intimate, to a point where we are ONE with each other. More than a husband is with a wife. This ONENESS is one that LITERALLY walks every step with you, is the first you call when in need, and He is the only One who can bring meaning to your life.

Brother Lawrence says -

“Although we might do every possible penance,” he says, “if our penances are not done in love, they will not serve to erase a single sin.” In another place, he notes, “All we must do is recognize God’s intimate presence within us and speak to Him at every moment, asking Him for help. In this way we will know His will in doubtful things and we will do well those things that He is clearly asking of us, offering them to Him before doing them and giving thanks for having done them once we have finished.” — Introduction. Page xxi

What a blessed mad of God.

Moms, before I leave you to ponder over this beautiful book. I would like to encourage you to join me this month in reading this beautiful book. Grab your copy from Amazon.com. Simply click here → The Practice of the Presence of God.

I will leave you with one more except from the book.

“My most normal habit is to simply keep my attention on God, and to be generally and lovingly aware of Him.” says Brother Lawrence “I often feel myself attached to God with sweetness and satisfaction greater than experienced by a nursing child. Therefore, if I dared to use this term, I would willingly call this state being nursed by God, for the inexpressible sweetness I taste and experience there.” -- Page 64

Brother Lawrence 1611 – 1691 was born Nicholas Herman in the Lorraine region of France. Asa young man, he fought in the Thirty Years’ War before joining the Carmelite order. Immediately after his death, The Practice of the Presence of God was compiled from his letters and conversations. — Paperback. Unknown