The dominant characteristic of an authentic spiritual life is the gratitude that flows from trust - not only for all the gifts that I receive from God, but gratitude for all the suffering. Because in that purifying experience, suffering has often been the shortest path to intimacy with God.
It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.
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Unknown
Just when you think it can't get any worse, it can. And just when you think it can't get any better, it can.
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Nicholas Sparks
The one you love and the one who loves you are never, ever the same person.
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Chuck Palahniuk
Where there is love there is life.
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Mahatma Gandhi
It hurts to let go. Sometimes it seems the harder you try to hold on to something or someone the more it wants to get away. You feel like some kind of criminal for having felt, for having wanted. For having wanted to be wanted....
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Henry Rollins
More Quotes By Brennan Manning
Define yourself radically as one beloved by God. This is the true self. Every other identity is illusion.
The story goes that a public sinner was excommunicated and forbidden entry to the church. He took his woes to God. 'They won't let me in, Lord, because I am a sinner.'' What are you complaining about?' said God. 'They won't let Me in either.
We unwittingly project onto God our own attitudes and feelings toward ourselves... But we cannot assume that He feels about us the way we feel about ourselves -- unless we love ourselves compassionately, intensely, and freely.
Imagine that Jesus is calling you today. He extends a second invitation to accept His Father's love. And maybe you answer, "Oh, I know that. It's old hat." And God answers, 'No, that's what you don't know. <span style="margin:15px; display:block"></span>You don't know how much I...
The Word we study has to be the Word we pray. My personal experience of the relentless tenderness of God came not from exegetes, theologians, and spiritual writers, but from sitting still in the presence of the living Word and beseeching Him to help me...
