The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity ...

To accept the things I cannot change ...

Courage to change the things I can

And the wisdom to know the difference ...

Living one day at a time,

Accepting hardships as the

pathway to peace.

Taking, as He did, this world as it is,

not as I would have it.

Trusting that He will make

all things right

If I surrender to His will.

That I may be reasonably

happy in this life,

And supremely happy with Him,

forever in the next.

There are many theories about who wrote the Serenity Prayer, when and why. Elisabeth Sifton, Reinhold Niebuhr's daughter thought that her father had first written it in 1943; his wife wrote in an unpublished memorandum that it had been written in 1941 or 1942, adding that it may have been used in prayers as early as 1934. Niebuhr himself was quoted as saying the prayer "may have been spooking around for years, even centuries, but I don't think so. I honestly do believe that I wrote it myself."

In 2008 a Yale librarian cast doubt on the origins of the Serenity Prayer. Fred R. Shapiro found several archival materials that led him to express doubt that Niebuhr was the author. But in 2009 it was reported that researcher, Stephen Goranson, that works in the circulation department at the Duke University library, and as a sideline, searches for the origins of words and sayings found a Christian student newsletter written in 1937 that cites Niebuhr as the prayer’s author.

The prayer in the newsletter was slightly different, but the 1937 document very much strengthens the probability that Niebuhr wrote it, and Mr. Shapiro agrees. 

But even in Niebuhr’s lifetime, he faced accusations that he was not the prayer’s author. Niebuhr’s family long maintained that he wrote the prayer in 1943, in the midst of World War II. Whoever the author, the Serenity Prayer was adopted by the U.S.O. in wartime, and by Alcoholics Anonymous, which uses it in its 12-step program. It is often found printed on mugs, wall plaques, postcards, greeting cards etc and quoted in several books.

Whatever the "politics" surrounding the prayer....

Where did you first come across the Serenity Prayer?
Did you pray it yourself some or other time in your life and what was the circumstances?
What's your thoughts and feelings about the prayer?

I can't remember where I've first read or heard the Serenity Prayer, but in 2005 I received a little book from my colleagues at work during a "goodbye function". The book was published by Zondervan and written by Snapdragon Editorial Group. It breaks the prayer up paragraph by paragraph with little discussions and quotes from Scripture and other well-known writers, philosophers and preachers/evangelists.

I have to be honest, I've never read the book from beginning to end; rather from middle to end, front to middle. Whenever I saw it laying around, when in need of inspiration, when I'm looking for a specific piece of Scripture and don't know where to start, when someone needs a quote for some or other reason, when I'm bored etc.

Though I don't read the prayer that much anymore I'm still challenged by others thoughts on in, the Scripture linked with it and others reaction on it.

So, what's your thoughts?

He Left the 99 to Find Me

He Left the 99 to Find Me

Sharing a testimony is an excellent way to end the week :-) Also visit the rest of  Jessica's blog as well as the Moju Project.

 

Beautiful Thailand

I never thought that Thailand and specifically Phuket would be so beautiful and full of surprises. It was one of those planned "unplanned" holidays. Wanting to go to India and things not working out we were a bit disappointed and depressed... But then we thought, what about Thailand? And so it was planned in a week, yip a week c",)

So, the first pictures are from Wat Chalong Temple in Chalong. The main religions in Thailand been Buddhism and Hinduism and Sea Gypsies.

Chalong Pier at Chalong Bay is the main harbour. Speedboats, long-boats etc launch from here to the different islands.

 The best way to get around in Phuket is with a scooter. Though I've never seen so many scooters in my life I've enjoyed exploring Phuket on the back of one. Phuket is about 21 kilometers by 43 kilometers and easy to explore by scooter. Except the up-hills.... that's going very slow or not at all.







Almost every house and business in Phuket has little bird cages. Wish I could bring one with!

Most of the houses and businesses have shrines out front.

 Island life ... Coral Island or Koh Hae 9 kilometers southeast from Phuket. Beautiful, restful, perfect weather and kind and gracious people. The island is known for its beautiful corals, thus the name.

Speaking of uphills, the Big Buddha of Phuket on top of Mount Nakkerd at Soi Chaofa is a huge tourist attraction. This is the world's biggest Buddha statue, constructed of reinforced concrete casting, adorned with white jade marble-Suriyakanta. The dimensions are 25.45 meters wide and 45 meters high. And trying to reach it by scooter was not possible. We had to pay someone to take us up with his vehicle and bring us back down ;-)

Needless to say I've enjoyed every second in Thailand. The people are friendly and helpful, the weather was perfect and the cuisine excellent! I will definitely visit the island and her beautiful people again.