#gifts

Art gives its vision to beauty not always recognized. And it surrenders freely -- whatever power it possesses to every sincere soul that seeks it. But above all else--it presents us with the gift of ourselves. ↗

— Aberjhani

#art #artists #creative-vision #creativity #gifts

Hence, when we ask anything of God and He begins to hear us, He so often goes counter to our petitions that we imagine He is more angry with us now than before we prayed, and that He intends not to grant us our requests at all. All this God does, because it is His way first to destroy and annihilate what is in us before He gives us His gifts; for so we read in I Samuel 2:6: “The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.” Through this most gracious counsel He makes us fit for His gifts and works. Only then are we qualified for His works and counsels when our own plans have been demolished and our own works are destroyed and we have become purely passive in our relation to Him. ↗

— Martin Luther

#luther #imagination

The gods plant reason in mankind, of all good gifts the highest. ↗

— Sophocles

#gods #good #highest #mankind #plant

But this is a true saying among men: the gifts of enemies are no gifts and profitless. ↗

— Sophocles

#gifts #men #saying #true

Enemies' gifts are no gifts and do no good. ↗

— Sophocles

#good

A lot of the jewelry that I wear are fan gifts because they're so awesome and they give me great presents. ↗

— Taylor Swift

#because #fan #gifts #give #give me

Often when He comes, He finds the soul occupied. Other guests are there, and He has to turn away. He cannot gain entry, for we love and desire other things; therefore, His gifts, which He is offering to everyone unceasingly, must remain outside. ↗

— Johannes Tauler

#cannot #comes #desire #entry #everyone

I always have the most fun on the Fourth of July. You don't have to exchange any gifts. You just go to the beach and watch fireworks. It's always fun. ↗

— James Lafferty

#any #beach #exchange #fireworks #fourth

Having children is my greatest achievement. It was my saviour. It switched my focus from the outside to the inside. My children are gifts, they remind me of what's important. ↗

— Elle Macpherson

#children #focus #gifts #greatest #greatest achievement

One of the greatest gifts my father gave me - unintentionally - was witnessing the courage with which he bore adversity. We had a bit of a rollercoaster life with some really challenging financial periods. He was always unshaken, completely tranquil, the same ebullient, laughing, jovial man. ↗

— Ben Okri

#always #bit #bore #challenging #completely