February - The Month of Love - Quotes to Ponder We turned the calendar this weekend (where did January go? In Ohio it's buried under snow!) and now enter the month of love. Though February is mostly know of love between people, I thought I'd share a few quotes about God's love for a midwinter pondering. Any fool can count the seeds in an apple. Only God can count all the apples in one seed. ~Robert H. Schuller God loves each of us as if there were only one of us. ~St. Augustine “We should be astonished at the goodness of God, stunned that He should bother to call us by name, our mouths wide open at His love, bewildered that at this very moment we are standing on holy ground.” Brennan Manning “If you have never known the power of God's love, then maybe it is because you have never asked to know it - I mean really asked, expecting an answer.” Frederick Buechner There is no surprise more magical than the surprise of being loved. It … [Read more...]
Standing at God’s Door – Lectio Divina
Better a day in Your courts than a thousand anywhere else. I would rather be at the door of the house of my God than to live in the tents of wicked people. Psalm 84: 10 Holman Christian Standard Your door, Lord. That is where I stand. Not fully entering into your house, yet no longer amidst the chaos of the world. I hear you beckon to come in, but I hesitate. Wait for what? I don't know. Somehow it feels safe here. Within your reach in case I need you. Yet one foot in the world if its temptations lure me away. Keeping one eye on you while knowing you want both eyes, both hands, all of me. Forgive my indecisiveness, my unwillingness to run into your open and waiting arms. Thank you for your patience in letting me linger here a little longer. So close. I dawdle, not dwell with you. I skim, not savor. I rather be here at your door than without you, Lord. Thank you for getting me this far and guide me the rest of the way into my new … [Read more...]
The Gift of Being Yourself – Quote of the Week – Frederick Buechner
Whatever you do with your life —whatever you end up achieving or not achieving— the great gift you have in you to give to the world is the gift of who you alone are; your way of seeing things, and saying things, and feeling about things, that is like nobody else’s. If so much as a single one of you were missing, there would be an empty place at the great feast of life that nobody else in all creation could fill. Frederick Buechner … [Read more...]
Dancing with Faith and Courage
Hope is the ability to hear the music of the future. Faith is having the courage to dance to it today. ~ Dr. Peter Kuzmi I watched two different women this week dance with faith and courage in the midst of raw grief and confusing self-disclosure and doubt. Like the cracked thick calluses on my heels, my harden heart split open raw with their stories. Each word, the pumice stone. Each tear, the moisturizing cream. After sharing her story one lady faces the future with inspiring courage. She has chosen a difficult path and is ready now to explore the second half of her life. She told me, "It's been an ongoing struggle of pretending to be something I am not and then learning to accept myself as I am created to be. I've let my walls down and found strength in my vulnerability." Her pain taught me I can survive and even thrive being myself - no masks needed. Just take the steps into the unknown path ahead knowing God will accompany me and guide me. Once she said those words, … [Read more...]
My Un-Word
I wrote last month about my Word of the Year but am now seeing in various blogs the idea of choosing an Un-Word. Myquillyn over at the Nesting Place Blog first introduced me to the concept of a un-word. "The UN-word is a word that you are rejecting for the new year. You would like to Un-Do it." I like a challenge, especially a word challenge, so began to think about what is something I want to undo or stop this year. Instead of something to do or to be, what is on my to-don't list? What do I want to say good-bye to this year? This could be a great reflective question to ponder this time of year. What is an ugly, negative and even hazardous word in your life that you could get rid of this year? She stresses a un-word can be made up. For example if you don't want to be so bossy this year, your un-word is unbossy. Her word this year is undistracted. The Nesting Place hosted a link up last week where others shared their un-word of the year. Other people's un-words were … [Read more...]
One Thing I Ask of the Lord – Lectio Divina
"One thing I ask of the Lord; One thing I seek; That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek God in the temple." Psalm 27: 4 One thing. Only one. So often I come to you, Lord with multiple lists, a litany of requests, and a huge pile of worries and complaints. I rush into your temple, dump my demands onto your lap and speed out to my busyness. One thing. One thing - easier to remember and simpler to do. Coming to you only holding one item out to you clears my mind of trying to remember it all. Frees me of dragging heavy burdens given to me by the world and my ego, not from you. I approach you with empty, open hands held up in praise, not full with cumbersome appeals. One thing reminds me of the snares of multitasking my prayers. Keeping it simple uncomplicates my relationship with you. The more I know you, Lord and more I listen to your voice, you direct my ways in simple … [Read more...]
Providence – Quote of the Week – Paul Tillich
Providence is the faith that nothing can prevent us from fulfilling the ultimate meaning of our existence. Providence does not mean a divine planning by which everything is predetermined, as is an efficient machine. Rather, Providence means that there is a creative and saving possibility implied in every situation, which cannot be destroyed by any event. Paul Tillich What do you think of this quote? Could you write out a definition for this word? How does knowing we have a God of who controls all things help you live with courage? I love that last sentence. It gives me hope. Let's remember these words in dark difficult times. Here are few more quotes about this interesting word: The march of God's Providence is slow; it's the devil who always hurries. Russell Kirk ****** The thing about believing in God's providence is that our belief His providence exists is equally as important as our belief He will deliver on His promises. The act of believing in His promises aids … [Read more...]
I’m Imperfect and I’m Enough – My Attempt at Being Vulnerable
"I'm imperfect and I'm enough." Sounds good on the video, but not sure I really believe it. "I'm imperfect and I'm enough." Why did I ever sign up for this course and nobody will ever know if I don't write about it. I will just stay in the shadows and not take the risk. "I'm imperfect and I'm enough." Yeah, right. Had my hubby take the photo above - one of the class assignments - but of course I had to edit it and touch up my cold sore and age spots before posting it here. Then in a silly moment I told some others what I did and Kathy said to me, "I read your blog and now will look to be sure you post this." Rats, now I'm stuck out in the open. YIKES what have I done? I am feeling rather exposed, vulnerable, self-conscious here. You see I am taking an online class taught by one of my favorite teachers, Brene Brown. In readings, activities and videos it's like having a cup of coffee with a good friend, enjoying deep conversation. I finish thinking, sure I can do … [Read more...]