Mary DeMuth’s new book is called Everything: What you give and what you gain to become like Jesus and is scheduled for release October 16. You can preorder it here. I am blessed to be part of Mary’s launch team for this wonderful book and have an early copy to study and enjoy. Over the next few Thursdays, I will be sharing a quote from the book and some thoughts that her words have stirred within my heart. This book is wonderful, full of wisdom and stories, and will help you discover the freedom in surrendering everything to Jesus. The past two Thursdays I pondered her chapter on Cultivating Astonishment and Practicing Resiliency; this week let’s explore another chapter: Be an AM.A standard piece of advice for any writer is: AVOID PASSIVE WRITING.Passive writing sucks the life out of your words. The meaning is heavy and it emphasizes the object not the subject in a sentence. Active tense is present and full of energy.Read these two examples. See how the second one is better?In the … [Read more...]
Summer Snapshots: Journeys
Living a reflective life is a powerful spiritual discipline. Periodically and intentionally looking back over the past months brings insights, joys, and perhaps regret. (Regret can be a wonderful teacher, full of lessons that motivate future behavior.)I like to get out my journal and with a highlighter in hand, reread key passages and words that resonated within my heart. I savor times I felt God’s presence and appreciate circumstances, both difficult and joyous, that drew me closer to Him. I see once again failures, ego-driven moments, and times I let emotions distract me from keeping my eyes and heart set on Jesus. I learn. I grow. And I embrace life on a new level when I “harvest” my journal.“Reflective thinking turns experience into insight.” John MaxwellOne of my favorite blogs is Finding Heaven. Writer Jen Ferguson challenged us to write about a mutual theme: Summer Snapshots, a glimpse into our summer. What you learned? What you did you see? How has God moved in your life? … [Read more...]
Just Trust – Lectio Divina
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:29 NIV)Why do I make it so complicated?Why do I turn my back in disbelief?Why do I think I can make in on my own? I hear You tell me, Lord:The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.Believe.Trust.Know.I do believe, help my unbelief.Help me caste away my independence and throw myself onto Your merciful lap.Turn my eyes upon You, not on my incompleteness and failures.Holy Spirit, refresh me with Your power to nourish my unfolding faith.I am learning to trust you with EVERYTHING. So straightforward.You tell us so simply, so lovingly, so unconditionally.Just believe.Just trust. … [Read more...]
The Grace of Wonder – Quote of the Week
Dear Lord, grant me the grace of wonder. Surprise me, amaze me, awe me in every crevice of your universe. Delight me to see how your Christ plays in ten thousand places. . .to the Father through the features of men's faces. Each day enrapture me with your marvelous things without number. I do not ask to see the reason for it all; I ask only to share the wonder of it all.Joshua Abraham Heschel … [Read more...]
Pondering and Practicing Resiliency
Mary DeMuth’s new book is called Everything: What you give and what you gain to become like Jesus and is scheduled for release October 16. You can preorder it here. I am blessed to be part of Mary’s launch team for this wonderful book and have an early copy to study and enjoy. Over the next few Thursdays, I will be sharing a quote from the book and some thoughts that her words have stirred within my heart. This book is wonderful, full of wisdom and stories, and will help you discover the freedom in surrendering everything to Jesus. Last Thursday I pondered her chapter on Cultivating Astonishment; this week let’s explore another chapter: Practicing Resiliency.We have all heard the inspiring stories:· Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team.· Film schools rejected Steven Spielberg three times.· The editor of a newspaper fired Walt Disney for lacking of ideas.· Thomas Edison tried nearly 10,000 times before succeeding with the electric light bulb. … [Read more...]
Living, then Befriending Tension
Weeds (Photo credit: Robert Hruzek)During this hot dry summer, the only things that have grown well in my garden have been scrawny ugly weeds. The ground is too hard to pull them up. I cut them down and overnight they sneak in the reserves and multiple. Over and over again. Remember the story of Sisyphus from Greek mythology? The word “Sisyphean” means endless and unavailing task or labor. In the story Sisyphus was given the punishment to roll an immense boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down, and to repeat this action forever.Over and over again.Living with tension is part of being human. I guess the reality of living with unanswered questions, the paradoxes each of us face in this life and never really getting rid of the tension between right and wrong, love and hate, good and evil is like an unwelcomed houseguest who never plans to leave. Over and over again.Most of my adult life I thought if I worked hard enough or was good enough, this internal dilemma would be … [Read more...]
Lord, to Whom Shall We Go?
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6: 68-69“Lord, to whom shall we go?”We sing these words in our liturgy each Sunday, Lord. Often forgetting who said them first and to Whom.How could I go anyplace else, Lord?Once I have danced in Your light and hid in Your protective shadow.Once I have tasted Your sweet goodness and heard Your word.Once I have been swept away by Your powerful love.Once I have caught a glimpse of Your majesty.Once I tore off all my masks and stood vulnerable, open to You.Once I have been cleansed with Your forgiveness.Peter’s answer is so simple. Honest. TrueYou are the Holy One. Once my life has been transformed by You, there is no other person, place or thing to turn to. You are everywhere and everything.You are my All.You are the One.You are the Way. The Only Way.“Lord, to whom shall we go?"You and only You. … [Read more...]
Creativity Quote – Taking Back my Crayons – Hugh McLeod
Everyone is born creative; everyone is given a box of crayons in kindergarten.Then when you hit puberty they take the crayons away and replace them with books on algebra, etc.Being suddenly hit years later with the creative bug is just a wee voice telling you,“I’d like my crayons back, please.“Hugh McLeod … [Read more...]