“God does not come to us offering rules; God comes offering relationship.”What Matters Most: How We Got the Point but Missed the Person is a new book by Leonard Sweet. The quote above is a good summary of the message of this book: We spent more time debating the “right theology” and creating the“right rules”, than building a relationship with God and with others.I liked this book as Sweet offered new slants to the familiar story of Abraham and I appreciate his method of studying the root of words such as belief, faith, hear and obey to gain insight into their meanings. I enjoy reading a book that offers some “meat” to ponder and innovative viewpoints with stories and words that have grown familiar. This book would be a great book for discussion in a small group. Questions are available in the back of the book and there is a web site with bonus material to add to a group’s conversation.Sweet reminds us that God’s greatest desire in to love us so we can love God and others. God’s … [Read more...]
Celebrating 600!
Do you know how old Noah was when the flood began?600Do you know how many new blogs are published every minute?600Do you know which birthday for Joan of Arc we are celebrating this year?600Do you know how many years ago the University of St Andrew in Scotland began?600Do you have any idea how many blog posts I have written here since the beginning?600Fun trivia today to celebrate this 600th post.I feel blessed: Blessed by God to have the opportunity to write for Him and blessed by all of you who read these humble words each time. I am so very grateful. Thank you for reading this blog!!The most popular posts the past three years based on one the number of times people looked at that page are the ones about prayer, inspirational quotes, and hymn stories. Prayer is so essential to our growing closer to God and so many of us hunger for hope and encouragement we find in quotes and music.Since prayer, hymns, and quotes are key themes here, I thought I would share the words of one of my … [Read more...]
Come Away with Me – Lectio Divina
“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6: 31bI read your invitation this week, Lord - Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.Thank you for asking me but with regrets, I am rather busy right now. I have things to accomplish.People seeking my help.And I do want some time for me, you know.Maybe I can squeeze You in a little next week...Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.I reread your statement. I don’t see the RSVP. You mean this isn’t an optional request? Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.You gently change my heart, stop my frenzied fretfulness, and refocus my energy to You. I let go of my all important to-do list, drop my agenda, and slowly ease into Your heart.I see Your hand open, welcoming me into Your presence. I reach for You to join You.I come by myself - leaving behind my close associates of busyness, worries, fears, and habits. I shed my backpack of dreams, desires, and … [Read more...]
Am I a Rock or a Dancer? – Quote – Henri Nouwen
“I once saw a stonecutter remove great pieces from a huge rock on which he was working. In my imagination I thought, That rock must be hurting terribly. Why does this man wound the rock so much? But as I looked longer, I saw the figure of a graceful dancer emerge gradually from the stone.“I have spent a good deal of my life building a stone wall of protection around my heart. Now when I actually hear the truth about my hardness of heart, it seems as though one of the stones is being taken out of my protective wall. This wounds me and makes me frightened and angry. It’s a big struggle. But I’m trying to be more aware of and less fearful in the process...“In spiritual formation, you may think about your life as a strong rock wall, resisting anyone and anything that tries to change it. Resentment makes us blind to God’s carving hand, but gratitude helps us recognize the process - that slowly but surely we are being formed into a beautiful work of art; that we are being prepared to be a … [Read more...]
Praying for Rain
Drought - yes it is a record year for hot, hot temps and dry, dry weather. I found this graph from the Weather Channel that summed up our desperate need for rain very well.The National Climatic Data Center reports that the 2012 drought disaster is now the largest in over 50 years, and among the ten largest of the past century. Only the extraordinary droughts of the 1930s and 1950s have covered more land area than the current drought. 55 percent of the contiguous United States was under moderate to extreme drought in June. I live in northwest Ohio. When you look at this map, yes my tiny neck of the woods is maroon colored - one of the worst hit areas. We are classified as extreme drought. And I know many of you are also suffering this summer. This severe weather will affect us all no matter where we live with higher costs such as in food. This could be one of the top ten most expensive weather disasters in the United States.(NOTE: I began writing this a post a few days ago and woke … [Read more...]
Three “Timely” Tips for Savoring Summer Spirituality
Dry and hot - that is the best way to describe the weather in northwest Ohio this summer. We have had more days over 90 degrees and too many over 100 than ever before on record. THEN add to it very little rain - the ground is cracked and parched and the poor plants withering.Sometimes summer drains our spiritual life too. We rush to kid’s ballgames, speed through vacations trying to see everything we can, and take on household projects like the Pharaoh trying to build the pyramids. I become my soul’s slave driver - “Work! Go! Do!”Reminds me of the story I once heard: A group of Americans made a trip with Brazilian natives down the Amazon River. The first day they rushed. The second day they rushed. The next day they rushed. One day, anxious to continue the trek, they were surprised to find the natives seated together in a circle.When asked the reason for the delay, a guide answered, "They are waiting. They cannot move further until their souls have caught up with their bodies."I have … [Read more...]
Giving Thanks – Lectio Divina
I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. Ephesians 1: 16 (NIV)Lord my heart spills over with thankfulness.My hands embraced all the blessings You have showered upon me these past two weeks.I know not all times are good.I know detours, potholes and even dangerous crashes could come my way anytime on this journey.But in this rest stop, I look up to You, praising Your name and saying thank you.Thank you for Bill, my loving husband and wonderful companion for 40 years of marriage.Thank you for allowing us the privilege to raise three of Your miracles and see them as healthy happy, loving adults.Thank you for enlarging our family with the gift of spouses for our kids and three surprising wonders called grandchildren.Thank you for sweet, giving friends; I know if I needed someone in the middle of the night they would quickly come.Thank you for walking with me, guiding me, nurturing me closer to You.Thank you for Your son - coming to us to save us and light out … [Read more...]
Finding Silence within Ourselves – Quote of the Week
Silence (Photo credit: Mara ~earth light~) There is a huge silence inside each of us that beckons us into itself, and the recovery of our own silence can begin to teach us the language of heaven." Meister Eckhart … [Read more...]