About a year ago I discovered a great blog, Inspirations by Phather Phil written by Phil Malmstrom. He honestly shares his heart and his conversation with God in a way that makes you feel you are drawing up a chair and taking part in the intimate discussion between three good friends: you, Phil and God. Since I have spent much of this month trying to see the cold bleak Ohio winter season with new eyes and discovering its lessons, I asked Phil if he would share some thoughts about winter with us. Thank you Phil for giving me insight and hope in winter.The PromiseStark…Cold…Bleak…Unyielding…Such is the way many choose to view the winter landscape.And yet,I believe that winter carries with it a deeper message;A Promise from God.I absolutely love taking long, quiet walks in the woods; spending that communion time with my Heavenly Father, surrounded in the majesty of His bounty. In that Stillness, I find that I feel powerfully connected to God’s presence, and He’s used … [Read more...]
Creator God and Chocolate – Two Great Words Beginning with the letter “C”
Patty Wysong has created a fun meme where once a week bloggers posted on the letter of the week. Check out the details here. It is called A2Z: Take 2. A2Z as she challenges bloggers to write a post each week going through the alphabet. Take 2 since this is the second time she has used this meme. Anyone can join in and you don’t have to always participate. What does the letter C bring to my mind and heart? Creator God and Chocolate One of my best friends – a retired Catholic priest – begins his prayers when we are together with these words, “Creator God…”I love it how he starts all his times with God remembering and honoring God as Creator. The attributes of God as Creator humble me, yet draw me closer to this God who can do absolutely anything and everything including loving us simple and frail human beings.God’s hands shaped the universe out of chaos. In a blink of His eye, God established the hundreds of billions of galaxies, black holes from which nothing can escape, even light … [Read more...]
Answering God Without Delay – Lectio Divina
As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. Mark 1: 16-20At once Without delay Lord that is how I want to respond to You.At onceWithout delayNo doubtsNo hesitationNo maybe laterNo let’s talk about thisNo whining about too much to doNo postponing until it is more convenientNo forgetting my good intentionsNo because I have more urgent things to doNo excusesAt onceWithout delayMay I pay attention and seek You in every detailed moment of my life.May I turn and listen to You immediately when I hear You call.May I follow You without hesitation, keeping my … [Read more...]
Our Vocation/ Our Call – Henri Nouwen
Image by ulterior epicure via FlickrQuote of the WeekIt is very important to realize that our vocation is hidden in where we are and who we are. We are unique human beings, each with a call to realize in life what nobody else can, and to realize it in the concrete context of the here and now.We will never find our vocations by trying to figure out whether we are better or worse than others. We are good enough to do what we are called to do. Be yourself!Henri Nouwen from Bread for the Journey … [Read more...]
Why Do You Go to Church?
I read this story the other day:A minister was talking to a man about joining the church. “I want to join a church because I want to be fed,” said the man.The ministered answered, “Well that is fine, but we all would be better off if you would take off your bib and put on an apron.”Good answer, Pastor, but to be honest one of the reasons I do attend church is to feed my spirit. I attend for an opportunity to worship and be with God and to serve Him by helping and being with His community. So if you put all three reasons together I attend for God, for others and for myself.Is that so bad?The Barna Group recently surveyed Americans who have attended a Christian church sometime in the past and discovered what they say about their experiences in these congregations. I found some of their discoveries very fascinating and through provoking. Also interesting to note that the size of the church didn’t matter – small, medium or large answered in similar ways.· Most people responded that … [Read more...]
Winter Lessons from Birdnests
Patty Wysong has created a fun meme where once a week bloggers posted on the letter of the week. Check out the details here. It is called A2Z: Take 2. A2Z as she challenges bloggers to write a post each week going through the alphabet. Take 2 since this is the second time she has used this meme. Anyone can join in and you don’t have to always participate. Image via WikipediaWhat does the letter B bring to my mind and heart? Since I have been trying to find the gifts during cold and snowy Ohio winters, I could say that the letter “B” stands for bleak, boring, blowing, and brisk see your breath bundling cold. HA!But the letter “B” reminded me instantly on a blog post I wrote a year ago about bird nests and their lessons for me. So I am reprinted it here today in honor of the letter “B.”Image via Wikipedia Winter enfolds me with a sense of emptiness and loss of hope. My mood reflects the dreary gray winter sky that blanket northwest Ohio. But the last few years I see winter with … [Read more...]
A Perceiving God – Lectio Divina
You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. Psalm 139: 1-2 NIVYou perceive my thoughts You perceive my thoughts, Lord.Why do You pay so much attention to me?I certainly don’t return the favor.Why do You listen so closely to everything I think and believe and act upon?I know I don’t take the time to hear You that deeply or consistently.Why are You so aware of my opinions and imagined perspectives of the world?Too often I only seek my ego-driven point of view, not pausing to wonder what You may have divinely designed.Perceive is an odd word, LordTo perceive – to observe to behold, to discern and discover, to grasp and to hear to know and to touch and to understand.Why, Lord?Part of me knows the answer lies in Your love, yet I resist fully believing if You really knew me, if You perceived my most inward thoughts… Would You still love me?Yet You hold fast and continue to … [Read more...]
Celtic Benediction – J. Philip Newell
Image via WikipediaIn the busyness of this day, grant me a stillness of seeing, O God. In the conflicting voices of my heart, grant me a calmness of hearing. Let my seeing and hearing my words and my actions be rooted in a silent certainty of your presence. Let my passions for life and the longings for justice that stir within me be grounded in the experience of your stillness. Let my life be rooted in the ground of your peace, O God, let me be rooted in the depths of your peace.from CELTIC BENEDICTION by J. Philip Newell … [Read more...]