Image by spcbrass via Flicr“You are brave. That is a dangerous prayer.” This is what one friend said to me the other day when I shared a personal prayer that recently been on my heart.“Lord, do what You need to do with me in order that I become what You best choose.”I guess I didn’t think of this honest submission to God as dangerous or that I was suddenly full of courage – I just prayed.That reminded me of another prayer I read about a year ago:May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, superficial relationships, so that you will live deep within your heart. May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people so that you will work for justice, equality and peace. May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that you will reach out your hand to comfort them and change their pain into joy. And may God bless you with the foolishness to think that you can make a difference in the … [Read more...]
My Calling – A Generalist in the Choir
Image by iDanSimpson via FlickrSeveral years ago a friend and I discussed our nursing careers with each other.“I am jealous of your skills,” I said. “You have such in-depth specific knowledge about the heart and how to help people having heart problems.”Barbara worked many years in ICU and saved many people’s lives. She was an expert in cardiac nursing.“I am such a generalist,” I lamented.I was surprised by her response.“Yet that is what I envy about you,” she said. “You have such a wide base of knowledge and experience. You could respond to so much more than I could. We need nurses like you.”We both laughed – each envying the other. And each of us left that conversation appreciating our own careers paths a little more after seeing it from a different point of view.I remembered this story from my past the other day when I felt the green eye monster raise his ugly head within my heart when I envy another person’s deep conviction and passion for mission work in Tanzania.Then I read about … [Read more...]
Clothing Ourselves with Christ – Lectio Divina
Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. Romans 13:14Image by dansays via FlickrClothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus ChristLord, You came to us in the garden when we were ashamed to be naked.Throughout history and in our individual lives, we try to clothe ourselves with dirty rags and tattered second-hand clothing.We pick up the first piece of gossip to cover our heads.We hid our faces behind worldly masks so we don’t appear to others as we really are.We throw on the easiest road to follow for our tops.We pull up our fears and ego driven desires to cover our legs.And for our feet we slip on ill-fitting slices of sin we think You won’t know about and tie them tightly with lies and deceit.Help us discard these earthly garments and come only to You in our vulnerable bareness.Clothe us with the Lord Jesus Christ.Wash us with Your mercy and cover us with Your goodness.May we be fully draped in Jesus’ character, … [Read more...]
Believing the Impossible – Quote of the Week
Image via Wikipedia"One can't believe impossible things," Alice said. "I daresay you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. “When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”Lewis CarrollThrough the Looking Glass, Chapter V … [Read more...]
Great is Thy Faithfulness – A Hymn Story
Image via WikipediaChurch was wonderful last Sunday. We filled the pew to capacity when Katie and Austin brought the newborn twins and two-year-old Kyla and all the paraphernalia that accompanies young kids.Most of the service I cuddled with 6 week old Korbin and Kastin filled Bill’s arms. Holding such precious gifts, we couldn’t open our hymnal for the music. I was so glad one of the selections was a hymn classic I knew from heart: Great is thy faithfulness.I swayed rhythmically with the music with new life in my arms, eyes closed, singing my worship and praise, “Great is thy faithfulness.”The song continue to envelope my week. I found myself humming as I sat at my computer. Though not a normal shower crooner, I repeated it in my morning routines.The song cast new light onto my everyday chores. God’s love does that, doesn’t it? And what better way to live but focusing on God’s unfailing love for us. Fellow blogger Phil Malmstrom wrote similar words this week in his great blog (be … [Read more...]
Me- Me- Me Mine-Mine-Mine
Image by irBri via FlickrMy two-year-old granddaughter’s frequent line is “Mine. Kyla do it.”I smile and accept this is the language of an immature, but growing toddler who has a long way to go yet in life.Yet her tone of voice and words sound vaguely familiar. Then I recognize it.“Mine. I will do it. Me-me-me” echoes my prayers.My prayers lately have been very me-centered. Though I have pitch up prayers for others like icing on the cake, deep down my words are pretty much – me-me-me and mine- mine-mine.I wonder what all of our collective prayers to God sounds like to Him. Reminded of this scene from Finding Nemo and the seagulls:Our prayers may start out sounding beautiful and even musically, but the chorus of me-me-me is never far away. I love the Muppets and this video illustrates my point:Remember the scene in Bruce Almighty when Bruce is overwhelmed with hearing all the prayers.God smiles and accepts each of our efforts in talking with Him. I know He lovingly understands our human … [Read more...]
ABBA – Lectio Divina
So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him “Abba, Father.” Romans 8: 15Image by absolut xman via Flickr“Abba, Father.” AbbaAbbaAbbaThank you Lord for gathering me so near to Your heart.AbbaI rest in Your strong, yet tender arms and drink in Your love into my parched soul.AbbaI snuggle onto Your lap with a clarity that I know You and You know me.AbbaFor a brief precious moment in Your sacred embrace, I know throughout my whole self that I am a cherished child of God and all I whisper is,Abba.No fearNo anxietyNo urge to be elsewhere except with my Abba.AbbaAbba … [Read more...]
A Prayer from St Augustine – Quote of the Week
Image via WikipediaI beg of You, my God,let me know You and love You so that I may be happy in You.And though I cannot do this fully in this life, yet let me improve from day to day till I may do so to the full.Let me know You more and more in this life, that I may know You perfectly in heaven.Let me know You more and more here, so that I may love you perfectly there,so that my joy may be great in itself here, and complete in heaven with You.O Truthful God, let me receive the happiness of heaven, which You promise so that my joy may be full.In the meantime,let my mind think of it,let my tongue talk of it,let my heart long for it,let my mouth speak of it,let my soul hunger after it,let my flesh thirst after it,let my whole being desire it,until such time as I may enter through death into the joy of my Lord, there to continue forever, world without end.Amen.St. Augustine … [Read more...]