Image via WikipediaHumility – not a word we ponder much. At least I don’t.Maybe that is the problem, right? HA!Then I read this story the other day that made me mull over the concept of humility in my life.A man asked his rabbi why people couldn't see the face of God. What had happened that they could no longer reach high enough to see God?The rabbi, a very old man, had experienced a lot in his life and was very wise. "My son," he said, "that is not the way it is at all. You cannot see the face of God because there are so few who can stoop that low. How sad this is, but it is the truth. Learn to bend, to bow, to kneel and stoop and you will be able to see God face-to-face."Ever notice when God stirs your heart on a matter, the key word pops up all over? He wasn’t done with me yet.The day after I read that story I saw in the Thirty Good Minutes email a story about eight ways to practice humility. 30 Good Minutes is a collection of inspirational videos, stories of faith and reflections … [Read more...]
Spiritual Lesson from Hawaii
Image via WikipediaA guest preacher at our church this past Sunday told the following story:When it is 1:00 pm in the Eastern Time zone, it is only 7 am in Hawaii. That makes for some interesting television.The preacher has a friend who lives in Hawaii and loves football. When Monday night football is being shown live here, it is played later as a tape delayed in Hawaii.The friend told the preacher that when his favorite team plays, he will listen to the game live over the radio, then watch it taped later that evening. “The fumbles and missed tackles and penalties aren’t so bad when you know the final results. I watch the game with an entirely different perspective because I know who wins,” he said.Say that last line slowly to yourself.Powerful, isn’t it?I watch the game with an entirely different perspective because I knew who wins. Wow, what a statement.As Christians isn’t that how we should try to live?We know Who has already won the battle. … [Read more...]
The Unfolding of Your Words – Lectio Divina
The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. Psalm 119: 130The unfolding of your words I walked in my garden with you this week, Lord.I watched You dance with the dragon flies and bounce upon the purple cone flowers.Even with the very hot, dry July, Lord You coaxed a multitude of rose buds to bloom.The petals slowly stretch their arms open as if they were reaching up to You.I gazed at my newborn twin grandsons this week wiggle and unfurl their legs in the freedom of their new lives.Unfolding – what lovely word, Lord.The unfolding of Your words light my journey.The spreading out of Your spirit guides me on my way.You remove the blinders on my heart slowly and gently so I can savor Your wisdom.You are revealed in Your words and become known to us simple mortals.We probably couldn’t live seeing Your full revelation.After all, You are God.I celebrate the unfurling rose buds and join them in reaching my arms up to You. … [Read more...]
Kindness – Quote of the Week – Max Lucado
I choose kindnessI will be kind to the poor, for they are alone,Kind to the rich, for they are afraid,And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.Max Lucado … [Read more...]
Praying for What is Right in Front on You: Praying the News
Image via WikipediaWhat do you do when you hear a siren?If you are driving, you pull the car over to the side of the road to let the emergency vehicle pass.But my mom taught me one more thing: When you hear a siren, say a prayer.Pray for where the ambulance is heading. Pray for safety for the EMTs, law enforcement, or fire fighters. But always remember to pray.We live in a rural area and sometime hear or see the emergency helicopter fly over transporting someone who needs immediate medical care. Another time a sound or sight triggers prayer.The Carmelite Sisters in Indianapolis Indiana offer prayer in response to another set of sights and sounds. They pray the news. Now I have noticed one of my favorite spiritually-related web sites, Spirituality and Practice, is also praying the news:What a different mindset to have when watching the evening news or reading the paper or when a headline pops up on the computer. Our Sunday newspaper … [Read more...]
Sometimes Life is Two-riffic
We Interrupt this Blog for an Important Announcement. . .Life interrupted my routine this week.Life interfered with all my plans.Life stopped me in my tracts to behold a wondrous phenomenon.As Albert Einstein once said:“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”Miracle, yes indeed. I experienced a miracle this week.Actually two of them.On Sunday my daughter, Katie, gave birth to two little boys. Korbin arrived at 8:15 am, weighing in just a little below five pounds. His brother, Kastin, may have been born second, but won in the weight division topping a little over the five-pound mark.All are healthy and the boys are adorable.My heart overflows with thanksgiving and praise of our Creator for these blessings. Thank you, dear Lord. Thank you to the Giver of Life for new life.Yes, life engulfed me this week and love exploded.And sometime a miracle from God comes in pairs. … [Read more...]
What’s Next, Papa? – Lectio Divina
This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life.It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What's next, Papa?" God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what's coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we're certainly going to go through the good times with him! Romans 8:15-17 The MessageImage by Crystl via Flickr"What's next, Papa?" What a prayer, Lord.I lift this up as my prayer today."What's next, Papa?" I relish in the spirit of living expectantly of Your blessings and presence.I turn my focus from only on what is wrong to fixing my eyes on You, my father."What's next, Papa?" You fill me with hope and giddy anticipation.I lay on Your altar, my fears, worries, and doubts, so I can run empty-handed to embrace the life … [Read more...]
Always Go to the Funeral– Quote of the Week
“This I believe” is a series and book by NPR where individuals, famous and not so famous, share essays. The following is a quote from one of my favorites:Image via WikipediaAlways Go to the Funeral – Deirdre Sullivan“Sounds simple – when someone dies, get in your car and go to calling hours or the funeral. That, I can do. But I think a personal philosophy of going to funeral means much more.‘Always go the funeral’ means that I have to do the right thing when I really, really don’t feel like it…I’m talking about those things that represent only inconvenience to me, but the world to the other guy…In my humdrum life, the daily battle hasn’t been good versus evil. It’s hardly so epic. Most days, my battle is doing good versus doing nothing.” … [Read more...]