I am so grateful for God’s creation. Some days God’s palette of color overwhelms me.After all, He could have made the world black and white.Or said,“Let’s keep it simple and only use primary colors.”I love the springtime pastels and the fall hues set ablazed. But one of my favorite times of year is when God turns Ohio golden.The ripen fields of wheat snuggle against a deep green of early corn.Then the Artist scatters swatches of orange as the Tiger Lilies spring up wildly in the ditches. These colors grace us with a glimpse of heaven.I bet God takes delight as we discover and enjoy His palette.Do you have any idea how many colors there are in the world He created?Scientists estimate we can see about 1000 levels of light-dark, 100 levels of red-green, and 100 levels of yellow-blue for a single viewing condition in a laboratory. This means that the total number of colors we can see is about 1000 x 100 x 100 = 10,000,000 (10 million). But that is within a laboratory. Color is affected by … [Read more...]
Praying to be Silly
Image via WikipediaDo you pray to be silly? Sounds odd, doesn't it? But this is my prayer this week. I love words. I enjoy learning their histories, their hidden meanings, their stories.I learned new things about the word “SILLY” this week.In my view, my perspective, silly means shallow, impractical, childish, and harebrained. Not quite the desirable characteristic to pray for, though being more childlike is Biblical.But words evolve in their meanings over time.Silly used to be the opposite of what it means now.The word derives from the old English word seely, meaning happy, blissful, lucky, or blessed. From there it came to mean innocent, or deserving of compassion, only later mutating this sense of naive childishness. The related German selig retains its original meaning ‘happy, blessed’.So I am praying to be silly:Lord help me to be silly in its old definition. Sprinkle me with joyous laughter and Godly giggles.Thank you for pure moments that lighten my day.Give me childlike eyes to … [Read more...]
By the Sea with Jesus – Lectio Divina
“That same day, Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.” Matthew 13:1Image via WikipediaSat beside the seaLord I can just imagine You rising early in the day when the morning mist was still kissing the earth.You walked to one of Your greatest creations – the majestic sea - and just sat by the water.Soon people would demand Your time, Your energy, You.I think You must have embraced these Sabbath moments.Watching the waves rhythmically meet the sand.Breathing in the fresh air and hearing the birds sing praises to Your father.A brief respite.Time with Your Dad.I too need to remember to pause and spend time with Papa.To intentionally sit by the sea with You.To pause and inhale Your spirit.To let the rhythms of the day sooth my soul.To be with You by the sea.To just be with You. … [Read more...]
Ruler of my Heart – Quote of the Week – Joyce Rupp
Image via WikipediaRuler of my HeartTame the wildness in meThat wants to leap awayAnd do my own thingWithout regard for others.Enliven the wildness in meThat gets overly complacentWith a too predictable life.Rule over my flip-flop heart.Do whatever it takesTo join the best in me with you.Joyce RuppFrom her new book: Fragments of Your Ancient Name … [Read more...]
Online Spiritual Direction
Image via WikipediaI have been a spiritual director since 2006 and have offered spiritual direction, both individually and in a group.Spiritual direction is the process of accompanying people on a spiritual journey. Spiritual direction emphasizes growing closer to God.Spiritual direction, sometimes referred to as spiritual guidance or spiritual friendship, is an on-going relationship in which one person (the directee), desirous of being attentive to his or her spiritual life, meets with another person (the director) on a regular basis (approximately once a month), specifically for the purpose of becoming more attuned to God's Presence in order to respond more fully to that Presence in all of life.Spiritual direction has been part of the Christian tradition for centuries. The latest issue Presence, the journal for spiritual directors published by Spiritual Directors International, has an article about a new venue for this practice. Online.Image by Sean MacEntee via Flickr“E-spiritual … [Read more...]
Is Routine Spiritually Healthy?
Image by Giant Ginkgo via FlickrIs having routine spiritually healthy?Lately I have rejoiced in the return to routine in my life. After months of much of my time not being my own, I now have days to write more.Each morning is blessed with time with God – in His Word and listing in His presence.I have time for that second cup of coffee and have even started once again some exercise by walking each morning.Ahhh, routine.There is a certain comfort to having known patterns in life, isn’t there?I fly on automatic pilot in my morning shower, brushing teeth, and drying hair. I know without thinking which cereal to grab with my handful of blueberries on top. My to-do list is doable with some wiggle room to grab unexpected spontaneity. I am snug in my comfort zone.So I ponder routine.1. Is routine good? It does reinforce good habits.2. Is routine not so good? It also preserves bad habits.3. Is routine something I should really desire? It brings comfort after times of trial and provides a … [Read more...]
Something More – Lectio Divina
Yes. I'm full of myself—after all, I've spent a long time in sin's prison. What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can't be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God's command is necessary. But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in … [Read more...]
Morning Prayer – Quote of the Week – Macina Wiederkehr
Image by Velorutionary via FlickrAwakening from the slumbering nightI gratefully open my entire being to you,Receiving spiritual medication for my life,Vitamins of grace for my soul’s journey.Each morning as I enter into prayerfulnessI receive from your abundant medicine chestEffective remedies for a lack of enthusiasm,A renewed strength for the ability to love,A clearer motivation for my daily occupation,And an endless portion of health grace.Macina Wiederkehr … [Read more...]