April 29th is Arbor Day – a celebration that encourages appreciations and the ongoing care of trees. Founded by J. Sterling Morton in 1872, it's celebrated on the last Friday in April. I love looking at trees. Currently in Ohio they are bursting with spring green colors. Even their trunks have personality - with ridges and grooves shouting out their individuality. I love their silhouettes in winter, gently holding empty bird nests as symbols of hope and new life to come. See my post on this here: Trees are symbolic of so much of our spirituality: Being deeply rooted in God. Anchored in His love, we sway in the winds of change and storms of life. One of my current verses I am memorizing this year is:Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. Ephesians 3:17 (New Living Translation)God must really love trees – the world is full of them and so is the Bible from the garden of Eden to the Cross where … [Read more...]
God Knows Our Name – A Resurrection Story
I spent part of Easter afternoon rereading the accounts of Easter and Jesus’ resurrection.One of my favorite stories is the encounter of Mary Magdalene with the risen Christ. “‘Woman,’ he said, ‘why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?’ Thinking he was the gardener, she said, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away,tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.’Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’” (John 20:15-16a)I think one of greatest fears is being unknown and just think God, who created the entire universe and Jesus, who came to earth to be close to us, to die for us – knows our name. What intimacy! The sound of our names spoken from the lips of our Savior is the nearness that opens our eyes, dries our tears, and mends our devastated hearts. Jesus knows us so well, our names are carved in the palms of His hands. He draws us so close that we can hear the heartbeat of His love. Ron Rolheiser has a powerful reflection of these Bible verses on You Tube, titled “What are you looking … [Read more...]
Easter Morning
Good Friday Quote
Ponder today what God has done for us:Good Friday is the mirror held up by Jesus so that we can see ourselves in all our stark reality, and then it turns us to that cross and to his eyes and we hear these words, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." That's us! And so we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves. We see in that cross a love so amazing so divine that it loves us even when we turn away from it, or spurn it, or crucify it. There is no faith in Jesus without understanding that on the cross we see into the heart of God and find it filled with mercy for the sinner whoever he or she may be. Robert G. Trache "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son."- John 3:16 … [Read more...]
Holy Week Thoughts – Keeping My Eyes on the Big Picture
“Keep your eyes on the big picture,” was the advice I heard a pastor say this week. I needed that reminder.This has NOT been a pleasant week for me. When the life gets complicated, schedules and plans shred apart, and too many commitments spill out from my too little time, my survivor mode kicks in. I withdraw into self-pity, self-centeredness, and lots of whiny “why me” self-talk.Not the way I really want to live and to be honest I don’t think the way God wants us to live either. I cling to my self-centeredness instead of dwelling in Christ-centeredness.My episode of feeling sorry for myself pales in comparison to what Jesus suffered the week before His crucifixion. His threshold point in the Garden, giving up His will into God’s hands, reminds me that Jesus too kept His eyes on the big picture.Jesus didn’t hang onto self-pity; He clung to Love.Jesus said not my will, but God’s.Jesus knew to keep His eyes on the big picture - God.God is the big picture. With God’s perspective, we … [Read more...]
Life Questions – Max on Life by Max Lucado – Book Review
We all struggle with life’s questions: Why am I here? How is God’s love different from human love? How do I know what is the right thing to do?I fully believe that delving to the depths of these questions is part of our spiritual formation process.One of my favorite writers – Max Lucado – has written a new book: Max on Life – Answers and Insights to your Most Important Questions. I am received this book in exchange for posting a review but this has not influence my feelings about this book.Lucado tackles some of life’s most difficult questions and provides concise and compassionate answers. This is what I both like and dislike about this book. Most of his answers are one page long – too short to really go into much depth.But again Lucado’s brief answers are full of wisdom, easy to digest, and provide much food for thought. None of us have the complete answer to most of these questions and Lucado gives us nuggets of truth to at least take the next step in our faith walk.My most … [Read more...]
Insomnia and Restlessness – Lectio Divina
Too much activity gives you restless dreams; too many words make you a fool. Ecclesiastes 5:3 NLTToo much activity gives you restless dreams.Lord I can’t sleep. Or rather I go to sleep, then wake up.My mind races with items left undone.My heart echoes with voices that demand, “Do, do, do!”My nerves fidget and frazzle, taut between yesterday and tomorrow.I focus more on the night’s shadows than Your light’s guidance.Too much activity results in restless dreams.I fill my time with jagged emptiness instead of creating space for You.When I do pause and turn my heart to You,Once again You gently tell me to rest, rest in You.Your soothing whisper quiets the noise in my soulYour arms enfold me and I snuggle into peaceful slumber.Rest.PeaceQuietAnd at last sleep. … [Read more...]
Palm Sunday Quote of the Week
PALM SUNDAY QUOTE OF THE WEEKBut everyone who lined the streets had a different reason for waving those palms. Some were political activists; they'd heard Jesus had supernatural power, and they wanted him to use it to free Israel from Roman rule. Others had loved ones who were sick or dying. They waved branches, hoping for physical healing. Some were onlookers merely looking for something to do, while others were genuine followers who wished Jesus would establish himself as an earthly king. Jesus was the only one in the parade who knew why he was going to Jerusalem - to die. He had a mission, while everyone else had an agenda. Bill Hybels … [Read more...]