Dear Child,Before you open my Word this morning, stop and consider what you are holding in your hands. It is more than paper and ink, more than words and sentences.You are holding in your hands the very essence of who I am!My Word in my nature, my wisdom, my guidance, my love distilled into letter form.You are holding health and life, truth and healing.Keep my Word before your eyes. Give it permission to roam in the rooms of your heart – cleaning, straightening, rearranging; closing doors on some things, opening windows on others.My Word can be for your heart a companion, a hearth, and a housekeeper; a gardener to weed your thoughts and a guard against intruders.And so, as you open my Word this day, read with your eyes, but listen with your life.I want to speak to you,GodFrom the book Postcards from Heaven by Claire CloningerMy child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring … [Read more...]
His Eye is on the Sparrow
I learned the other day the story behind one of my favorite hymns: His Eye is on the Sparrow. If you don’t know that song or do and want to enjoy it again, listen here on You Tube, featuring the singing group, Selah. One approach to prayer I really like is to read aloud , not sing, the words of a hymn and let them seep into my heart and spirit. Here are all of the words to this song to add to your devotions:Why should I feel discouragedWhy should the shadows come, Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home, When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He: His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free, For His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me.“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear, And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears; Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.Whenever I am tempted, … [Read more...]
The Pleasure of Your Company
When you are in love you want to spend time with that person. You let your eyes soak in every move they make, your ears cling to their every sound, and your heart just bursts with joy.I am in love.In love with my granddaughter, Kyla. She whooshed into my heart in June 2009 and continues to capture my attention whenever we are together. I watched her the other day. Stooping to pick up a crumb on the floor, studying it like a treasure from antiquity. She devours spaghetti with gusto and delicious delight. I giggled as she creates fun from an everyday object. Only a child’s heart and mind can see new possibilities in an ordinary humdrum of life.Each new day is a wonderful opportunity to learn and explore.Kyla went with us shopping the other day. I sat in the third row of the Suburban and even as she slept, snuggled in the arms of her car seat, I couldn’t keep my eyes from her. I enjoy just the pleasure of your company, Kyla, I thought. That phrase stuck with me – the pleasure of your … [Read more...]
Refreshment Stand – Lectio Divina
They did not thirst when he led them through the deserts; he made water flow for them from the rock; he split the rock and water gushed out. Isaiah 48:21 (NIV)They did not thirst when he led them through the deserts.Lord, you are my refreshment. The only water that satisfies my parched throat.I search elsewhere, especially in dry times, only to return to Your rock. When I once again realize You are my only source, You spill your love and grace with unrestrained generosity upon me like gushers of water.I arrive scorched by the heat of the world. You pick me up. You replenish my soul. May I taste Your goodness and sip Your streams of revitalizing waters.Lord, I have heard the human body is more than 70% water. May You be in every molecule of that fluid within me. You are the restoring water.You are the source of all renewal.You are Life. … [Read more...]
What is God Building? – Quote of the Week by C. S. Lewis
“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself." C.S. Lewis – Mere Christianity. … [Read more...]
Praying with Scissors
Our moms told us, “Don’t run with scissors.” Teachers warned us, “Be careful playing with scissors.” But have you ever thought of praying with scissors?I held a pair of scissors in my hands while I prayed the other day.Lord, You invited me to tenderly think and pray with scissors. What are your lessons?I smile as I drift back to kindergarten. Written on my report card are these words: “Jean Anne needs more work with scissors.”HA! I flunked ‘scissors” in that grade. Funny, Lord, you grace me with a humorous memory to begin our prayer time with some joy. I guess I still "need more work with scissors."My fingers slowly traced the blades. The sharp edges reminded me of my harsh and prickly retorts to my family. Ouch that hurt them.Lord, what do you want me to cut out? What strings do I cling to that block me giving my full heart to You. Help me sever those ties with Your sacred snip.Even up my jagged edges, Lord. Trim the useless fat that clogs my life.Scissors can be wonderfully … [Read more...]
Learning New Habits
“Ah-Choo!”Yesterday the lady in the pew in front of me sneezed. I watched her automatically cover her reaction by sneezing into the bend of her arm. Coughing into our sleeves has become the acceptable and proper way to sneeze. A proven way to control the spread of disease.Why even you-tube has a video telling the history of this new habit sweeping across the world.Doesn’t it seem like just yesterday we were all sneezing and coughing into our hands? How did we switch to this better alternative so quickly?Why are some good habits adopted faster than others?Why can’t I consistently exercise and eat healthy as easily as I have learned to cough into my sleeve?I have lots of questions and not too many answers, but this got me thinking about habits. Actually I spend some time reading and researching interesting facts about habits. A New York Times article, based upon the research by Andy Ryan says:“Rather than dismissing ourselves as unchangeable creatures of habit, we can instead direct our … [Read more...]
Seeking God’s Face – Lectio Divina
When you said, "Seek my face," my heart said to you, "Your face, O Lord, I shall seek." Psalm 27:8 (NASB)“Seek my face" Lord is this all you ask of me? To seek Your face?To look intently only upon You. To live each day not distracted by the shining lights of a flashy world.To see clearly only You. Let my vision not be clouded over by ego.To hunger only for you. Not fill the holes in my soul with empty idols.To pay attention to the subtle gentle stirring of Your spirit And avoid the jostling and jarring uneasiness of living away from You.Turning, repenting once again to face You and seek Your face.What a wonderful way to live! … [Read more...]