Henri Nouwen is one of my favorite authors. The first book I read by him, edited by Wendy Greer is titled The Only Necessary Thing – Living a Prayerful Life. I revisited that book this week and here are some of my favorite quotes from that book:· Prayer is the center of the Christian life. It is the only necessary thing. (Luke 10:42) It is living with God here and now. · The more we pray – in the sense of living a prayerful life – the more we desire to pray · I am deeply convince that the necessity of prayer, and to pray unceasingly, is not as much based on our desire for God as on God’s desire for us. It is God’s passionate pursuit of us that calls us to prayer. · A spiritual life without prayer is like the Gospel without Christ. · Praying is living. Praying pervades every aspect of our lives. It is the unceasing recognition that God is wherever we are, always inviting us to come closer and to celebrate the divine gift of being alive. · Prayer is … [Read more...]
Five Spiritual Spring Cleaning Tips
Last week’s warm weather in northwest Ohio jumpstarted my spring cleaning. I emptied cupboards, reorganized shelves, and even washed the outside windows. The silver tea service I inherited from my mother is buffed and polished. The house is beginning to shine.That is not all. I made my appointment for my overdue mammogram and even had my teeth cleaned. Sparkling though and though, right?Then I felt God nudge me: What about some spiritual spring cleaning? Mmm, good time to assess that, Lord. I know the dirt and grime in my heart and soul contaminate my life and draw me away from God. Here are five spiritual spring cleaning tips I am going to work on:1. Get rid of clutter - Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Ephesians 4:31. Ok, time to dispose of my judgmental and sarcastic attitude. Help me to let go of old habits and sinful ways, Lord. I have been writing a lot about my poor attitude in my journal. Periodically I … [Read more...]
HE IS RISEN – All Other Words are Unnecessary
Lectio Divina - April 4 2010After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 1Then Jesus said to … [Read more...]
What Does Maundy (Thursday) Mean?
What does the word “Maundy” mean? As we progress through this holy week of Christ’s passion, I paused and realized I didn’t really know the definition. The name "Maundy" derives from Latin, mandatum novum, the first sung response of the traditional ceremony for the washing of the feet. (See John 13.) The Christian church observes Maundy Thursday as the commemoration of the sacrament of Holy Communion and, in some traditions, the footwashing.Another place claimed the word came from the Latin word mandatum, meaning "commandment," Maundy refers to the commands Jesus gave his disciples at the Last Supper: to love with humility by serving one another and to remember his sacrifice.The observance is one of Christianity's oldest celebrations, dating back to the first century church. In the 12th century, the English Church initiated a custom of distributing money to older adults who had performed outstanding service to the crown. Known as "Maundy Money," these specially minted coins are … [Read more...]
Mother Teresa (1910-1997) Women’s History Month
March is Women’s History Month or should I say Women’s Her-story Month. The Tuesday and Friday posts this month will feature women who lead lives that could serve as models for us in our Christian walk. It was difficult to narrow the list for the few dates in March but I did try to find some women you may not know very well and women writers. Enjoy!Mother Teresa – my final post for Women’s History Month. This well-known inspirational woman lived a life of sacrifice, prayer, service and love. A woman, many of us watched on television and read about while she was alive – makes growing a heart of God and following him sound possible when we have a “real” model, doesn’t it?Born in Albania, she felt strongly the call of God at the age of twelve. She knew she had to be a missionary to spread the love of Christ. At the age of eighteen she left her parental home in Skopje and joined the Sisters of Loreto, an Irish community of nuns with missions in India.Hearing God once again in 1946, … [Read more...]
Spring – the Season of Singing – Lectio Divina – March 28, 2010
See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. Song of Solomon 2:11-13 (NIV)The season of singing has come!Lord, I love how you wake up the earth in spring. How your hope blasts through the trumpets of daffodils with the music of “I am alive and love you.” The bells of pink and yellow tulips ring in triumph beating away the chilled wintry air. The scent of lilacs drift through the warming breezes. Spring does make me want to sing.The season of singing - what a great way to describe the feeling of this year. I can almost hear the earth singing with you, Lord. Can I join in too?I hum my little tune of thankfulness for arriving safely through dark January and February into the light-filled March and April. I jump with joy seeing the robins, dancing in the rain puddles. I am like a child anticipating Christmas when I see the first signs of pointed green leaves erupting from … [Read more...]
Women’s History Month – Catherine Marshall (1914-1983)
March is Women’s History Month or should I say Women’s Her-story Month. The Tuesday and Friday posts this month will feature women who lead lives that could serve as models for us in our Christian walk. It was difficult to narrow the list for the few dates in March but I did try to find some women you may not know very well and women writers. Enjoy!Catherine Marshall was my favorite writer as a child. As a teen I devoured her books like Something More, The Helper, and Beyond Ourselves. I loved her honesty in her writing and how she shared her intimately struggles to walk with Christ. She was always seeking Him. Multiple times I thought, “I want to be like her. I want to write like her.” She is a major reason why I am a Christian writer today.Catherine, originally from Johnson City, Tennessee, was married to Presbyterian minister and Chaplain of the U.S. Senate, Peter Marshall. When Marshall died of a heart attack in 1949. Mrs. Marshall wrote a biography of her late husband, A Man … [Read more...]
Beneath the Cross of Jesus – Elizabeth Clephane (1830-1869)
March is Women’s History Month or should I say Women’s Her-story Month. The Tuesday and Friday posts this month will feature women who lead lives that could serve as models for us in our Christian walk. It was difficult to narrow the list for the few dates in March but I did try to find some women you may not know very well and women writers. Enjoy!The last hymn we sang on Sunday – Beneath the Cross of Jesus – contained words that lingered within me.Slowly read some of the lines:Beneath the cross of Jesus I long to take my stand….and from my contrite heart, with tears, two wonders I confess; the wonder of his glorious love and my unworthiness… I take O cross, your shadow for my abiding place; I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of his face.The whole hymn swelled as a prayer within me.Who wrote these meaningful words of devotion to Christ? I never heard of her before: Elizabeth Clephane.Elizabeth Cecelia Douglas Clephane (1830-1869) was born in Edinburgh, but lived most of her … [Read more...]