Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' So he got up and went to his father. "But … [Read more...]
Sojourner Truth (1797- 1883)
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! Feisty is a word to describe Sojourner Truth. I had to admit I didn’t know much about her, but my world is richer now that I have read her story.Sojourner was born a slave in New York state in about 1797 and was named Isabella Baumfree. At the age of nine she was auctioned off to another owner and over the next few years she was sold several other times. She later said that her first owner once whipped her with "a bundle of rods, prepared in the embers, and bound together with cords." It was during this time that she began to find refuge in religion -- beginning the habit of praying aloud when scared or hurt. Between 1810 and 1827 she … [Read more...]
Hannah More (1745-1833)
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!Hannah More was an English author, poet, playwright, and philanthropist who lived in both the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.At the age of sixteen, Hannah composed a drama, “The Search After Happiness”, which was later published and widely read. She continued to write plays and poetry. Around 1779, she felt God called her away from the stage and she increasingly turned to more distinctly Christian work. With Pastor John Newton, author of the hymn “Amazing Grace”, as her spiritual mentor, she went on to pen such works as “Sacred Dramas”, a satirical tale, “Florio”, and “Religion of the Fashionable World”. All of Hannah’s writings were … [Read more...]
Who’s the Boss? God is – Lectio Divina – March 7,2010
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55: 8-9Lord, these two verses, every word, brings relief to my soul.Thank you for not running the world on the condition of MY thoughts and MY ways.Though You know at times, a part of me thinks I could do better or have doubted Your wisdom, I do know You know best.Your ways shine the light so humans’ ways can follow. We get lost. We wander. We make bad decisions. We let our ego rule. Thank heaven, Your ways exceed ours.Your thoughts transcend us beyond our greatest imagination. I smile thinking of the movie “Bruce Almighty” and all the mistakes he makes when God leaves him in charge. We have messed the world up enough NOT really being in charge. What devastation would humankind do IF we did have Your power.Lord, humor me here. I hereby, hand you back the world. Please … [Read more...]
Perpetua and Felicity
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! This coming Sunday many church we commemorate Perpetua and FelicityWho? That was my reaction. I didn’t know anything about these two women!No saints were more honored in the early Christian era than Perpetua and Felicity. The two women were arrested and imprisoned Carthage in 203 A.D. Perpetua was 22-year-old noblewoman with a son a few months old; Felicity a slave with a child not yet born. Their crime was defying Emperor’s prohibition of conversions to Christianity.They were taken to prison where Felicity gave birth. Fellow Christians adopted her child.At their trail, they bravely announced their belief in Christ – a certain death … [Read more...]
Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)
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 led 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! We start Women’s History Month featuring a remarkable woman from the Middle Ages. Hildegard of Bingen was born in 1098. The tenth child of a noble family, she was dedicated at birth to the church as was the custom of the day. At age eight she was sent to live with Jutta, an anchoress so she could get her religious education. An anchoress is like a religious recluse who spent most of her days in prayer in her tiny private cell. When Jutta died years later, Hildegard became prioress of the Benedictine convent. In 1141 Hildegard began to have vivid visions of God that blessed her with an understanding of the meaning of … [Read more...]
TAKE HEART – Lectio Divina – February 28, 2010
Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. - Psalm 31:24TAKE HEARTLord I have prayed this verse many times. I concentrate on the being strong part. The internal pep talk of “ You can do it! Just hang in there. It will get better. Your shoulders can take it. Don’t show others you are weak. Be strong.”I focus on the ending of this verse about hope in the Lord. I cling to the lifeline of hope that You will save me. Well, in honesty, the small kernel of doubt often grows into a gigantic log of uncertainty as I wait and wait and wait.In the middle of this verse, two words sit quietly like an undiscovered diamond. Take heart.When I grow weak, I have Your heart, Lord. You offer it to me and say, “take heart.”I can’t do it all by myself. I need to “take heart.”When I waver and doubt grows, You tenderly hand over Your heart for courage to stay the course.What a gift, Lord. You give me Your heart, a heart overflowing with immeasurable love, courage, and perseverance. Thank you Lord … [Read more...]
"To have your identity is the most beautiful thing there is."
A Yahoo news story this week called “Argentine stolen at birth, now 32, learns identity” caught my attention. Its message lingers in my mind. Argentine security forces kidnapped a pregnant woman 33 years ago. She gave birth in prison to a boy. The newborn was taken from her and soon after the mother disappeared. One of the military officers brought the baby home to his wife. Earlier this month the son and his birth father finally were reunited. The story is heartbreaking to read. As I look at my own granddaughter I can’t imagine living in a society that disrespects human life, tears families apart, and imprisons people for standing up for freedom. Even though the democratic process is at times frustrating, I am so thankful for our country. But this story provokes another feeling within my heart when I read this quote from the newly found son:"For the first time, I know who I was. Who I am," the young man said, still marveling at his new identity. To have … [Read more...]