Christmas opens adult eyes to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. Lately, glimpses of God’s miracles, one in a moment of pain and the other in fun, caught my attention.Miracle of Night Vision OUCH! My big toe throbbed as the chair in the pitch black living room jumped out to trip me the other night. Stupid chair! Who put it there anyway? The instant I flipped the lights off to head towards bed, my once clear vision disappeared. Total darkness surrounded me. Groping at the walls to orient my journey, I limped down the hallway. Slowly, the objects previously veiled in darkness materialized. My night vision kicked into gear. What a gift it is to see even in the darkness. Just think: When God created us, not only did HE give us the ability to see in the light, but built in adjusters for when it is dark. I stubbed my toe because I took off too quickly on my own without allowing time for my eyes to get accustomed to the darkness. Just like when I rush ahead of … [Read more...]
Weekend Reflections on the Word of God – December 13, 2009
Lectio Divina - a holy reading of the Bible slowly, savoring it, and enjoying it with the Lord – is the spiritual practice of sacred reading of the scriptures. The intention is not to learn or gain information but to deepen our relationship with God. St Benedict encourages us to “to listen with the ear of our hearts.”Join me once a week for Lectio Divina. I will share a verse and a word that spoke to my heart. Read and listen to the verses here. And gently ask God for a word or phrase that speaks to your heart for that day – that is what lectio means. Once we find that gift, we hold it, meditate, and savor its meaning. This step is called meditation.Then offer that word back to God in prayer or the third step of oratio. In prayer we allow our real selves to be touched and changed by the word of God.Finally, we simply rest in the presence of the One who has used His word as a means of inviting us to accept His transforming embrace. No one who has ever been in love needs to be reminded … [Read more...]
Christmas Nativity Scene Lessons
As empty nesters, we have slimmed down the amount of Christmas decorations we put up each year. I like the freshness of rearranging and the addition of the seasonal colors, but want to keep the “stuff” to a minimum. This year we didn’t find room for the nativity scene.At first I thought, “That is ok. One less item to put away later. No one will miss it.” But I was wrong. I missed them. I retrieved the box from the basement storage.The chipped, older than me, nativity scene is now displayed in its new location in my living room. I carefully unwrapped each of the characters: the baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the Wisemen and the angel.In many homes and churches, the baby Jesus is often left out of the crib until Christmas day, representing the fact that He has not been born yet. Personally, I put the characters out all at once.I glance at this holy scene every time I pass by; grateful I decided to dig them out of the box. Slowly they speak to my heart: there are lessons in … [Read more...]
Advent – Three W’s of this Spiritual Season
Advent calls me deeper this year. For the first time in many years, the season of Advent stirs up prayers between the Lord and me about waiting, wondering and making way for Christ. God is nourishing my spirit and renewing my heart during this special time of year.WaitingThis year I have a growing sense of waiting, but the pause simmers in hope, anticipation and obedience. All this comes after a year of learning to trust the Lord more. Often he would whisper, “Do you trust me, Jeanie?” and I would surrender my ego once again. Waiting. Waiting, Lord, for you.WonderingMy senses are heightened like a scene in a movie where the music builds and you just know a dramatic moment is about to take place. My spirit is on high alert: Pay attention, look about you and see the world with the eyes of a toddler chockfull of curiosity. What will I learn? I don’t know, but this daily practice of optimistic inquisitiveness fills me with hope.Make Way for ChristThis time of year spills over with … [Read more...]
Weekend Reflections on the Word of God – December 6, 2009
Lectio Divina - a holy reading of the Bible slowly, savoring it, and enjoying it with the Lord – is the spiritual practice of sacred reading of the scriptures. The intention is not to learn or gain information but to deepen our relationship with God. St Benedict encourages us to “to listen with the ear of our hearts.”Join me once a week for Lectio Divina. I will share a verse and a word that spoke to my heart. Read and listen to the verses here. And gently ask God for a word or phrase that speaks to your heart for that day – that is what lectio means. Once we find that gift, we hold it, meditate, and savor its meaning. This step is called meditation.Then offer that word back to God in prayer or the third step of oratio. In prayer we allow our real selves to be touched and changed by the word of God.Finally, we simply rest in the presence of the One who has used His word as a means of inviting us to accept His transforming embrace. No one who has ever been in love needs to be reminded … [Read more...]
Advent – 15 Inspirational Quotes about this Season of Anticipation
Advent is a time to wait, listen and ponder the awesome wonder of God who sent his only son as a baby to save us. Pause and spend some time this season reflecting on God's gift of love. Looking for some more information about Advent: Download my free Advent Resource Guide here. Perhaps one of the following inspirational quotes will help: "Advent, like its cousin Lent, is a season for prayer and reformation of our hearts. Since it comes at winter time, fire is a fitting sign to help us celebrate Advent…If Christ is to come more fully into our lives this Christmas, if God is to become really incarnate for us, then fire will have to be present in our prayer. Our worship and devotion will have to stoke the kind of fire in our souls that can truly change our hearts. Ours is a great responsibility not to waste this Advent time." Edward Hays, A Pilgrim’s Almanac “The season of Advent means there is something on the horizon the likes of which we have never seen before… .What is … [Read more...]
Advent Reflection
RIGHT NOW – the manger, composed of ordinary straw and hay,waits,empty and open,for the gift of Life.RIGHT NOW - bird nests lie high in barren trees, composed of ordinary twigs and mud,wait,empty and open,for the gift of life.RIGHT NOW – my heart, full of ordinary clutter, noise, to do lists, worries and pride,like no room in Bethlehem,my heart has no room for You.So I slow down this Advent season and let go of what blocks me from YouAnd wait,empty and open,For the extraordinary andastonishing gift of Life.RIGHT NOW – I prepare my heart for YouWaitingto be filled by You,Waitingto be filled with You. … [Read more...]
Weekend Reflections on the Word of God – November 29, 2009
Lectio Divina - a holy reading of the Bible slowly, savoring it, and enjoying it with the Lord – is the spiritual practice of sacred reading of the scriptures. The intention is not to learn or gain information but to deepen our relationship with God. St Benedict encourages us to “to listen with the ear of our hearts.”Join me once a week for Lectio Divina. I will share a verse and a word that spoke to my heart. Read and listen to the verses here. And gently ask God for a word or phrase that speaks to your heart for that day – that is what lectio means. Once we find that gift, we hold it, meditate, and savor its meaning. This step is called meditation.Then offer that word back to God in prayer or the third step of oratio. In prayer we allow our real selves to be touched and changed by the word of God.Finally, we simply rest in the presence of the One who has used His word as a means of inviting us to accept His transforming embrace. No one who has ever been in love needs to be reminded … [Read more...]