Centering prayer is one spiritual practice that helps me slow down to be with God. In April on this blog, we are looking at the keys of slowing down to spend time with God in stillness, slowness, and quiet time with God. On my Thursday posts, I pick one theme (or person of faith) to explore deeper. I call this series Tending the Holy Thursdays. Don't forget to get the updated handout called "Slowing Down to be with God." It contains ideas, resources, and questions to consider when getting off the busyness treadmill to abide, to be with God in prayer. You can download this free guide by clicking the button at the end of the post. I am excited to welcome guest blogger, Kevin Morley. Keven is a spiritual seeker who runs a blog called Satori Mind (www.satorimind.co.uk). Kevin uses silent prayer and contemplation every day in his journey of spiritual growth. Welcome to the Healthy Spirituality blog, Kevin! “Silence is the language God speaks; everything else is a … [Read more...]
Listening to our Language and to the Language of God
Listening to our Language and to the Language of God Welcome back to this special week on Health Spirituality – the 2016 Spiritual Summer School with the theme of Slowing Down to be with God. I am posting Monday through Friday and then live streaming daily on Facebook Live. You can find me about 1:30 eastern on my Facebook author page with the exception of Friday where I will be broadcasting at 9:30 am eastern. I hope you can join me there too. Each day here on the blog and on Facebook live, we will explore different aspects of Slowing Down to be with God. So far we have set the stage for slowing down to be with God on Monday and yesterday we began to unpack the word SLOW starting with the letter S. I shared Six Strategies for Slowing Down to be with God. Today we take the second letter in the word SLOW and explore Listening to our Language and to the language of God. Our words we tell ourselves and the Word of God make a whole difference in how we live. Listening to our … [Read more...]
Love One Another – Lectio Divina
You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father. “You didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won’t spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you. “But remember the root command: Love one another. John 15: 15-17 Wow, Lord, to be chosen by you to be a friend. I am humbled and to be honest a little ill at ease. I should feel loved and joy, but find deep inside me a wariness – What does this mean? But you are always clear and honest. You tell us what you are thinking and planning. What am I to do as your friend? You gently respond - Love one another. Simple truth. Difficult truth. Love is the fruit I am to bring forth into the world. Everything I do, … [Read more...]
I Am the Vine
The Good Shepherd
Questions – Lectio Divina
Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Luke 24: 38 Lord I have learned to listen to your questions. When reading your Holy Word and seeing you poise a query, I pause and ask them of myself. I allow them to sink under my thick skin and coat my heart. Why am I frightened? I didn’t even realize I was until you asked. I proudly perform on the world stage with the appearance of confidence and bravery. I deny my underlying fears and sweep them under the doormat of my soul. Yet when I stop and am honest, Lord, you are right. Those unnamed fears quiver within me, stop me from holy boldness and prevent me from living fully in your joy. The nameless fears sprout doubt and distraction. Not claiming them allows uncertainly and distrust of you to smolder. My heart burns not with your love, but with anger and frustration. Once I retrieve those fears – the ones you ask about – and put them into your hands, I am yours once again. When I am … [Read more...]
Peace Be with You – Lectio Divina
A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” John 20:26-29 (NRSV) Thank you for your peace, Lord. May your tranquility be ever surrounding me. May your stillness calm the storms that rage within and around. May your harmony preside in all my relationships. May your serenity soothe my frazzled nerves and doubting mind. May your peace roll the stone away from my heart so I recognize you are my Lord and my God. . … [Read more...]
She Did What She Could – Lectio Divina
Jesus was at Bethany, a guest of Simon the Leper. While he was eating dinner, a woman came up carrying a bottle of very expensive perfume. Opening the bottle, she poured it on his head. Some of the guests became furious among themselves. “That’s criminal! A sheer waste! This perfume could have been sold for well over a year’s wages and handed out to the poor.” They swelled up in anger, nearly bursting with indignation over her. But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why are you giving her a hard time? She has just done something wonderfully significant for me. You will have the poor with you every day for the rest of your lives. Whenever you feel like it, you can do something for them. Not so with me. She did what she could when she could—she pre-anointed my body for burial. And you can be sure that wherever in the whole world the Message is preached, what she just did is going to be talked about admiringly.” Mark 14: 1-9 (The Message) She did what she could when she could. What a … [Read more...]