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...]
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...]
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...]
The Nearness of God – Lectio Divina – February 21, 2010
"The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart” Romans 10:8a (NIV)The word is near you.How incomprehensible this is, Lord, that you love us so much you dwell within our hearts. Near - a simple but powerful promise. You are near me.You plant yourself deep within my soul and never leave me. When all others abandon me, you stay near.When I shake with fear - you are near to hold meWhen I am sick with worry - you are near to give me peaceWhen I feel lost and alone - you are near as my companion.When my heart is heavy with disappointment - you are near to carry my loadWhen I boil over with anger - you are near to calm me downWhen I am hurt - you are near to heal.When I am confused - you are near to guide me.When I am weak - you are near to give me strengthWhen I doubt - you are near to fill me with hope.When I am broken, you are near with your complete loveMy heart overflows with gratitude, my hands cling to you in sacred intimacy, and my soul rejoices within my whole being … [Read more...]
Prayer to See God with an Unveiled Face – Lectio Divina – February 14, 2010
Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3: 12-18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflectthe Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing gloryLord, unveil my face. Wipe away all the hidden junk that I smear on my face, pretending to be something I … [Read more...]
Putting out into Deep Water – Lectio Divina – February 7, 2010
One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." Luke 5:1-5 (NIV)PUT OUT INTO DEEP WATER.Lord, what are you asking of me? Deep water isn’t safe. I can’t touch the bottom where I can have control. I drift at the mercy of the waves out there. I gasp for breath between gulps of salt water. I don’t know what is lurking below my feet as I franticly paddle to keep my head above water. And you want me to live this … [Read more...]
You Alone – Lectio Divina – January 31, 2010
"We bring nothing at birth; we take nothing with us at death. The Lord alone gives and takes. Praise the name of the Lord!" Job 1:21 (Contemporary English Version)Job lost everything, Lord, and how did he react? Did he curse You, ignore You, and deny Your existence? Did he whine, beg, or bargain? No, he did only one thing: he lay before You in worship. You hold everything in Your hands while I stumble through life falsely believing I am in control.My heart’s desire, Lord, no matter in times of blessing or in times of sorrow, is to praise your name.You alone are the Lord. You alone give us everything we cherish - families, friends, life itself.You alone know what the next minute, hour, year will bring.You alone fully understand the depth of shattered dreams, the pain of lost loved ones, and the heartbreak of betrayal. Daily I place my hopes, dreams, sorrow, disappointments, anger, bitterness, blessings, family, friends, writing, speaking, travel, worries and all I possess on Your … [Read more...]
YOU’RE MINE – Lectio Divina – January 24, 2010
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 … [Read more...]