Read any good wisdom words lately? As mentioned last week I recently attended a silent retreat. I listened deeply to God but also found thoughtful guidance from the written words from other “lamplighters.” I thought I would share some of these quotes with you today hoping they bring light to your spiritual journey too. I know these words opened my heart to God’s love and shaping. Henri Nouwen continues to profoundly impact me this year. I prayed and pondered and journaled these words especially last week. How am I to let myself be loved by God? WOW! “For most of my life I have struggled to find God, to know God, to love God. I have tried hard to follow the guidelines of the spiritual life—pray always, work for others, read the Scriptures—and to avoid the many temptations to dissipate myself. I have failed many times but always tried again, even when I was close to despair.“Now I wonder whether I have sufficiently realized that during all this time God has been trying to find … [Read more...]
Summer Sabbath Sayings
Summer sabbath is the slowing down and savoring the beauty, refreshment, and renewal of summertime. For many of us summer means travel, camping, fresh fruit and vegetables, water activities, ice cream, family get-togethers, and backyard BBQs. Even in these times following pandemic rules and recommendations, people long for the refreshment of a change of pace. Of course, I am writing this from Ohio, in the Northern Hemisphere. For those living south of the equator, please pardon my wandering through the warmth and sunshine. I am heading out this week and returning midweek next week for a postponed from last year and alleluia we can go this year trip. So I gathered some thoughtful and fun sayings about summer sabbath for your pondering and joy: One must maintain a little bit of summer, even in the middle of winter. Henry David ThoreauWhen the sun is shining I can do anything; no mountain is too high, no trouble too difficult to overcome. Wilma RudolphIf you have a garden … [Read more...]
Advent Quotes to Bless this Season in 2020
Advent quotes! Advent is one of my favorite seasons. I love the hope, the joy, the holy anticipation of new birth. I also love collecting, pondering, and stretching my heart, mind and spirit with quotes – tiny bits of wisdom from others that nourishes my soul and gives me strength for this journey. 2020 has been challenging for all of us, so today I am going to share some of my recent Advent quotes I have read so you too can consider them and perhaps their words will lighten your path. I have written these in my journal. Brought them into my prayers. Allowed them to soak into my core for encouragement, affirmation, and wisdom. Enjoy! The expectation of Advent is anchored in the event of God’s incarnation. The more I come in touch with what happened in the past, the more I come in touch with what is to come. The Gospel not only reminds me of what took place but also of what will take place. In the contemplation of Christ’s first coming, I can discover the signs of his … [Read more...]
Quotes to Stir and Stimulate your Heart
10 quotes to ponder. I do love quotes. I gather them and tuck them into my heart like a squirrel amassing acorns for the coming winter. I collect these nuggets of wisdom that feed my soul in times of hunger, discernment and seeking. Here are a few recent quotes I discovered and deposited into my heart: Prayer is sitting in silence until it silences us, choosing gratitude until we are grateful. Richard Rohr ****** Prayer pushes us through life's slumps, propels us over the humps and pulls us out of the dumps. Prayer is the oomph we need to get the answers we seek. Max Lucado ****** I serve. I do the dance I must. I plant trees, but I am not the doer of this work. I am the facilitator, the instrument—I am one part of the symphony. I know there is an overall scheme to this symphony that I cannot understand. In some way, we are each playing our own part. It is not for me to judge or criticize the life or work of another. All I know is that this is my dance. I would plant trees … [Read more...]
Advent – 10 Inspirational Quotes
Advent begins the end of this month and is a great time to pause and ponder all that God has given us. If you are looking for more information about Advent download my free Advent Resource Guide here. Or perhaps you may enjoy exploring some of the past posts I have written about this season: What is Advent and Why is it Important 15 Inspirational Quotes about Advent Mary and Elizabeth - a Lesson about Advent Is Your Advent Full with Stuff in your Hands or a Heart Stuffed with Joy? My gift to you this week is 10 inspirational quotes about Advent that I haven't shared before here on Healthy Spirituality. Take one into your prayer, journaling, and time with God. May the words bless your Advent season. “For outlandish creatures like us, on our way to a heart, a brain, and courage, Bethlehem is not the end of our journey but only the beginning - not home but the place through which we must pass if ever we are to reach home at last.” ― Frederick Buechner, The … [Read more...]
10 Celtic Blessings of Wisdom
In honor of my upcoming pilgrimage to Ireland, I have been collecting Celtic blessings. Here are a few for you today: A best friend is like a four leaf clover: hard to find and lucky to have. Anonymous ****** A wish that every day for you will be happy from the start and may you always have good luck and a song within your heart. Irish Blessing ****** Always remember to forget, the friends that proved untrue. But never forget to remember those that have stuck by you! Irish proverb ****** You've got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was! Irish proverb ****** Do not resent growing old. Many are denied the privilege. Irish proverb ****** Tis better to buy a small bouquet and give to your friend this very day, Than a bushel of roses white and red to lay on his coffin after he's dead. Irish proverb ****** May the hinges of our friendship never grow rusty. Irish Proverb ****** It's no use carrying an umbrella if your shoes are … [Read more...]
Waiting in Prayer
Waiting for a prayer to be answered is hard. I have several prayers I have been hounding God about for years. I haven't heard no. I haven't seen the results I told him I wanted. I will be honest I have more than suggested something he may want to take care of. Now, please, Lord! We wait in prayer and often don't get the answer we wanted. Sometimes while waiting in prayer, the answer appears in an unexpected way. Or even better than ever imagined blessings. But my pile of "someday" prayers simmers in my heart. Waiting in Prayer I don't have tricks or techniques to help in the time of waiting but have been exploring and talking with God about this phenomenon we all experience. Perhaps God uses this time like weight-training but spelled differently -wait-training. Here are some gems to consider: But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. – Romans 8:25 Patience? Sigh. Waiting in prayer does teach us patience or at least attempts to foster … [Read more...]
10 Quotes on Prayer During Difficult Times
In September we have been looking how to pray when it is difficult. This is all part of the Year of Prayer here on Healthy Spirituality. You may find the previous posts about praying during difficult times here and here. I love chewing on great bits of wisdom found in the wise words from others. Here are 10 thought-provoking and inspirational quotes about prayer that I hope will help you in hard times. Find one or two of your favorites and tug them into your journal and/or Bible. May these words bubble up and find you again just when you need them. Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference" Max Lucado ****** Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts. Mother Teresa ****** I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming … [Read more...]