Monthly Musings Each month I pause and take a look back at what I am discovering, learning, and exploring in life – I call these my monthly musings. Living a reflective life is a spiritual practice that adds depth and gratitude to our lives. Often our busy schedules make it difficult to keep a daily journal, but we can find the time to take notes of the some of the highlights, lessons, and joys by waking up and paying attention. I record these on the pages of my Monthly Musing Journal. You can use anything, scrapes of papers, a journal or a calendar. Copies of my Monthly Musing Journal are available on amazon and are a convenient way to keep track of the little things in life we often miss. What I Learned in April Lessons Learned The series I wrote in April on discernment struck a chord with many readers and deepened my awareness of discernment, not just a tool for a major life decisions, but a way of life to live each day. What a blessing we have to have so many … [Read more...]
7 Books & 7 Quotes about Books
Books Books – I love them. I have piles on my nightstand, stacks on my desk, and too many on my bookshelves so my hubby tells me. "Do you really need another book?" he asks. " Do you need air?" I answered with a glare. I should own stock on Amazon. And I will be truthful – I support our local library too. I borrow quite a few of the books from their shelves – share the love, right? I enjoy reading other people's blogs about what they have read or are reading, so thought I would share a few with you this week. Most of the following books I have read since the first of the year. Hopefully you will find a couple of new books to enjoy! 7 Books The Gift for All People – Max Lucado I love how Max Lucado writes – inspirational stories and powerful word images. This book is a collection of short devotional stories focusing on God's gift of love and grace for all of us. My only disappointment is the book isn't original – it is composed of stories taken from his earlier … [Read more...]
Good Friday – It is Finished
When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30 … [Read more...]
Merry Christmas! 11 Christmas Quotes and Prayers
Take a moment over the busy Christmas days to ponder a few Christmas quotes and prayers. May these words bless your time with God. “What is uncertain is not the ‘coming’ of Christ but our own reception of Him, our own response to Him, our own readiness and capacity to ‘go forth to meet Him.” Thomas Merton When the shopping is over And gifts stashed away When the food has been eaten And the children off to play May one thing remain In your heart and your home May the Christ in Christmas Stay all year long. Author Unknown May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake. Amen. by Robert Louis Stevenson Give us, O God, the vision, which can see Your love in the world in spite of human failure. Give us the faith to trust Your goodness in spite of our ignorance and weakness. Give us the knowledge that we may continue to pray with understanding … [Read more...]
Quote About Love – Richard Rohr
Happy July 4th! What a Holiday!
Happy July 4th! July 4th is our country's birthday. Happy birthday, United States! July 4th Quote I love this Erma Bombeck quote about our nation's birthday. Yes we celebrate not with tanks, guns and showing the world our military strength. “You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.” Erma Bombeck We put the emphasis on family, fellowship and of course food. And don't forget "even the flies die from happiness." She had quite a way with words, didn't she? If you are in the U.S. how will you celebrate today? … [Read more...]
Pondering with CS Lewis
God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world. CS Lewis This quote lingered with me today. Sometimes in the good times, I hear God quite plainly and at a great volume level. I also believe I miss his many whispers too when the noise of the world and my inner chatter is set on loud. I am learning in the second half of life to make friends with my hindrances and allow my discomforts and even pains and hurts emerge as lessons. I used to squelch them, bury them in ego protecting layers or ignore them, choosing instead to spend time with ice cream and fattening comfort foods. I am more patient with difficulties now – or at least attempt to be – allowing time to heal and discover their message. God is in all my experiences – the pleasures, the worries and even the excruciating sobs of life. He doesn’t cause them but he will make things new again if I walk along side with him, listening, … [Read more...]
A Collection of Prayers and Quotes about Prayer
I leave for a seven day retreat on Sunday and have been prayerfully pondering my “intention” - my deepest desire for this time with God. Christian Valters Painters in her new and wonderful book, The Soul of a Pilgrim, recommends: “As a way of naming the grace you seek for this time, I intite you to open yourself to receive a seven word prayer to carry with you... Let this evolve over several days, sitting with whether the words that have emerged feel right for you.” Here is my seven word prayer that have formed within me for this retreat: “Deepen within me Your life and way.” Pondering prayer and allowing its words to seep within the crevices of my soul reminded me of several of my favorite quotes about prayer and favorite prayers. I copied the following down in my journal to nourish me next week on my path into the heart of God. God understands our prayers even when we can't find the words to say them. Unknown The value of persistent prayer is not that he will hear us . . . … [Read more...]