What lessons have you learned so far in 2018? According to researchers, people quit more than 80% of all New Year resolutions by the second week in February. I find the weather so dreary this time of year in Ohio so to learn this about the month regarding failure compounds the depression. I don't like resolutions. The negativity of their collapse is one reason I call them goals instead. I list what I feel God is asking me to work on, to experience, to become in the coming 12 months and plan steps to work towards them throughout the year. Progress, not perfection. Two broad "goals" that I wrote about on this blog for this year is the Year of Reading and the Year of Creativity. I thought I would share an update on these two areas, hoping my small steps forward may inspire your goals too. 2018 Lessons - Year of Reading. Yes, I am reading more in 2018. I have discovered if I take the time to read 15-30 minutes in the morning, I absorb the information with more depth. The words linger … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Deepen Your Experience with God During Lent
Lent is coming. This sacred season begins on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14 this year. Isn't it cool we can spend time with the Lord of Love on Valentine's Day? I wrote about this church season previously on the posts titled How to Observe Lent and Be Ready for Easter, and Are You Ready? Lent is Coming Quickly. Do you know what Lent means? Lent is the 40 days before Easter, excluding Sundays. In French, the word "lent" means slow and is our invitation to slow down and be with God in new ways. How will you be transformed if each day we intentionally paused, prayed, and prepared ourselves for Easter? How will you grow closer to God this season? Here are 5 ways to deepen your experience with God and to slow down before Easter: Create a daily quiet time with God. Carve out in the morning or evening or whenever at least 10 minutes of silence and prayer. Read a Lenten devotional such as 40 Voices during this season. Explore the resources online at sites such as Lenten Resources, Creighton … [Read more...]
Monthly Musings -What I Learned in January
January Monthly Musings Wow! Where did January go? One month of 2018 disappearing into the past. I know pausing and reflecting about the present moments and the past few weeks helps me appreciate, praise, and value the gift of life and time. How are you living a reflective life? Each month I look back at what I am discovering, learning, and exploring in life – I call these my monthly musings. Capturing these special moments gives meaning, depth, and delight to life. Let’s wake up to the wonders in the ordinary all around us. I record what I notice 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. Or if you want to click the button at the end of this post to get a FREE copy of my one sheet Monthly Musing handout. What I Learned in January Monthly Musing Lesson Learned: Speaking … [Read more...]
Prayer Reflections
In this series on prayer we have been exploring the definition of prayer and wrestling with the question "what is prayer?" Prayer is the spiritual practice Healthy Spirituality is focusing on in 2018 and different aspects of prayer will be shared here on the Tending the Holy Thursdays. On my Thursday posts, I pick one theme (or person of faith) to explore deeper. I call this series Tending the Holy Thursdays. This month exploring what prayer is will be the topic. And in each month, I usually provide a free download resource. Be sure to click the button at the end of the post to get your copy of "50 Books About Prayer." If you missed the previous blog posts, you can check them out here: Year of Prayer – What is Prayer More Thoughts on Prayer Prayer Reflections and Next Steps The following two quotes drew the most comments. Both are long and meaty and well worth copying into our journals for further prayer and contemplation and conversation with God. Don’t seek to develop a prayer … [Read more...]
Uncluttering Noise and Busyness
We are under attack. The unprecedented amount of noise and the uninviting amount of busyness threatens to undermine the universe. Are you noticing my fun with words beginning with “un?” No, I am not writing this in my underwear. LOL But on a serious note, when I asked the readers of healthy spirituality last fall the question “what was the biggest challenge in their faith”, the number one answer, the grand “UNO” response was busyness. The second highest answer was hearing God and our own selves amidst the noise bombarding us, internal and external. Noise and Busyness Do we just accept that these two obstacles to our relationship with God persist or can we stop a moment and try to change our circumstances? Let’s start with the external demands of noise and busyness, then next Tuesday explore what we can do to find more internal silence, peace, and stillness. I wager the internal battles we wage in these arenas are more difficult. “One of the greatest attacks of the enemy … [Read more...]
2018 – The Year Ahead
Welcome to 2018! The year ahead lies before us – like new chapters of a book, waiting for the words to emerge magically on the page. Don’t you just wonder what the next 365 days will bring? I love this change from one year to another. All the possibilities energize me. Pondering my hopes and dream and yes, I am a goal setter showers me with hope. I have spent hours reviewing what worked and didn’t work in 2017 in my speaking and writing ministry. One of the best gifts is reopening the surprises God gave me throughout the year – ones in January 2017 I had no idea were coming. Yes I shed a few tears in this yearly review too – lamenting heartaches, disappointments, and strange situations that left me bewildered, stunned, and powerless. But I choose to celebrate the gift of life from 2017 and with hope and gratefulness turn my eyes onto 2018. 2018 – The Year Ahead for this Blog What is coming up in 2018 for this blog? Year of Prayer Our Bishop has named 2018 the Year of Prayer and … [Read more...]
12 Days of Christmas
Merry Christmas! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas Day. But wait! Christmas is NOT over yet. December 25th is just the beginning of the 12 Days of Christmas. Enjoy this little video I made to celebrate this blessed season. If you are getting this by email, come over to the blog to see the video. https://youtu.be/66glIrXWmZY How will you enjoy the 12 Days of Christmas? P.S. You may enjoy this Christmas Prayer by Robert Louis Stevenson too. … [Read more...]
The Writer and the Birds and the Man and the Birds – Winter Bird Lessons
They are back! Who? The birds outside my office window. The Writer and the Birds My hubby filled the feeder and I set up the suet last week. It didn’t take long for my little friends to discover that the Birdseed Bistro open for the season. What these birds don't know, their presence is a gift to me. You see, I hate winter. It is my least favorite season in northwest Ohio. I don’t like being cold. The darkness affects my mood. The uncertainty of never knowing if the roads will be clear or not. The changeable weather shrouds events with worry and uneasiness. Winter is a time of waiting for something better to come along. One practice I’ve adopted the past few years is challenging myself to find something I like about winter. I have learned a lot from doing this and it has opened up my imagination of the beauty of this time of year and the gifts of this season. The birds flocking, playing, and eating just outside my office window is one of these gifts. I … [Read more...]