Where do we find sacred ground? A place to be with God, to experience God. A setting so filled with God's spirit you want to take your sandals off and slowly and reverently enter. An environment teeming with peace, joy, and love. Where is your sacred ground? I pondered this question in my journal recently. At first, I thought I never reached this place before in my walk with God. Oh sure, I have been graced with a few mountain top experiences but being on holy ground? Then God in his goodness slowly brought to mind all the places, the touchpoints of his presence. Sacred ground is all around me – I just never fully appreciated it before or grasped its holiness. Taking Our Shoes Off on Sacred Ground In Exodus 3 we hear the story of Moses taking his sandals off in the presence of God. Moses worked every day minding his father-in-law's flock of sheep. An ordinary day. Nothing special planned. Just work. Suddenly Moses sees a bush that is on fire, burning without being … [Read more...]
Prayer – Creating Quiet Time with God – Guest Post
I have the best intentions, but often fail at my quiet time with God. As we ponder the topic of prayer this year, the practice of creating space in our crazy hectic lives for purposeful time with God is a necessary step. 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 introduce to you a guest blogger today, my friend. Deb Butterfield. I asked her to share some thoughts about quiet time with God. Debra L. Butterfield is the author of Carried by Grace: a Guide for … [Read more...]
Pray Slow
I tend to rush. Scan the surface. Only occasionally take the time and energy to dive deep. I am learning to slow down, to pray slow. Slowness is another of the essential elements of praying we are exploring this month here. With 2018 being the year of prayer on the Healthy Spirituality blog, in April we are looking at the keys of slowing down to spend time with God in stillness (last week's post), slowness, solitude and silence. Each month this year on the Tending the Holy Thursdays there will be a focus on an aspect of prayer. On my Thursday posts, I pick one theme (or person of faith) to explore deeper. I call this series Tending the Holy Thursdays. I updated a handout I used in 2016 called "Slowing Down to be with God" and this will be this month's free guide for you. 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 … [Read more...]
Desiring Discernment
Discernment accompanies many of my interactions with others in spiritual direction. Directees seek where God is touching their lives. They listen for his guidance, his presence and often they hear their own voices in what needs tending. What is Discernment? For me discernment is discovering and articulating how God is moving in our lives. We listen deeply together to identify how the spirit is guiding us in our daily steps and major life moves. Discernment is the sorting/sifting through all our desires, voices, wants, and needs bombarding our soul and choosing what is best draws us towards God. I believe we all want to make the best decisions whether they are significant life changing ones or discerning how to best live in everyday life. Facing a difficult time of indecisiveness and confusion twists our guts and fogs our faith. How can we live and thrive and grow as discerning people? Discernment is more than decision making. To discern in Latin means to discernere –dis = … [Read more...]
Stillness – An Essential Ingredient for Prayer
Be Still and Know I am God. Stillness – this essential ingredient in prayer does not come naturally to me, to many of us. How can we practice more stillness in our time with God? With 2018 being the year of prayer here on the Healthy Spirituality blog, in April we are looking at the keys of slowing down to spend time with God in stillness, slowness, solitude and silence. Each month this year on the Tending the Holy Thursdays there will be a focus on an aspect of prayer. On my Thursday posts, I pick one theme (or person of faith) to explore deeper. I call this series Tending the Holy Thursdays. I updated a handout I used in 2016 called "Slowing Down to be with God" and this will be this month's free guide for you. 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. Stillness The greatest blessing … [Read more...]
Seasons of Prayer
What season are you in? How does your season affect your prayer life? With 2018 being the year of prayer here on the Healthy Spirituality blog, this month we are looking at seasons of prayer and of life. In January we explore the definitions of prayer and last month discussed why we pray. Each month this year on the Tending the Holy Thursdays there will be a focus on an aspect of prayer. On my Thursday posts, I pick one theme (or person of faith) to explore deeper. I call this series Tending the Holy Thursdays. What is Your Season? Seasons can be defined in different ways. This following list isn't complete, but may give you more than one way to describe where you are right now. What season are you experiencing? Season by Age Childhood Teenage Young Adult Middle Adult Young Older Adult Getting Older Adult Older Adult Over the Hill – Ha! Season of Life Births/birthdays Baptism Confirmation Driver's License College … [Read more...]
Overwhelmed? Simply Take the Next Right Step
Vacation was delightful. The trip home uneventful. I didn't even gain weight this time, so rejoiced at my Weight Watcher meeting. Then the "overwhelms" engulfed my world. Sickness. Deadlines. Immediate needs/expectations from others. Longer than anticipated meetings. A crowded, unrealistic to do list. I felt overwhelmed, beaten, and swamped last week. When stress floods my soul, I procrastinate – putting me even further behind. Anyone else react that way? My frustration mounted until I remembered the wisdom of only focusing on the next simple step. Simply Take the Next Right Step Feeling overwhelmed arises from the sense of not being in control. I can't control everything, especially from others and situations filled with viruses and bacteria. But I can control my attitude. I can decide what is the next right step and choose to focus only on getting that step done. What reminded me of this good advice was the following video about dominoes. Please take the time … [Read more...]
The Color of Lent – Purple
My church changes the colors of the paramounts to correspond with the church calendar season. Right now purple drapes the altar, lectern and pulpit – purple announcing it is the Lenten season. Why is Purple the Color of Lent? Purple is typically associated with Lent, suggesting repentance and solemnity. Purple, as all colors, is full of symbolism. Its deep dark richness invites us to slow down and consider the sacrifices Jesus did for us. The Bible tells us that the garment the guard put on Jesus during his trial and beatings was purple. Thus, purple symbolizes pain, suffering, and mourning and penitence. “The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their … [Read more...]