Do you practice honoring the Sabbath? If so, in what ways do you remember this sacred time of rest and refuge? In November, Sabbath is the theme for Healthy Spirituality’s Tending the Holy Thursday series where I highlight a spiritual practice or a person(s) of faith for several weeks, so we can explore the topic with more depth. It is my hope and prayer we all can learn something new, gain ideas, and be motivated to dig deeper into this practice. How is God inviting us into Sabbath? As usual with each month’s theme, I have an additional FREE download for you. I knew I wanted to learn more what the Bible said about Sabbath and was surprised at the number of verses referring to Sabbath. Then I began to dive into quotes from the writings of others who pondered the Sabbath and I was amazed at the nuggets of wisdom I discovered. So I compiled them for you into a PDF called “Quotes and Verses to Ponder About the Sabbath” and you can obtained this resource by simply clicking the … [Read more...]
7 Days of Soul Care – A Book Review and a Spiritual Practice
Soul Care Soul care? How do you take care of your soul? I believe health is multidimensional. Most of the time we think about our physical health when we consider wellness and beneficial activities for our health. Occasionally we consider our mental and emotional health and may at least once a year on April 15th ponder our financial health. How do you practice caring for your soul? With intention? With regularity? With daring risks of leaps out of your comfort zone? Or even the small steps of living each day in love with God? What is soul? It's like electricity - we don't really know what it is, but it's a force that can light a room. Ray Charles 7 Days of Soul Care 7 Days of Soul Care - A Guide to Letting God Do the Extraordinary with Your Ordinary by Dolly Lee is just now being released and is a wonderful, simple book to help you focus on taking care of your spiritual health. This book will accompany me on my next retreat or could be used as a daily devotion. … [Read more...]
Do You Tend or Ignore the Sabbath?
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Exodus 20:8 Sabbath. Do you tend, celebrate, honor a day weekly or do you ignore, neglect, and forget this command from God? To be honest, I am not a good Sabbath keeper. I know, I know it is only one day is set aside to honor God, but I know myself and I am not fully remembering to honor that day. Like the practice of hospitality which I share a few months ago, this is another spiritual discipline I get a failing grade in. Tending to this topic will be a remedial lesson for me – I hope you join in the exploration. In November, we will be exploring Sabbath as part of Healthy Spirituality’s Tending the Holy Thursday series that highlights a spiritual practice or a person(s) of faith for several weeks so we can explore the topic with more depth. It is my hope and prayer we all can learn something new, gain ideas, and be motivated to dig deeper into this practice. As usual with each month’s theme, I have an additional FREE download … [Read more...]
The Powerful Possibilities in Pondering Questions
The Powerful Possibilities in Pondering Questions Questions can be a powerful spiritual tool that helps us hear God, stretch and grow and stay alive, not dormant and stale. What are the powerful possibilities in pondering questions? For a long time, I thought life consisted of finding the answers and playing by those rules. I didn’t like the tension between knowing and the living in the gray area of unknowing. I used to seek the supremacy of feeling you are in control, having your act together, wearing the prettiest mask. Questions leave us unsettled and searching. Questions magnify what we already know that we don’t know and are not in control. Questions rouse us from our comfort zones to enter the unfamiliar mystery of life and faith. As I gain the wisdom (HA!) of the second half of life, I am finding I like to stay with the questions longer – lingering in their unfolding. The green bud of curiosity and taking that second bite of an emotion or situation and allowing … [Read more...]
5 Things Everyone Should Know about Smiling
Can smiling be a spiritual practice? I think so. Ok - all together now – say cheese and SMILE! Smiling is powerful and is a practice that not only brings delight to our spirit and to others, but also can transform the world. Just think: Smiling costs nothing. A smile takes only a quick second but can offer encouragement beyond our imagination. Smiling creates good will and joy and nourishes relationships. World Smile Day Did you know the first Friday in October every year is World Smile Day? I didn’t until recently know about its history. You might not know his name but Harvey Ball, a commercial artist from Worcester, Massachusetts created the well-known smiley face in 1963. Remember the scene from the movie Forrest Gump when Tom Hanks is jogging and wipes his face on a tee shirt and the man sees the smiley face and gets the idea. A funny reenactment of the birth of this image. But I digress… Harvey Ball became discouraged about the over-commercialization of his … [Read more...]
The Spiritual Practice of Kindness
The Spiritual Practice of Kindness Kindness Have you ever stopped to think about kindness? I was surprised to learn the week of August 25- 31 is Be Kind to Humankind Week. Never heard of that one before, but the idea lingered in me as I pondered interesting spiritual practice. I wonder how the world would be, how we would live, how children would learn if we intentionally cultivated the spirit of being kind each day. In a world filled with fear and cruelty, we are itching for an outbreak of this characteristic. I hunger for more tenderness, politeness and respect. Kindness creates bridges, builds hope, and fosters gratitude. This loving act heals relationships and transforms lives. It’s easy to stay in our habits, our comfort zones of busyness and self-focus. Remember we are being shaped by our Father and his spirit dwells within us forming the gifts of “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” within our souls. … [Read more...]
Words of Comfort
Words of Comfort Keeping it simple today by sharing this blessing and comforting words. Life has been rough this past week due to an unexpected death. So I am resting and being with God. Probably writing this post more for me than you today – but sharing my heart with you. I am reminded of the classic story called Footprints in the Sand. I know I am being carried at this time: Footprints in the Sand One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was one only. This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints, so I said to the Lord, “You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has … [Read more...]
Six Beginner Tips for Writing a Spiritual Journal
Six Beginner Tips for Writing a Spiritual Journal Are you just beginning to write in a spiritual journal? I have a friend who is starting the spiritual practice of writing in a spiritual journal and she asked me recently for some beginner tips. I thought I would share what I told her as it may help someone else. I wrote a four-week series on writing a spiritual journal in June and you many find it useful to reread those words. Keeping a Spiritual Journal Types of Journals 13 Tips on Keeping a Spiritual Journal Harvesting your Journal I also included then a free download about journaling and you can request to get a copy of that by clicking the following button: Click Here to Get the Tip Sheet Six Beginner Tips for Writing a Spiritual Journal Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart. --William Wordsworth Date your work – you will be amazed on how quickly times flies when you reread your words and amazed at what changes and what stays the … [Read more...]