What are the Best Decisions You Made in Your Life? What are the best decisions you made in your life? Interesting question to ponder, isn’t it? What a great question to pray about and hold in your heart as part of living a reflective life. Last week I was getting ready in the bathroom. Of course putting on some make-up is part of my morning routine and as I peered into the mirror, I noticed two tiny vertical lines between my eyebrows. No, I wasn’t upset; I was happy. Those barely noticeable indents used to be deeper, wider crevices, packed with stress, worry and demands. I remember when I worked fulltime in a job that used to fit me well, but was no longer right for me, the furrows on my forehead deepened. But now I had less wrinkles! Ten years later – Then I acknowledged I am healthier now too. I weigh less. I exercise more. I am at peace. Then this popped out of my mouth, out loud so my heart could hear it. “Retiring early was one of the best decisions I ever made!” I … [Read more...]
How is Your Visual Intelligence?
How is Your Visual Intelligence? How is your visual intelligence? Ever hear of such a measurement? I didn’t until I found a new book by Amy Herman titled: Visual Intelligence – Sharpen your Perception, Change your Life. I ran across this book while working of the Slowing Down to be with God series I presented a few weeks ago, especially when we explored “O” for observation, titled “Four Outstanding Options.” Visual Intelligence and Our Current Level of Observation The skill of observation is important when living a reflective life, especially in the desire to slow down to be with God. Instead of living blindly or allowing busyness, interruptions and the world lead you, you become aware of those times when your heart isn’t tuned to God and realign yourself. But you have to be mindful, aware, intentionally observing how you think, live and act so you can make those corrections. You observe and retune to God. The world is full of magic things, patiently … [Read more...]
Are You Worth the Wait? – Slowing Down to be with God
Are You Worth the Wait? – Slowing Down to be with God Today’s question: Are you worth the wait? Welcome back to this special week on Healthy Spirituality – the 2016 Spiritual Summer School with the theme of Slowing Down to be with God. I have been posting all this week and then live streaming daily on Facebook Live. Today is my last day for this topic here and on Facebook where I will be live at 9:30 am today. The replay will be available later on my Facebook author page. I hope you can join me there for the video. All week we explored different aspects of Slowing Down to be with God. So far we have "set the stage" for slowing down to be with God on Monday and on Tuesday we began to unpack the word SLOW starting with the letter S and I shared Six Strategies for Slowing Down to be with God. Wednesday we explore listening to our language and the language of God as we slow down to be with him. Yesterday we looked at Outstanding Options we have for slowing down. And now we have … [Read more...]
Four Outstanding Options for Slowing Down to be with God
Four Outstanding Options for Slowing Down to be with God Welcome back to this special week on Health Spirituality – the 2016 Spiritual Summer School with the theme of Slowing Down to be with God. I am posting Monday through Friday and then live streaming daily on Facebook Live. You can find me about 1:30 eastern on my Facebook author page with the exception of Friday where I will be broadcasting at 9:30 am eastern. I hope you can join me there too. Each day here on the blog and on Facebook live, we will explore different aspects of Slowing Down to be with God. So far we have set the stage for slowing down to be with God on Monday and on Tuesday we began to unpack the word SLOW starting with the letter S and I shared Six Strategies for Slowing Down to be with God. Wednesday we explored listening to our language and the language of God as we slow down to be with him. Today we take the third letter in the word SLOW, the “O”, and explore four outstanding options for slowing … [Read more...]
Listening to our Language and to the Language of God
Listening to our Language and to the Language of God Welcome back to this special week on Health Spirituality – the 2016 Spiritual Summer School with the theme of Slowing Down to be with God. I am posting Monday through Friday and then live streaming daily on Facebook Live. You can find me about 1:30 eastern on my Facebook author page with the exception of Friday where I will be broadcasting at 9:30 am eastern. I hope you can join me there too. Each day here on the blog and on Facebook live, we will explore different aspects of Slowing Down to be with God. So far we have set the stage for slowing down to be with God on Monday and yesterday we began to unpack the word SLOW starting with the letter S. I shared Six Strategies for Slowing Down to be with God. Today we take the second letter in the word SLOW and explore Listening to our Language and to the language of God. Our words we tell ourselves and the Word of God make a whole difference in how we live. Listening to our … [Read more...]
Harvesting a Spiritual Journal
Harvesting a Spiritual Journal Harvesting a spiritual journal is powerful and what I call the “secret sauce” to reaping benefits from the practice of keeping a journal. In June we have been exploring the various aspects of spiritual journaling on the Tending the Holy Thursdays. You can visit the past posts here: Why keep a spiritual journal 13 Tips on keeping a journal Types of spiritual journal And don’t forget I created a free resource for you called Keeping a Spiritual Journal Tip Sheet. You can get this free by clicking on the button at the end of the post. It is my hope and prayer that this series and the tip sheet will enhance your walk with God. I would love to have more email subscribers and to connect with you on social media. So if you don’t get Healthy Spirituality in your inbox, don’t forget to sign up. Community is also an important aspect of our faith walk. Harvesting Your Spiritual Journal Rereading and reviewing your journal writings offers insights, … [Read more...]
Difference Between a Vacation and a Pilgrimage
Difference Between a Vacation and a Pilgrimage What is the difference between a vacation and a pilgrimage? When this blog post is published I will be in Germany – visiting many of the Reformation sites in what used to be eastern Germany. Yes, we will see history, the geography, travel on a bus, walk cobbled streets, eat in open air cafes and probably drink a few German beers. But this isn’t a vacation – it is a pilgrimage. I am not a tourist; I am a pilgrim. Our group intentionally created a trip itinerary more like a pilgrimage than a vacation. We planned daily devotions to share as a group and decided a theme for each day based on what we were seeing. We even coordinated hymns for the daily plan. We have prayed for one another before the trip and as we get to know each other better I am sure the prayers will deepen. Our sense of community had already intensified through the Spirit before we meet in person. This process made me think about all the gifts and insights that … [Read more...]
Keeping a Spiritual Journal – Types
Keeping a Spiritual Journal – Types Keeping a spiritual journal can be accomplished in different types or formats. Exploring this practice is the topic for June's Tending the Holy Thursdays. Each month on my Thursday posts I pick one theme (or person of faith) to explore deeper. So far this month we have looked at why you would want to write a spiritual journal and you can read that post here. Last week I shared 13 tips of keeping a journal. Next week I will spill the beans and tell you about the practice within this practice, my secret sauce, that continues to inspire and deepen this practice on my faith walk. Each month I create an additional free resource for you based on the current topic, so this mouth there is a Keeping a Spiritual Journal Tip Sheet. You can get this free by clicking on the button at the end of the post. It is my hope and prayer that this series and the tip sheet will enhance your walk with God. I would love to have more email subscribers and to … [Read more...]