"I'm imperfect and I'm enough." Sounds good on the video, but not sure I really believe it. "I'm imperfect and I'm enough." Why did I ever sign up for this course and nobody will ever know if I don't write about it. I will just stay in the shadows and not take the risk. "I'm imperfect and I'm enough." Yeah, right. Had my hubby take the photo above - one of the class assignments - but of course I had to edit it and touch up my cold sore and age spots before posting it here. Then in a silly moment I told some others what I did and Kathy said to me, "I read your blog and now will look to be sure you post this." Rats, now I'm stuck out in the open. YIKES what have I done? I am feeling rather exposed, vulnerable, self-conscious here. You see I am taking an online class taught by one of my favorite teachers, Brene Brown. In readings, activities and videos it's like having a cup of coffee with a good friend, enjoying deep conversation. I finish thinking, sure I can do … [Read more...]
How to Spend More Time with God
How do we find or make the time for God? Too often I let busyness distract me or allow my to-do list and calendar to control my day. This sounds horrible, but I find there are times I am just too preoccupied with things of the world and not of God. After many of you completed the survey here last fall, I realized I wasn't alone with this struggle. Charles E. Hummel observed, “We realize our dilemma goes deeper than shortage of time; it is basically a problem of priorities. We confess: We have left undone those things that ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done.” Or, as a cotton mill manager once told him, "Your greatest danger is letting the urgent things crowd out the important." I think it is ironic that we find that we have little time in our lives for the One who created and gave us our time. Many of us want to take some time out for God, but somehow we never quite get there. So how do we spend more time with God? I've been … [Read more...]
2014 Point of View
I have been pondering my point of view today. Northwest Ohio is experiencing a bitterly cold start to the New Year - snow upon snow, winds more than 40 mph and wind chills minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit. I only can see harsh winter from my office window. Yet a week ago I walked without a jacket in the Miami sun, cheering on my Ohio State Buckeyes at the Orange Bowl. Quite a different perspective. Many of you live in warmer climates. I know some of you live in other countries where it is summer, not winter. Just because I only see miserable winter weather doesn't mean that is the only point of view. Practicing Critical Awareness I am rereading Brene Brown's wonderful book, The Gifts of Imperfection (more on her writing on Thursday's post). She has this quote: "It's in our biology to trust what we see with our eyes. This makes living in a carefully edited, overproduced, and Photoshopped world very dangerous. if we want to cultivate a resilient sprit and stop fall prey to … [Read more...]
Epiphany
Epiphany - what a fun word to say. Say it aloud. Epiphany. The letters tumble from your tongue. January 6 is Epiphany, a Christmas celebration, recognizing the visit of the Wise Men to the baby Jesus and in some churches, Jesus' baptism is also acknowledged. It can also be called the "Twelve night" as it is 12 days after Christmas. Epiphany goes back as far as 300 AD. The word Epiphany means to appear, manifestation or revelation. Epiphany is when Jesus was revealed as God's son or made known to others. This day celebrates God's revealing or manifesting of Jesus' identity as true God, Messiah, and Savior of the world. It not only commemorates the fact that Jesus appeared to save us, but that God revealed the identity of Jesus to the world. This holiday is celebrated in a variety of ways. When we visited Germany, we would see chalk on the front doorways of homes and business. This marked the blessing of the buildings done each year on January 6th. See the photo above, … [Read more...]
What are Antiphons? – An Advent Tradition
"It's time for the O's!" "I love the O's. They really get me ready for Christmas." "Oh, what are you two talking about?" I asked my friends. Not only did I hear the answer, but I learned a new Advent tradition. The O's they were referring to are the Antiphons or sometimes spelled O'Antiphones. These are seven prayers chanted in the evening the seven days before Christmas. Actually the Antiphons ritual begins December 17 until December 23. Their strange name, Antiphons, originates from the Greek language meaning responsive singing. What is special about these sentences is that each one is a title for the coming Messiah. They are, O Sapientia (O Wisdom), O Adonai (O Lord), O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse), O Clavis David (O Key of David), O Oriens (O Rising Sun), O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations), and O Emmanuel. Each one refers to the prophecy of Isaiah of the coming of the Messiah. The Seven Antiphons December 17 "O Wisdom, proceeding from the mouth of the Most … [Read more...]
Advent Calendar Ideas Round Up
I realized this year my grandkids didn't have an advent calendar. I grew up with the traditional paper one and when my kids were younger we hung the same handmade felt calendar up on the wall for many years. I think I was the one who made that well loved calendar from a kit back in my more crafty days. Advent calendars originated in the 19th century in Germany and are used by many families to count and enjoy the days and delight in the anticipation of the birth of the Christ Child. Each day you open one of 24 doors to reveal a Bible verse and/or small treat. The first known Advent Calendar dates back to 1851. Another tradition in Germany was to paint chalk strokes on the door, one per day until Christmas Eve. The first printed Advent Calendar, although without windows to open, published in 1908. Interest in Advent calendars faded during World War II until President Dwight D. Eisenhower appeared in a photograph opening one with his grandchildren. Money … [Read more...]
Five Resources for Celebrating Advent
Advent started early for me this year. Actually Advent 2014 began a month ago when I signed a contract to write an Advent devotional book for Barbour Publishing. With a deadline looming, I have been deeply pondering and cherishing the Christmas story long before the leaves fell from the trees and the turkey began to defrost. Advent 2013 starts this coming Sunday. What a wonderful time to look past the commercial craziness of Christmas shopping and partying to embrace the Christ Child and his good news for all of us. I hope each of you take some moments the next few weeks to walk with God, listen to his story and rejoice in his salvation. Here are some resources to help light your journey to Bethlehem this year: 1. Did you know in the Celtic traditions, they begin celebrating Advent 40 days before Christmas? Here is an interesting website with some ideas and information about this type of approach to Advent. 2. Creighton University's Online Ministries has … [Read more...]
The Spiritual Practice of Being Intentional
Ever have a word haunt you? It peeks around the corner when you least expect it. Someone uses it in a sentence, a friend over coffee brings it up, then you read about this word in 14 gazillion blogs. Like Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory who repeatedly knocks on his neighbor's door saying her name three times, sometimes a word beats over and over again on my heart. Its voice is persistent and it lingers waiting for me to notice. Sometimes the word isn't bolded, but hidden among other friends. It teases you, calls your name until you finally say, "ok what am I to learn about you?" Intentional. "Intentional" has tackled and seized my attention. What does this word mean and what is it telling me? Intentional come from Latin meaning a stretching out, straining, exertion, effort; attention, to turn one's attention. The middle of the 14th century Old French word of entencion implies "stretching, intensity, will, thought." To many of us it means being … [Read more...]