Okay, I failed. My great intentions in the previous post to choose joy quickly evaporated amidst the muck of annoying frustrations.No major crisis occurred. I have friends who buried their 21 year old child/grandchild this week and another one whose daughter may be having a miscarriage – true joy zappers. On a whole, blessings filled my week so far.Yet an undercurrent of anger and frustration – not joy- ruled my heart.Little nuisances like waiting for an appointment that ran an hour and half late, a near miss with a deer darting in front of my car, being stuck behind a semi truck chugging along at 40 mph in a 55 zone, not getting answers from a customer service representative, and the never ending too many things on my list to do and not enough time. Looking back, joy left me not because of one incident, but because of many minor aggravations. They surrounded me like a swarm of those tiny flying bugs you bat about with your hand on a hot summer evening. Yuck! Like flecks of mud, they … [Read more...]

A great local Christian radio station is WBCL.  (You can listen to them over the internet too. click here)As I drove to Ft Wayne yesterday, I turned to WBCL for their 9:00 talk show, MidMorning. Much to my surprise they played music instead of dealing with a subject matter. I enjoyed two tunes, then Lynne Ford, the host, came on laughing. Apparently the author she lined up to interview that morning forgot and was not available. “Good thing we talked about gratitude last week,” Lynne said. “No matter what happens I am choosing joy.”The next hour’s show was a delight as listeners shared the experience with reading the bible and the radio giving away numerous copies of God’s word.Choosing Joy.Lynne had no idea her perfectly planned Monday morning would change, but she made the most of it and listening that day lifted my spirits. I am sure her attitude blessed others too. Joy became contagious beginning with Lynne and radiating to many people including me.We do have that choice in life, … [Read more...]

Ever notice the Hebrew word, selah, in the Psalms? SELAH – Though opinions differ on its exact meaning, many experts say the word comes from the primary Hebrew root word [calah], which literally means “to hang,” and by implication to measure (weigh). In Biblical history, money, food, and other valuables were “weighed” by hanging or suspending them on a type of balance (the equivalent of our measuring scale) to determine their value.Selah signals that it is time to “measure” carefully the meaning of what has been said and to reflect on some deeper wisdom and understand its true meaning. Stop and listen. Pause and Reflect. Dwell in the moment and drink in the meaning of life.Observe the ordinary in silence; consider all the details of this one precious moment.Slow down and listen to God.Doesn’t sounds like modern life, does it?Selah is like a stop sign. The intermission or half time. Or refreshing recess.  Yes I like the idea of a recess. An adult recess. A break from the busy, craziness … [Read more...]

“It's possible that our primary role as humans is that of celebration. We have this destiny - and even duty - to become astonished by the universe!"—Physicist Brian Swimme.Pegge Bernecker’s words in the current issue of Listen caused me to pause and think about the role of astonishment and wonder in my life. She writes:"Why would it be valuable to cultivate the contemplative practice of astonishment? My intuition and experience inform me that our willingness to become astonished by someone or something develops compassion, integrity, kindness, creative action, forgiveness, and a heightened ability to be fully human, fully alive. I learn—maybe you do too—that when we become astonished, we:·      Let go of preconceived ideas and patterns of thinking·      Allow the present moment to interrupt the past and future·      Engage our senses·      Nurture alertness·      Trust unknown possibility, mystery·      Grow laughter and delight·      Engage·      Discover unimaginable reality·      … [Read more...]

I hope many of you do not have cloudy skies this week. At 11:09 p.m. Eastern Time Wednesday evening, fall began and God is outdoing Himself this week presenting a “super harvest moon.”The "harvest moon" is the full moon that happens closest to the yearly autumnal equinox, or the time when day and night are equal in length each September. The harvest moon phenomenon was named for farmers who used to depend on the moonlight to extend the workday during the busy harvest season. With the harvest moon there is no long period of darkness between sunset and the moon rising.But for the super harvest moon to occur, the two events must fall on the same night. When these two occurrences mix together, sky-watchers are treated to a sort of 360-degree twilight glow effect that is rarely visible. The so-called super harvest moon has not occurred for 20 years, and will likely not reappear until 2029.When the Sun starts to set on the Western horizon, a full moon will rise opposite to it on the East, … [Read more...]

Confession time. If you ever see me driving in my car and appear to be talking to someone in the front passenger seat and there is no one there – Just smile and think, “Yep, there goes Jeanie, just a yapping away with Jesus.”Often when I drive, I invite Jesus along to ride with me and we talk up a storm. Most of the time I do the talking – yeah, I have mentioned that ramblin’ mouth of mine before in posts – but I do try to listen too.Last week while on a three-hour drive to Indianapolis, I reflected about several ongoing prayers that were quagmired in mud. These were items, long prayed for, but unclear what was happening. Jesus said let’s talk about them.So I did. I threw a whole litany of people, difficulties, and open-ended struggles upon Him.I placed in His welcoming hands long time concerns and distant dreams.  His response?“Ok, I have them. I will take care of them.”Peace fell over my heart, as I knew He would take care of things, in His time.We rode in silence for a while, just … [Read more...]