Undivided Prayer – Lectio Divina

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Teach me your way, Lord,
 that I may rely on your faithfulness;
 give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. Psalm 86: 11 (NIV)   Train me, God, to walk straight; then I’ll follow your true path.
 Put me together, one heart and mind; then, undivided, I’ll worship in joyful fear. Psalm 86:11 (The Message)   Lord, you know these verses – in whatever translation – express one of my deepest desires – an undivided heart, living only for you. A heart I cannot mend on my own. I can only offer my tiny, dirty, shattered pieces to you, the great Healer and Restorer. Teach me your ways, Lord. Guide me along your straight path. My faith is weak and inadequate; only through your faithfulness can I live. I am unformed clay in your hands. Shape me. Assemble my brokenness into your creative design. And fear? The Message calls it joyful fear. That wonderstruck witness beyond all comprehension of Who you are. You are God. Yes I should fear – … [Read more...]

Chasing Francis

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I am a non-fiction book fanatic. Rarely do I read fiction but just finished and really liked a unique novel called Chasing Francis – A Pilgrim’s Tale by Ina Morgan Cron. This is a story about a minister who faces a faith crisis, questioning everything he had promoted and believed. Taking a leave of absence he visits his cousin who is a Franciscan monk in Italy and embarks on a life changing pilgrimage. The history of St Francis and the basic beliefs of that order is woven into the main character’s search for answers. What a unique way to introduce readers to St Francis and to showcase his relevance for Christians today. Though the story obviously moves in such a way to give the reader all of the foundational information, it also gives us challenges to consider St Francis relevance in the 21st century church. Towards the end of the book, the main characters says, When I left here, I wasn't sure what a Christian looked like anymore. My idea of what it meant to follow Jesus had … [Read more...]

Dancing with God

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The poetry of Edwina Gately has been warming my heart lately. Ever notice how some people’s words bring you closer to God? She certainly is filling my soul this summer. Last week I wondered and we discussed Summertime Spiritual Slump. I think poem of hers is one way to see God in the summer. Here is what I read the other day: “God escaped from all my little boxes and labels. The more I tried to claim God, the more God slipped away. But if I dare To rise from my knees And leap in joy At the song of the bird, And if I dare To stand in awe At the mounting of the moon In a thick-starred sky, And if I dare to be amazed At the constant seeding of the earth – Then, oh see! oh see! I glimpse my God – ever free, ever dancing, Ever calling out my name.” Rising from my knees and dancing with our Lord!     … [Read more...]

The Persistent and Lavish Farmer – Lectio Divina

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He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds.  As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them.   Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.   But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died.  Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! Matthew 13: 3-8   A farmer went out to plant some seeds. Lord, I do so much want to be good soil. Bury your roots deep within to secure me on solid ground and produce good fruit for you. So often, Lord when I read this parable of yours, I think of the soil. But today my eyes are on the Farmer. You persistently and lavishly scatter your … [Read more...]

Summertime Spiritual Slump

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Does anyone else suffer from summertime spiritual slump? I sure do. Let’s talk about this today. Each summer I get distracted by outside gardening, family activities, trips, cookouts, visiting with neighbors – call it busyness, call it craziness, call it just plain life in the summer. I am overwhelmed by the calendar and off centered spiritually. My journal gathers dust. My devotions get read, not daily but once a week (well, on a good week). Even my spiritual director and I took a summer break and won’t meet up again until fall. I feel like I am in spiritual limbo. My expectation of accomplishing some extra writing and deepening my quiet time with God during the summer months is not realistic. Or is it? Do I let the excuse of a full schedule interfere with my most important priorities? Do I allow myself to be full of busy doings instead of quiet being? Do I get caught up in the pace of summer instead of embracing the pauses? Is this a summertime Sabbath or if … [Read more...]

Letting Go of Assumptions, Biases and Preconceived Notions

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We all have them. Assumptions. Biases. Preconceived notions.      We cling to them.           We defend them.                   We bet our lives on them. Sometimes they are so much a part of us, we aren’t even aware of their presence.           And sometimes we unclutched our fists and let them go. We visited Boston this past week for the Fourth of July.      Yes we heard the Boston Pops and witness - dare I say – the best fireworks display I have ever seen.          Yes, we experienced Hurricane Arthur, but the wettest moment occurred walking back to the hotel 12 hours before Arthur’s arrival in a sudden downpour, fierce wind gusts and brilliant lightening.                Yes, most of the time the weather cooperated and Boston opened her arms to embrace us. Boston’s warm and everywhere we turned hospitality won our hearts and made us her fans. My assumption, bias and preconceived notion? I am ashamed to write this now, but I didn’t want to go back to … [Read more...]