"But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord."2 Thessalonians 2: 13Give Thanks to God for you.Lord, today I thank you for the ones reading these words.Thank you for calling them beloved and opening your heart to adopt them as your children.Thank you for loaning these kindred spirits to me to accompany me on this path of life.I am so grateful for the friends I have met in person and for the friends you have introduced me to through these words.They are blessings to me. These special people of yours have encouraged me, supported me and stretched my faith.Too often I forget to say thank you to you, Lord, for the gift of friendship.Companions made even more precious by sharing faith stories, praying through struggles and cheering each other onward on our journey.My heart swells with gratitude to you for these gifts.Friends, near and far, bounded together in a circle of love, all held in your hand of grace.Thank you, dear Lord for my brothers and … [Read more...]
Playing My Part – Quote of the Week by Richard Rohr
Our ordinary lives are given an extraordinary significance when we accept that our lives are about something much larger, our pain is a participation in the redemptive suffering of God, our creativity is the very passion of God for the world. No longer do we need to self-validate, self-congratulate or self-doubt--our place in the cosmos is assured. I do not need to be the whole play or even understand the full script. It is enough to know that I have been chosen to be one actor on the stage. I need only play my part as well as I can. Richard Rohr … [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...]
Worry Can’t Change Others – Guest Post
I am delighted to open this blog space today to my good friend Kathy Collard Miller. Her book, Partly Cloudy with Scattered Worries has just been released. She is sharing with us lessons about worry - a topic I know many of us struggle with. You will enjoy her book that helps us worry less and trust God more. Be sure to leave a comment for her too. Welcome, KathyWorry Can’t Change Others by Kathy Collard MillerThere’s something deep inside of us that believes worry can change others. If someone we love has a different perspective than we do, we worry. If someone we love has a different belief about God, we worry. If someone we love has a character flaw, we worry. We just know their wrong thinking will mess up their lives. Some of these worries may truly seem “worthy” of worry. Your mother may not know Christ as her Savior, and she has cancer. Your son may be on the street taking drugs. Your friend may demonstrate a lack of integrity at work. Another friend drives while intoxicated. You … [Read more...]
Do Unto Others – Lectio Divina
"Do to others as you would have them do to you." Luke 6: 31 Do unto others. Do unto others. Lord, this is one of the first lessons I learned from my mother. And know once again I hear these words from you - the Golden Rule. You, Lord, who model this way of living. You notice those on the margins. You touch the untouchables. You reach out to those full of fear. You heal the sick. You feed the hungry. You wrap your arms around little children. You defend the poor. You mend the brokenhearted. You answer your critics. You forgive all of us. You love the unlovable. Thank you for noticing, touching, reaching out, healing, feeding, hugging, defending, mending answering, forgiving and loving me. Lord, help me treat others who cross my path as you would. Break open the eyes of my heart to spot the ones who need you the most. May I do unto others as you would, as I would want them to treat me. You showed us the way … [Read more...]
Let My Bones Be Soaked With Your Love – Quote of the Week
O my God,let me, with thanksgiving,remember, and confess unto youyour mercies on me.Let my bones be soaked with your love,and let them say unto you,Who is like you, O Lord?You have broken my chains in pieces.I will offer unto you the sacrifice of thanksgivingAnd how you have broken them, I will declare;and all who worship you, when they hear this, will say:Blessed is the Lord in heaven and in earth! Great and wonderful is his name!St Augustine … [Read more...]
Henri Nouwen’s Story about the Flyer and the Catcher
I facilitated a discussion about spirituality with two small groups last weekend at a synod wide educational event. We talked about many of the spiritual practices that open our hearts to God. The reality is we do nothing to make God come closer. He is here already. We just need to learn to let go and trust him. That reminded me of one of my favorite stories from Henri Nouwen. I shared it here on this blog a couple of years ago but seems the time is right to repeat it: “The Flying Rodleighs are trapeze artists who perform in the German circus Simoneit-Barum. When the circus came to Freiburg two years ago, my friends Franz and Reny invited me and my father to see the show. I will never forget how enraptured I became when I first saw the Rodleighs move through the air, flying and catching as elegant dancers. The next day, I returned to the circus to see them again and introduced myself to them as one of their great fans. They invited me to attend their practice … [Read more...]
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