“Or imagine a woman who has ten coins and loses one.Won’t she light a lamp and scour the house, looking in every nook and cranny until she finds it?And when she finds it you can be sure she’ll call her friends and neighbors: ‘Celebrate with me! I found my lost coin!’Count on it—that’s the kind of party God’s angels throw every time one lost soul turns to God.”Luke 15:8-10 The MessageParties in heaven, Lord? You say, count on it.Celebrations? Joy? Divine delight?I often wonder what brings you happiness, Lord.One event certainly is when the lost is found.And what is my role? How can I bring you joy?The woman in this parable first lit her lamp. Cleanse the grime from my heart, Lord so your light shines brightly.Then she scoured throughout her world, looking in every corner. She paid attention to every detail. She didn't give up. Give me strength to persevere, Lord, eyes to see clearly and the desire to go beyond what I can now see.And she shared her victory with others. Give … [Read more...]
The Gift of Grace – Quote of the Week
The grace of God means something like: Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are because the party wouldn't have been complete without you. Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us. It's for you I created the universe. I love you. There's only one catch. Like any other gift, the gift of grace can be yours only if you'll reach out and take it. Maybe being able to reach out and take it is a gift too.-Frederick Buechner … [Read more...]
Lessons from Vincent Van Gogh
[contact-form][contact-field label="Name" type="name" required="true" /][contact-field label="Email" type="email" required="true" /][contact-field label="Website" type="url" /][contact-field label="Message" type="textarea" /][/contact-form] The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam announced Monday, the discovery of a newly identified painting by the artist. The landscape is titled "Sunset at Montmajour." What is so unusual about the discovery is the painting laid neglected in an attic for many years. The painting was first thought to be a fake and worthless but after study, research and perseverance, the truth was revealed. Truth often isn't obvious at first. One has to take time to study and know. We hurry past the real stuff to consume easy, convenient and artificial flavors of the world. We swallow the first analysis or opinions instead of letting the facts unfold and emerge. The van Gogh painting, banished to the attic, unknown to … [Read more...]
Praying ‘Round the Clock
Is clock watching a curse or a blessing? I used to think mostly negative things about my relationship with Father Time. I quit wearing watches years ago. Time became the enemy. Time took the form of a stubborn toddler having tantrums. When I wanted time to move quickly, it dragged its feet in defiance, become spineless and lay unmoving right before my eyes. Then I woke up one morning, another decade older, looking at winkles and brown spots on the face in the mirror. Moments dissolved and vanished. Children once babies and giggling in my arms, now mother kids of their own and manage mortgages and careers. I researched and read every book ever written on time management. My expertise led me to even gave presentations full of tips about time. But it was a losing battle. The hours mounted a mutiny with my common sense, minutes evaporated and seconds flashed by quicker each year. My war with time focuses most often on what I think I can get done within a … [Read more...]
Refresh my Heart in Christ – Lectio Divina
Refresh my heart in ChristPhilemon 1: 20bLord, I read your words for this Sunday. Lessons from Deuteronomy leading me to "Choose life...by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways and observing his commandments."Lord, I choose you.I sing praises along with the Psalmist's lyrics and drink in your delight in "the law of the Lord...meditating on God's teaching day and night."Lord, I choose you.The Gospel teaches us the high cost of discipleship. Though it is difficult and I often relapse, I surrender all attachments - house, finances, ego, family, dreams, ambitions - to cling only to you, Lord. Lord, I choose you.In Paul's letter to Philemon, our New Testament lesson this week, Paul prays for Philemon and closes with the words, "Refresh my heart in Christ."In Christ, I find refreshing waters to fill me with strength to persevere on my path.In Christ, his spirit enlivens my spirit and cleanses the dirt from my heart.In Christ, I am restore to God's original beauty and purpose.In … [Read more...]
When One Door Closes…
When One Door Closes When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us. Alexander Graham Bell I have often heard this saying and love how Bell adds a new dimension to this thought for us to ponder. When one door closes too often we do cling to the old and become paralyzed to move onto the new possibilities. Our eyes are blinded by the what if's, the can't do it's and the ego wanted control ways. I think we do need time to grief, time to honor, and time to say good-bye to a closed door. But then we nod and say time to move on. What do you think? What helps you close those doors, accept the end of a path and more onward, exploring new open doors? PS. Sometimes it is hard to choose between doors we have before us: maybe this post about choosing between good and great will give you some guidance: … [Read more...]
Celebrate Hildegard of Bingen
A few months ago I surveyed many of you to help me select a woman of faith to study. The winner was Hildegard of Bingen. I was excited to read about her again and was surprised by a few comments that some have never heard of her. September 17 is Hildegard of Bingen's commemoration day so I think this would be a good time for a short bio about her and some interesting links. Hildegard of Bingen was born in 1098. The tenth child of a noble family, she was dedicated at birth to the church as was the custom of the day. At age eight she was sent to live with Jutta, an anchoress, so she could get her religious education. An anchoress is like a religious recluse who spent most of her days in prayer in her tiny private cell. When Jutta died years later, Hildegard became prioress of the Benedictine convent. Famous for her “illuminating” visions and spiritual wisdom, Hildegard wrote nearly 400 bold and feisty letters to bishops and kings, books about medicine and … [Read more...]
Perseverance and Diana Nyad and Reaching for the Stars
Sixty-four year old Diana Nyad completed a life long dream yesterday through perseverance. She swam all the way from Cuba to Florida, becoming the first person to do so without a shark cage. This was her fifth try to accomplish this feat in the treacherous waters of the Gulf. Now that is what I call never giving up. Perseverance! She first started this dream in 1978 and now 35 years later at the age of 64 she is trying again. I find this so encouraging. She keeps trying and adjusting her technique, learning from the past and trying again. Another trait of perseverance. Her words inspired me as she acknowledged to the CBS reporter that past attempts have brought physical pain and emotional heartache but also gave her clarity. You shoot for the stars and when you are up there in the heavens, playing around, trying to touch those stars, you get a lot of satisfaction and do tap your potential." No matter your age, you still can stretch yourself … [Read more...]