For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!"it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God,and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ--if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.Romans 8:14-17Just when I doubt,At the time I feel abandoned, unloved,Whenever I wonder if anyone really cares,My Abba, my Papa, wraps His arms around me and cradles my heart.Lord, I am not my job.I am not defined by my roles.Where I live, what I look like and how much I make, means little.My Abba, my Papa created me as His child.Lord, Your fingerprints are all over my soul.Your mighty spirit ignites with my minuscule core, lighting the fire of life.My breath, in slowly, out gradually, mirrors the steady rhythm of the beating of Your heart.You are the One; we are … [Read more...]
Quote of the Week – Julian of Norwich
"The place which God takes in our soul he will never vacate, for in us is his home of homes, and it is the greatest delight for him to dwell there. . . . The soul who contemplates this is made like the one who is contemplated."~Julian of Norwich … [Read more...]
Slowness – Spiritual Practice of Keeping Tempo
I was amazed at the comments and emails I received after Tuesday’s post about slowness and soul rest. You all made me feel better realizing I am not the only one struggling with busyness. Your words also reminded me to be grateful for the ability to be busy and to savor the opportunities as blessings. Thank you. Practicing slowness is a valuable spiritual discipline. At one of the retreats I attended a few years ago we intentionally practiced slowness. We spoke slowly. We chewed our food longer. We put our forks down between bites. We deliberately looked one another in the eyes. The routine at this retreat that struck me the most though, was how we physically moved from sitting to standing. I normally bounce up and get going. We moved in slow motion. More Eyorye than Tigger. Try that sometime this week. When you need to stand up or sit down, move very slowly. Slow down and enjoy life. It's not only the scenery you miss by going too fast - you also miss the sense of … [Read more...]
Need a Rest Stop? A Soul Rest? – Spiritual Practice
“In the hustle of May, it can be easy to forget who we are.” I really identified with this quote written last week by Emily on her wonderful blog, Chatting at the Sky I sighed when I read that line since its words so appropriately captured how I was feeling. I need some soul rest. Soul Rest Too much have I lately wolfed down fast food pace of to do lists, deadlines and shallow living. I don’t want to live this way. Spring is a busy time. Nicer weather invites, calls demands our appearance in the garden. Flowers to be planted, ground tilled for peppers and tomatoes, cleaning out my small pond, and scrubbing outdoor furniture for future outdoor celebrations. The grass appears to grow two feet every night in spring, let alone weeds popping up all over. Then once again I have said yes to too many commitments: “sure I can squeeze that it in,” scheduling everyday with obligations that seemed important earlier but now annoy me like a bothersome nuisance. On … [Read more...]
Jesus Prayed
Jesus prayed: “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.“Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”John 17: 20-26Jesus PrayedLord I didn’t make it much past … [Read more...]
Dallas Willard – Quote of the Week
“Solitude well practiced will break the power of busyness, haste, isolation, and loneliness. You will see that the world is not on your shoulders after all.Your will find yourself, and God will find you in new ways. Silence also brings Sabbath to you. It completes solitude, for without it you cannot be alone. Far from being a mere absence, silence allows the reality of God to stand in the midst of your life. God does not ordinarily compete for our attention.In silence we come to attend. Lastly, fasting is done that we many consciously experience the direct sustenance of God to our body and our whole person.” ― Dallas Willard, who died this past week, wrote several books including The Great Omission: Reclaiming Jesus’ Essential Teachings on Discipleship where this quote originates. … [Read more...]
Two Days with a Master Teacher – Richard Rohr
A few weeks ago we visited New Mexico with wonderful lifelong friends. Yes of course we did all the fun tourist activities: toured old sections of Albuquerque and Santa Fe, road on Route 66, learned much about our Native Americans, and even this height fearing writer road up the tram to the 10,000 Sandia Peak. One highlight was wonderful lunch at Tim’s Place, theworld’s friendliest restaurant. They serve breakfast, lunch and hugs. Maybe you saw Tim featured on CBS. Attending a two-day conference by Richard Rohr (You can read a short bio on him here) was easily another highlight. This Franciscan priesteloquently expresses Christian spirituality that drives us deeper and wanting more. Rohr has written numerous books. Perhaps my favorite is Everything Belongs but his newest one Immortal Diamond, The Search for our True Self is another great one. I find I read Rohr with a highlighter and my journal near by. Often I sit for a while with just one of his sentences or … [Read more...]
The Gift of Disease
Ever consider the gift of disease? I have a good friend who has a slow growing cancer that will eventually be his cause of death. I enjoy listening to him as he tells me he is discovering unexpected gifts while traveling with this uninvited illness. He didn’t at first feel that way. At the beginning he was angry, then depressed. One day he said, he just sat there and felt like he was holding his cancer wrapped up as a present. He faced the gift of disease. That day his eyes and heart were open to all that this path in life taught him. He appreciates the small things. He enjoys the present moments. He smiles more. He listens deeply to family and friends. He experiences God in new ways. Being a nurse, most of my life I fought against disease. Even as I helped people at the end of life, I held onto quite of bit of resentment at the powerlessness of the situation. I never thought of disease as a gift. So join me in a little diversion today. Fire up your … [Read more...]