“Stretch” is my word for the year. After prayerfully discovering that somewhat frightening word, I am finding its thread though my days. But I have also found a word for my life. I call it my core word, one that describes a basic essence of my being. Nurture. “Nurture” bubbles up from my soul. Core words describe a movement, an identity, and something deep within our DNA that drives all of our passions and needs. We spend a lifetime searching for these core words and it is an adventure to explore and discover them. In 2009 I finally was able to put a label a deep part of my center, where God’s fingerprints first formed my spirit: nurture. As a young child I knew I wanted to be a writer. As a daughter of a physician, I was often asked, “Do you want to be nurse when you grow up?” “No!” I would emphatically say with a stomp of my foot. When I was 16, I heard God clearly calling me to be a nurse and I have never regretted following that vocation. I buried my first call to … [Read more...]
The Lord, My Shepherd – Lectio Divina
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me John 10: 27The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters,he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.Psalm 23These words speak for themselves, Lord. This is my prayer this morning.To recognize You and only You as my Shepherd.To be so close to Your breath, that I hear even Your quietest whisper.To have my only steps following the footprints You have laid before me.To lie down at night in Your arms and drink from Your refreshing water.To know with all my heart that … [Read more...]
Native American Prayer – Quote of the Week
Earth teach me stillness as the grasses are stilled with light. Earth teach me suffering as old stones suffer with memory. Earth teach me humility as blossoms are humble with beginning. Earth teach me caring as the mother who secures her young. Earth teach me courage as the tree which stands all alone. Earth teach me limitation as the ant which crawls on the ground. Earth teach me freedom as the eagle which soars in the sky. Earth teach me resignation as the leaves which die in the fall. Earth teach me regeneration as the seed which rises in the spring. Earth teach me to forget myself as melted snow forgets its life. Earth teach me to remember kindness as dry fields weep with rain. — Ute prayer … [Read more...]
Joni and Ken – Book Review
Looking for an inspirational book to read?I heard the story of Joni Eareckson Tada years ago. I have watched her ministry to provide wheelchairs throughout the world. I smiled when I heard she found love and married Ken. What a courageous woman she is. I admire her willingness to share her experiences and its lessons with us.Joni and Ken - an Untold Love Story is their latest book just released by Zondervan.Yes it is a love story but not exactly a “happily ever after” one. Joni and Ken’s 30 years of marriage has been full of challenges for both of them, but a path that has made them stronger. But like most of life, it is the day-to-day routines and problems that wears us down.“In reality, living with quadriplegia was never normal and even the most compelling of international escapades began to fade after a while For Ken what didn’t fade was the daily-nightly-daily-nightly drudgery of Joni’s disability routines.”Ken and Joni are honest and open about their ups and downs of their … [Read more...]
Easily Forgotten Companion
Ever hear of Gerhard Tersteegen? Me neither. I read a quote from him the other day that struck me and made me curious abut him. Who was he? Here is the quote: “God is essentially present with us in a manner that is incomprehensive to us. He fills heaven an earth; in him we live, move and have our being. He is also near our most secret thoughts, inclinations, desires and intentions.” Edward Hays in his “Book of Wonders” pondered this quote and gives God the name, “My Easily Forgotten Companion.” Now that is something to think about. That isn’t what I call God, but in reality how I treat Him. I conveniently forget God. I ignore His urges and commandments. I turn my attention away from His Presence that never leaves my side. Tersteegen later wrote: “You must withdraw into yourself a little and keep quiet before the face of God, then look gently and perfectly frankly at God who is so near to us, to let Him see … [Read more...]
The Lord is my Song – Lectio Divina
The Lord is my strength and my songand has become my salvation.Psalm 118: 14My SongLord, I am weak without You.You are my strengthLord, I am lost without You.You are my salvation.But Lord, I never thought before that You are my song.But yes, You are the maestro and my conductor of all I speak and do.You create simple scales, detailed orchestration and lovely tunes that accompany my every moment.Your melody adds harmony to my life.Your voice is the swelling crescendo of all the open thresholds You direct my paths through.Your melody vibrates in my every cell.You are music, Lord.You exist in every silly chantey to the quarter rest in grand symphonies.You are the hush in a lullaby.You fuel the love in a serenade.You are the energetic beat of the bass drum in a march.You are song, Lord.You are the trumpets announcing the birth of new life.You are the hymns comforting the broken hearted.You are the chords proclaiming holy matrimony.I want to sing harmony with You, LordMay my path of life … [Read more...]
Weekend Blessing – Quote of the Week
"May you learn to see your self with the same delight, pride, and expectation with which God sees you in every moment." — John O'Donohue … [Read more...]
Regrets
Regrets? Do you have regrets? A friend of mine a few years back worked in admissions in a nursing home. One day he admitted a frail, elderly lady in a wheelchair. The lady looked him right in the eye and said to him, “Don’t wake up one day and be like me. Too old now to do what I really wanted to do. Time moves so quickly. Do what you deeply want now.” Her words struck him and he knew right away what to do. Strange as it may sound he wanted to change his first name legally. After that momentous conversation with this lady, he made the appointment with his lawyer to begin the process. He did change his name and never regretted taking this action. “The Top Five Regrets of the Dying” published last year by AARPcaught my eye recently. What were those regrets? 1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me. This was the number one regret of all. At the end of life, people reflect about dreams they wished they had tried to … [Read more...]