“I just wish God would tell me clearly what to do,” said one of the participants in our spiritual direction group. “I don’t know which direction to turn and I really do want to be obedient.”I certainly could identify and empathize with that statement. With all my being, I do want to follow God’s path for me in life. Discernment is more than just making a decision: it is taking God’s view into account, not just our wants and desires. To discern comes from the Latin word, discernere: dis means apart and cernere mean to separate: So we look at all the options before us and we separate them apart for find the answer. I am in discernment right now. I can’t decipher if I am in a rut or a time of rest. I think I hear God telling me just to rest, but my natural tendency so to make a decision and get on with my journey. Have a missed the bus or am I to linger longer at this spiritual rest stop? If God is in all things and I do believe that, just what is He trying to teach me here?Then I … [Read more...]
Listen First, Then Speak – Lectio Divina
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. James 1: 19-21 Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angryLord, don’t You have that backwards? Speak, then listen is what I usually do. At least that is how I seem to function. Speaking first, getting my opinion out. Making sure my point of view is heard. Validating my ego. I have to defend myself, don’t I?But You are telling me: Listen, then speak. Relationship begins with listening. Listen first.My number one step with You: Listen.My initial response to the person speaking before me: ListenMy entire focus on You.My full concentration on Your child before me.Listen.Lord, I needed this reminder. These verses don’t just … [Read more...]
Let Us Begin – Quote of the Week – Mother Teresa
Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today.Let us begin.—Mother Teresa … [Read more...]
Moving from Past Tense to Present Tense
Mary DeMuth’s new book is called Everything: What you give and what you gain to become like Jesus and is scheduled for release October 16. You can preorder it here. I am blessed to be part of Mary’s launch team for this wonderful book and have an early copy to study and enjoy. Over the next few Thursdays, I will be sharing a quote from the book and some thoughts that her words have stirred within my heart. This book is wonderful, full of wisdom and stories, and will help you discover the freedom in surrendering everything to Jesus. The past two Thursdays I pondered her chapter on Cultivating Astonishment and Practicing Resiliency; this week let’s explore another chapter: Be an AM.A standard piece of advice for any writer is: AVOID PASSIVE WRITING.Passive writing sucks the life out of your words. The meaning is heavy and it emphasizes the object not the subject in a sentence. Active tense is present and full of energy.Read these two examples. See how the second one is better?In the … [Read more...]
Summer Snapshots: Journeys
Living a reflective life is a powerful spiritual discipline. Periodically and intentionally looking back over the past months brings insights, joys, and perhaps regret. (Regret can be a wonderful teacher, full of lessons that motivate future behavior.)I like to get out my journal and with a highlighter in hand, reread key passages and words that resonated within my heart. I savor times I felt God’s presence and appreciate circumstances, both difficult and joyous, that drew me closer to Him. I see once again failures, ego-driven moments, and times I let emotions distract me from keeping my eyes and heart set on Jesus. I learn. I grow. And I embrace life on a new level when I “harvest” my journal.“Reflective thinking turns experience into insight.” John MaxwellOne of my favorite blogs is Finding Heaven. Writer Jen Ferguson challenged us to write about a mutual theme: Summer Snapshots, a glimpse into our summer. What you learned? What you did you see? How has God moved in your life? … [Read more...]
Just Trust – Lectio Divina
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:29 NIV)Why do I make it so complicated?Why do I turn my back in disbelief?Why do I think I can make in on my own? I hear You tell me, Lord:The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.Believe.Trust.Know.I do believe, help my unbelief.Help me caste away my independence and throw myself onto Your merciful lap.Turn my eyes upon You, not on my incompleteness and failures.Holy Spirit, refresh me with Your power to nourish my unfolding faith.I am learning to trust you with EVERYTHING. So straightforward.You tell us so simply, so lovingly, so unconditionally.Just believe.Just trust. … [Read more...]
The Grace of Wonder – Quote of the Week
Dear Lord, grant me the grace of wonder. Surprise me, amaze me, awe me in every crevice of your universe. Delight me to see how your Christ plays in ten thousand places. . .to the Father through the features of men's faces. Each day enrapture me with your marvelous things without number. I do not ask to see the reason for it all; I ask only to share the wonder of it all.Joshua Abraham Heschel … [Read more...]
Pondering and Practicing Resiliency
Mary DeMuth’s new book is called Everything: What you give and what you gain to become like Jesus and is scheduled for release October 16. You can preorder it here. I am blessed to be part of Mary’s launch team for this wonderful book and have an early copy to study and enjoy. Over the next few Thursdays, I will be sharing a quote from the book and some thoughts that her words have stirred within my heart. This book is wonderful, full of wisdom and stories, and will help you discover the freedom in surrendering everything to Jesus. Last Thursday I pondered her chapter on Cultivating Astonishment; this week let’s explore another chapter: Practicing Resiliency.We have all heard the inspiring stories:· Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team.· Film schools rejected Steven Spielberg three times.· The editor of a newspaper fired Walt Disney for lacking of ideas.· Thomas Edison tried nearly 10,000 times before succeeding with the electric light bulb. … [Read more...]