Patty Wysong has created a fun meme where once a week bloggers posted on the letter of the week. Check out the details here. It is called A2Z: Take 2. A2Z as she challenges bloggers to write a post each week going through the alphabet. Take 2 since this is the second time she has used this meme. Anyone can join in and you don’t have to always participate. What does the letter D bring to my mind and heart?Don’t you love coincidences or what many of us call them God-incidents?The letter D symbolizes the Roman numeral 500. Participating with Patty Wysong’s meme and writing a blog once a week based on a letter of the alphabet has been fun for me and I hope for you. This week is the letter “D” and as I began to think about that letter, I was amazed to realize that this would be my 500th post on this blog. 500 = DNow that is a God-incident!The number “500” has other meanings also.I read that the number 500 is used 27 times in the Bible.This number represents infinity to the Irish and a … [Read more...]
Trusting God – Lectio Divina
Image via WikipediaWhat they trust in is fragile; what they rely on is a spider’s web. Job 8:14 (NIV)A spider’s web.Lord, once again I put my trust in something other than You.I turn my focus outside of You and lay my hope into human hands.Even worse, I take control all by myself with false self-confidence that I could do it on my own.I know that foundation is weak,I know it may fail even before I begin.I hold my breath…Take one stop onto that thin ice…and think maybe… maybe this time….Yet like this verse I put the weight of my burdens on the fragile spider web and expect it to hold up.Lord, the world weaves a tapestry of spider webs. The sinister spider invites me to believe in the safety on its web. I see the fascinating intricate patterns masquerading as strengths. I cling to them before their stickiness adheres to me. I trust in what I easily see instead of what I know to be true.Or I grip onto my own plans instead of waiting for Your clear guidance.Your word in the book of Job is … [Read more...]
A Swedish Blessing – Quote of the Week
Fear less, hope more;Eat less, chew more;Whine less, breathe more;Talk less, say more; hate less, love more;and all good things are yours.Swedish Proverb … [Read more...]
A Promise from God – Guest Post by Phil Malmstrom
About a year ago I discovered a great blog, Inspirations by Phather Phil written by Phil Malmstrom. He honestly shares his heart and his conversation with God in a way that makes you feel you are drawing up a chair and taking part in the intimate discussion between three good friends: you, Phil and God. Since I have spent much of this month trying to see the cold bleak Ohio winter season with new eyes and discovering its lessons, I asked Phil if he would share some thoughts about winter with us. Thank you Phil for giving me insight and hope in winter.The PromiseStark…Cold…Bleak…Unyielding…Such is the way many choose to view the winter landscape.And yet,I believe that winter carries with it a deeper message;A Promise from God.I absolutely love taking long, quiet walks in the woods; spending that communion time with my Heavenly Father, surrounded in the majesty of His bounty. In that Stillness, I find that I feel powerfully connected to God’s presence, and He’s used … [Read more...]
Creator God and Chocolate – Two Great Words Beginning with the letter “C”
Patty Wysong has created a fun meme where once a week bloggers posted on the letter of the week. Check out the details here. It is called A2Z: Take 2. A2Z as she challenges bloggers to write a post each week going through the alphabet. Take 2 since this is the second time she has used this meme. Anyone can join in and you don’t have to always participate. What does the letter C bring to my mind and heart? Creator God and Chocolate One of my best friends – a retired Catholic priest – begins his prayers when we are together with these words, “Creator God…”I love it how he starts all his times with God remembering and honoring God as Creator. The attributes of God as Creator humble me, yet draw me closer to this God who can do absolutely anything and everything including loving us simple and frail human beings.God’s hands shaped the universe out of chaos. In a blink of His eye, God established the hundreds of billions of galaxies, black holes from which nothing can escape, even light … [Read more...]
Answering God Without Delay – Lectio Divina
As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. Mark 1: 16-20At once Without delay Lord that is how I want to respond to You.At onceWithout delayNo doubtsNo hesitationNo maybe laterNo let’s talk about thisNo whining about too much to doNo postponing until it is more convenientNo forgetting my good intentionsNo because I have more urgent things to doNo excusesAt onceWithout delayMay I pay attention and seek You in every detailed moment of my life.May I turn and listen to You immediately when I hear You call.May I follow You without hesitation, keeping my … [Read more...]
Our Vocation/ Our Call – Henri Nouwen
Image by ulterior epicure via FlickrQuote of the WeekIt is very important to realize that our vocation is hidden in where we are and who we are. We are unique human beings, each with a call to realize in life what nobody else can, and to realize it in the concrete context of the here and now.We will never find our vocations by trying to figure out whether we are better or worse than others. We are good enough to do what we are called to do. Be yourself!Henri Nouwen from Bread for the Journey … [Read more...]
Why Do You Go to Church?
I read this story the other day:A minister was talking to a man about joining the church. “I want to join a church because I want to be fed,” said the man.The ministered answered, “Well that is fine, but we all would be better off if you would take off your bib and put on an apron.”Good answer, Pastor, but to be honest one of the reasons I do attend church is to feed my spirit. I attend for an opportunity to worship and be with God and to serve Him by helping and being with His community. So if you put all three reasons together I attend for God, for others and for myself.Is that so bad?The Barna Group recently surveyed Americans who have attended a Christian church sometime in the past and discovered what they say about their experiences in these congregations. I found some of their discoveries very fascinating and through provoking. Also interesting to note that the size of the church didn’t matter – small, medium or large answered in similar ways.· Most people responded that … [Read more...]