Image by -g-r-a-c-e- via Flickr I finished washing my face and searched the counter with my hand for my glasses. Ah, there they are.Putting them on didn’t bring the usual clarity I was used to, but a strange vision of colored lights and blurred objects.Water spots on both of the lenses distorted my view and created a surreal world before my eyes.Cleaning and drying the glasses, of course, brought everything back into the right perspective and I went on with my day.This morning during my devotions, my mind kept wandering, thinking about all the things I had to “do” today and the urgency of my all-important to-do list. Definitely my heart and patience wasn’t in my bible reading. I was not paying attention and to be honest, skimmed the lesson in front of me. Then I recalled yesterday’s relatively minor incident with my glasses. Odd memory to come up at this time, I thought.Lord, is there something You are trying to tell me? I knew God was nudging me to explore and to dig a … [Read more...]
Throwing Away My Confidence – Lectio Divina
Image by Images by John 'K' via FlickrSo do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. Hebrews 10:35-36 (NIV)Do not throw away your confidence.In my hands I hold my confidence.At one time I thought I knew what I believed.With boldness, I stated my convictions.But the day-to-day grind and my lingering sins drain away my certainty. Now my confidence lies crumbled, torn, stained.Useless and unable to save it, I consider throwing it away until I read this verse.Do not throw away your confidence.Lord, even if self-doubts and difficulties shred my resolve to pieces, I am to hold onto it?Lord, my faith is shattered and beyond repair.You gently nudge me to trash my misgivings and uncertainties instead.In Your hands You tenderly smooth out the mess I am.Your spirit nourishes my soul and sends light, warmth, and water to help me grow again.In my hands I hold my confidence – … [Read more...]
A Surprising God – Quote of the Week
Image by Greencolander via FlickrJust about the time I get dogmatic,Certain that I know it all,You upend what I thought was fact.Just about the time I drown in tears,You enter in with unmitigated joy.Just about the time I yawn in monotonyYou come dancing in with a lively step.Just about the time I think I know you,You turn up, show another side of yours,And there I am, surprised again.David Steindl-Rast … [Read more...]
Dangerous Prayers
Image by spcbrass via Flicr“You are brave. That is a dangerous prayer.” This is what one friend said to me the other day when I shared a personal prayer that recently been on my heart.“Lord, do what You need to do with me in order that I become what You best choose.”I guess I didn’t think of this honest submission to God as dangerous or that I was suddenly full of courage – I just prayed.That reminded me of another prayer I read about a year ago:May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, superficial relationships, so that you will live deep within your heart. May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people so that you will work for justice, equality and peace. May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that you will reach out your hand to comfort them and change their pain into joy. And may God bless you with the foolishness to think that you can make a difference in the … [Read more...]
My Calling – A Generalist in the Choir
Image by iDanSimpson via FlickrSeveral years ago a friend and I discussed our nursing careers with each other.“I am jealous of your skills,” I said. “You have such in-depth specific knowledge about the heart and how to help people having heart problems.”Barbara worked many years in ICU and saved many people’s lives. She was an expert in cardiac nursing.“I am such a generalist,” I lamented.I was surprised by her response.“Yet that is what I envy about you,” she said. “You have such a wide base of knowledge and experience. You could respond to so much more than I could. We need nurses like you.”We both laughed – each envying the other. And each of us left that conversation appreciating our own careers paths a little more after seeing it from a different point of view.I remembered this story from my past the other day when I felt the green eye monster raise his ugly head within my heart when I envy another person’s deep conviction and passion for mission work in Tanzania.Then I read about … [Read more...]
Clothing Ourselves with Christ – Lectio Divina
Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. Romans 13:14Image by dansays via FlickrClothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus ChristLord, You came to us in the garden when we were ashamed to be naked.Throughout history and in our individual lives, we try to clothe ourselves with dirty rags and tattered second-hand clothing.We pick up the first piece of gossip to cover our heads.We hid our faces behind worldly masks so we don’t appear to others as we really are.We throw on the easiest road to follow for our tops.We pull up our fears and ego driven desires to cover our legs.And for our feet we slip on ill-fitting slices of sin we think You won’t know about and tie them tightly with lies and deceit.Help us discard these earthly garments and come only to You in our vulnerable bareness.Clothe us with the Lord Jesus Christ.Wash us with Your mercy and cover us with Your goodness.May we be fully draped in Jesus’ character, … [Read more...]
Believing the Impossible – Quote of the Week
Image via Wikipedia"One can't believe impossible things," Alice said. "I daresay you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. “When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”Lewis CarrollThrough the Looking Glass, Chapter V … [Read more...]
Great is Thy Faithfulness – A Hymn Story
Image via WikipediaChurch was wonderful last Sunday. We filled the pew to capacity when Katie and Austin brought the newborn twins and two-year-old Kyla and all the paraphernalia that accompanies young kids.Most of the service I cuddled with 6 week old Korbin and Kastin filled Bill’s arms. Holding such precious gifts, we couldn’t open our hymnal for the music. I was so glad one of the selections was a hymn classic I knew from heart: Great is thy faithfulness.I swayed rhythmically with the music with new life in my arms, eyes closed, singing my worship and praise, “Great is thy faithfulness.”The song continue to envelope my week. I found myself humming as I sat at my computer. Though not a normal shower crooner, I repeated it in my morning routines.The song cast new light onto my everyday chores. God’s love does that, doesn’t it? And what better way to live but focusing on God’s unfailing love for us. Fellow blogger Phil Malmstrom wrote similar words this week in his great blog (be … [Read more...]