I paid no attention.It was routine as usual.My mind scurried ahead, planning my next half hour and really, the rest of my day.Grabbing my second cup of coffee, I casually walked back to my office ready to write this post.But God jumped in and surprised me with a surprise serendipity.Passing by the window, movement from my garden caught my eye.A tiger swallowtail butterfly danced on my flowers.Grabbing my camera, all my plans disappeared. I knew this was a moment to capture.Amazingly I crept so close, I thought this delicate creature might land on me instead of the flowers.God dipped into his paint well for colorful details. Look at His workmanship in the tiny joints and beady eyes.Intrigued, I wanted to know more. Take a look at these fascinating details about butterflies. Imagine how complex and perfect is God as Creator. · There are about 24,000 species of butterflies· Butterflies “smell” with their antennae and “taste” with their feet. Butterflies have one pair of … [Read more...]
Using My Eyes to Hear God – Lectio Divina
I will look to see what he will say to me – Habakkuk 2:1 I will look to see what he will say.What a strange way to hear You, Lord.Looking to see what you are saying.I miss Your voice when I listen more to the world’s noise than You.I don’t hear Your message when I focus more on me and less on You.I know at times You speak in a whisper.I never thought of using my eyes to hear You better.Looking around me, I see You in my backyard garden and know you tend my growth as well.Digging into my Bible, I run my fingers over Your Word, Your words, and see in them You printed before my very eyes.Your love becomes visible in the twinkling delight of Kyla’s eyes and tiny fingers of newborn twins.Pour out Your spirit upon me so I have the awareness when I turn away from Your face.When I can’t hear Your voice, Lord, open my eyes to read Your lips.Help me tune my antenna to Your wavelength of sacred signals.Help me to listen.Help me to see what You say. … [Read more...]
Am I Ready? – Quote of the Week – Esther de Waal
Image via Wikipedia“It is so easy to play the world’s game which is the power game, the game which depends on setting myself apart from others, distinguishing myself, seeking the limelight and looking for the applause.I find that it is only too easy to become compulsive in my continual need for affirmation, for more and more affirmation, as I anxiously ask Who am I? Am I the person who is liked? Admired? Praised? Seen as successful?My whole attitude towards myself becomes determined by the way in which others see me. I compare myself with others, and I try to emphasize what is different and distinctive about me. The three temptations which Christ faced in the wilderness are equally my temptations: to be pertinent. To be spectacular. To be powerful.Am I able, like Christ to put them down?Am I prepared to shed all these outer shells of false ambition, of pride?Am I ready to admit that the mask is a disguise put on to cover up the insecure self? And the armor a shield to protect the … [Read more...]
Eight Ways to Practice Humility – Moshe Cordovero
Image via WikipediaHumility – not a word we ponder much. At least I don’t.Maybe that is the problem, right? HA!Then I read this story the other day that made me mull over the concept of humility in my life.A man asked his rabbi why people couldn't see the face of God. What had happened that they could no longer reach high enough to see God?The rabbi, a very old man, had experienced a lot in his life and was very wise. "My son," he said, "that is not the way it is at all. You cannot see the face of God because there are so few who can stoop that low. How sad this is, but it is the truth. Learn to bend, to bow, to kneel and stoop and you will be able to see God face-to-face."Ever notice when God stirs your heart on a matter, the key word pops up all over? He wasn’t done with me yet.The day after I read that story I saw in the Thirty Good Minutes email a story about eight ways to practice humility. 30 Good Minutes is a collection of inspirational videos, stories of faith and reflections … [Read more...]
Spiritual Lesson from Hawaii
Image via WikipediaA guest preacher at our church this past Sunday told the following story:When it is 1:00 pm in the Eastern Time zone, it is only 7 am in Hawaii. That makes for some interesting television.The preacher has a friend who lives in Hawaii and loves football. When Monday night football is being shown live here, it is played later as a tape delayed in Hawaii.The friend told the preacher that when his favorite team plays, he will listen to the game live over the radio, then watch it taped later that evening. “The fumbles and missed tackles and penalties aren’t so bad when you know the final results. I watch the game with an entirely different perspective because I know who wins,” he said.Say that last line slowly to yourself.Powerful, isn’t it?I watch the game with an entirely different perspective because I knew who wins. Wow, what a statement.As Christians isn’t that how we should try to live?We know Who has already won the battle. … [Read more...]
The Unfolding of Your Words – Lectio Divina
The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. Psalm 119: 130The unfolding of your words I walked in my garden with you this week, Lord.I watched You dance with the dragon flies and bounce upon the purple cone flowers.Even with the very hot, dry July, Lord You coaxed a multitude of rose buds to bloom.The petals slowly stretch their arms open as if they were reaching up to You.I gazed at my newborn twin grandsons this week wiggle and unfurl their legs in the freedom of their new lives.Unfolding – what lovely word, Lord.The unfolding of Your words light my journey.The spreading out of Your spirit guides me on my way.You remove the blinders on my heart slowly and gently so I can savor Your wisdom.You are revealed in Your words and become known to us simple mortals.We probably couldn’t live seeing Your full revelation.After all, You are God.I celebrate the unfurling rose buds and join them in reaching my arms up to You. … [Read more...]
Kindness – Quote of the Week – Max Lucado
I choose kindnessI will be kind to the poor, for they are alone,Kind to the rich, for they are afraid,And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.Max Lucado … [Read more...]
Praying for What is Right in Front on You: Praying the News
Image via WikipediaWhat do you do when you hear a siren?If you are driving, you pull the car over to the side of the road to let the emergency vehicle pass.But my mom taught me one more thing: When you hear a siren, say a prayer.Pray for where the ambulance is heading. Pray for safety for the EMTs, law enforcement, or fire fighters. But always remember to pray.We live in a rural area and sometime hear or see the emergency helicopter fly over transporting someone who needs immediate medical care. Another time a sound or sight triggers prayer.The Carmelite Sisters in Indianapolis Indiana offer prayer in response to another set of sights and sounds. They pray the news. Now I have noticed one of my favorite spiritually-related web sites, Spirituality and Practice, is also praying the news:What a different mindset to have when watching the evening news or reading the paper or when a headline pops up on the computer. Our Sunday newspaper … [Read more...]