Where is your home?My experiences lately keep bringing my thoughts back to the concept of home.My husband and I talked about “home” several years ago when a good friend, close to our age, died. Where did we want to be buried? We no longer had roots to our hometowns. We lived in this small village for thirty years now. Though we landed on this geographical place on earth for quite a long time in our adult journey, is this our real home?When I watched this morning the devastation of homes by tornadoes in the Midwest. I then remembered the huge destruction of homes in Japan from their tragedies. Suddenly people were homeless. Their physical, temporary structures they called “home” disappeared. Home – where is our real home?I sat and held the hands of my friend as she died last week. I watched her body fade away and her spirit rise to heaven. She is truly home today. She is no longer in a place that is temporary. No longer homeless.The Gospel this past Sunday was one of my favorites and … [Read more...]
Trusting God – Lectio Divina
Lord a long time ago you gave me a breath prayer:In you, O Lord, I will put my trust.So often when nothing else works, When my trying and striving fail, When circumstances overwhelm me,When people let me down Or worse I disappointment myself:I whisper, “In you, O Lord, I will put my trust.”Help me know the only action I need to take is to let go and put all my troubles into Your hands.Soothe me with your loving lullaby:In you, O Lord, I will put my trust.In you, O Lord, I will put my trust.In you, O Lord, I will put my trust. … [Read more...]
What Do You Cling To? – Quote of the Week – Thomas Merton
“Our great danger is to throw away things that are excellent, which we do not understand, and replace them with mediocre forms which seem to us to be more meaningful and which in fact are only trite.” Thomas Merton. … [Read more...]
Fruit Lovers’ Devotions to Go – Book Review
Reading a daily devotional feeds the soul and feeding on God’s word each day is an essential spiritual practice for our walk with Him. But do you ever just plan don’t have time for your morning routine? I sure have had that lately and feel a parchedness in my soul and a disconnect from God.I lived through a series of difficult nights and early mornings helping a dear friend through major health issues.Then this week my husband and I left at 5 a.m. to take another friend to the hospital for early morning surgery.My morning time with God has disappeared.Except for one bright moment:Author Beth Bence Reinke sent me her pocket size devotional to review. Little did she know she sent it to me just at the right time, as I desperately needed a way to communicate with God in a quick and easy fashion. Her words provided nourishment just when I most required them.Fruit Lovers’ Devotions to Go is unique in several ways. First it is pocket size, so it fits easily into a purse or pocket. Its … [Read more...]
Priceless Friendships
Friendship - I have been thinking a lot about that word this year.The etiology of this word comes from Old English combining obviously the two words – friend and ship. Friendship is the deep, close, trusting relationship between people traveling together on the same journey, on the same ship. No matter how difficult or fun, unexpected or routine, long or short the trip is, friends make all the difference.The Gospel a few weeks ago – one of my favorites – told about two people traveling together on the road to Emmaus, sharing their confusion and sorrow. Another friend joined them for their journey too.Then this quote struck my heart this week:“It takes a long time to grow an old friend.” John LeonardDeveloping and maintaining friendships does take time, but the result is priceless. Friendship can hurt too. We dig deep in our hearts to forgive, to give more when we feel depleted, and to just plain hold hands and be present for one another.My prayer of gratitude this week is thankfulness … [Read more...]
Note to Readers
Dear Friends,I won't be posting here the week of May 9 as I am helping a dear friend through some difficult health issues.Thank you for your understanding and hopefully I will "see" you next week.Jeanie … [Read more...]
Our Slow Hearted Walk with Jesus on the Road to Emmaus – Lectio Divina
Then he said to them, "So thick-headed! So slow-hearted! Why can't you simply believe all that the prophets said? Luke 24: 25 (The Message)So slow-hearted! Why can't you simply believe …Lord I know you never leave us. You are with us every moment, every breath we take.I know.My mind accepts this.But I have a slow heart. I have heard that one of the longest distances is between the brain and the heart. Though only 18 inches – faith takes a lifetime to travel and take root in our souls.Come walk with me on my journey to Emmaus, LordPry open my ears. May Your words burn in my heart and set it aflame in faith.What can’t I simply believe? Be my pacemaker, Lord, and set my heart to beat in rhythm with You.I do believe. Help my unbelief. … [Read more...]
My Favorite Story about Mothers -"When God Created Mothers" by Erma Bombeck
When the Good Lord was creating mothers, He was into His sixth day of "overtime" when the angel appeared and said. "You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one." And God said, "Have you read the specs on this order?" She has to be completely washable, but not plastic. Have 180 moveable parts...all replaceable. Run on black coffee and leftovers. Have a lap that disappears when she stands up. A kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a disappointed love affair. And six pairs of hands." The angel shook her head slowly and said. "Six pairs of hands.... no way." It's not the hands that are causing me problems," God remarked, "it's the three pairs of eyes that mothers have to have." That's on the standard model?" asked the angel. God nodded. One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks, 'What are you kids doing in there?' when she already knows. Another here in the back of her head that sees what she shouldn't but what she has to know, and of course the ones here in … [Read more...]