If you love me, show it by doing what I've told you. I will talk to the Father, and he'll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can't take him in because it doesn't have eyes to see him, doesn't know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you! John 14: 15-17 (The Message)You will always have someone with you.Lord what a gift – Your presence – You instill in us. I cling to that promise that You will always be with us, Lord. You won’t leave us orphaned. You stay with us throughout our journey.I thank You for Your companionship - by going before me, beside me, behind me, and within me.I read the other day, "Sit with God as you might with the ocean. You bring nothing to the ocean, yet it changes you." Sean Caulfield.Your presence is like the water, like an ocean to me. Surrounding me, nourishing me, carrying me throughout this life.I … [Read more...]
Accepting Myself – Quote of the Week – Thomas Merton
"Finally I am coming to the conclusion that my highest ambition is to be what I already am. That I will never fulfill my obligation to surpass myself unless I first accept myself, and if I accept myself fully in the right way, I will already have surpassed myself."Thomas Merton … [Read more...]
Borning Cry – Beautiful Hymn by John Ylvisaker.
My daughter Valerie sang “Borning Cry” at Esther’s funeral this week. Our good friends, Jim and Nancy accompanied her with flute and piano. What can I say? I cried. A beautiful song with powerful message!Drink in the love of God today through this hymn:I was there to hear your borning cry, I'll be there when you are old. I rejoiced the day you were baptized, to see your life unfold. I was there when you were but a child, with a faith to suit you well; In a blaze of light you wandered off to find where demons dwell.When you heard the wonder of the Word I was there to cheer you on; You were raised to praise the living Lord, to whom you now belong. If you find someone to share your time and you join your hearts as one, I'll be there to make your verses rhyme from dusk 'till rising sun. In the middle ages of your life, not too old, no longer young, I'll be there to guide you through the night, complete what I've begun. When the evening gently closes in, and you shut your weary eyes, … [Read more...]
Heading Home to Heaven
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...]