Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the LORD. Psalm 150:6 Have you heard of “Breath Prayers?” Breath prayers are short prayers said in one breath. Simple, repetitive and surprisingly ancient. The breath prayer generally involves quietly repeating a chosen phrase for several minutes, allowing the prayer to take on the shape of one's breathing so that the words accompany every breath. Examples of common breath prayers are “In you, Lord, I put my trust,” “Help me understand your ways, Lord,” “Lord I am yours,” and “My Lord and my God.” The idea is to pick a meaningful phrase and repeat it until it becomes a part of your being. Perhaps the most famous breath prayer is the Jesus Prayer. This prayer goes like this: "Lord Jesus Christ" (while breathing in), "have mercy on me, a sinner" (while breathing out). This is done repeatedly until all is stilled within your heart. In the 19th century, an unknown Russian peasant told the story of his … [Read more...]
Autumn Feast
Lord, I enjoyed our meal together this morning.My eyes feasted on the seasonal smorgasbord surrounding me – Light bouncing through the crevices of the clouds, Patches of trees blazing with brilliant oranges, burnt browns, and deepening reds, Fog drifting gently across earthen sea.I drank in the beauty of geese rising in formation, Deer gleaning the harvested fields, Leaves dancing with the wind.Lord of the harvest, You express exquisite creativity in nature. This annual autumn feast reveals Your glory I am amazed and grateful that You prepare this fall feast for our enjoyment. And I think You, Lord, must take delight in this time of year also.****************************************************************************Fall is NOT my favorite time of year, but the morning I wrote this prayer I was overwhelmed by its beauty. Autumn reminds me of the cycle of life and that even as things appear to be dying, they are also becoming new again.What does fall show … [Read more...]
God Will Never Leave Us – Never – Lectio Divina
The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:8He will never leave you.Never.Never? You really mean that Lord? Never?No matter how far I stray?No matter what I say or fail to do?No matter if I walk away from You?No matter if I get angry with You?No matter what?You will never leave me?You stayI driftYou stayI wanderYou stayI get lostYou stayI slink back to You with my head hung low.Thank you for being my constant and my rock.Thank you for never abandoning me when the world, others, and even my own self abandon the soul within me.Thank you for never leaving me.Never … [Read more...]
What We Hold in our Hands – Quote of the Week
"I have held many things in my hands and have lost them all, but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess." -Martin Luther … [Read more...]
Story Time with Henri Nouwen – Trust the Catcher!
Gather around for a great story today. Here is one of my favorite stories told by Henri Nouwen:“The Flying Rodleighs are trapeze artists who perform in the German circus Simoneit-Barum. When the circus came to Freiburg two years ago, my friends Franz and Reny invited me and my father to see the show. I will never forget how enraptured I became when I first saw the Rodleighs move through the air, flying and catching as elegant dancers.The next day, I returned to the circus to see them again and introduced myself to them as one of their great fans. They invited me to attend their practice sessions, gave me free tickets, asked me to dinner, and suggested I travel with them for a week in the near future. I did, and we became good friends."One day, I was sitting with Rodleigh, the leader of the troupe, in his caravan, talking about flying. He said, 'As a flyer, I must have complete trust in my catcher. The public might think that I am the great star of the trapeze, but the real star is Joe, … [Read more...]
Dusty Blessings
The road ahead of me disappears into a khaki cloud of dust. With dry weather, the harvest season in Ohio creates impervious dust storms that swallowed cars before spitting them out on the other side covered with a film of dirt.Yet this dusty blessing feeds us.With ongoing remodeling in my house, no flat surface is spared a layer of white powder from the dry walling. Every time I think I have it cleaned, I spy another surface coated. I am frustrated during a remodeling process that is at first destructive before it can be constructive.Yet this dusty blessing will renovate and refresh my home.Last January my son faced huge heartbreak when he found out his last step into the church ministry was postponed. Instead of beginning the call process last February, he had to wait till this September. God took his situation, full of unfairness, anger, and misunderstanding, and opened an opportunity for him to work at the churchwide headquarters of our denomination, networking with people he would … [Read more...]
Show Me the Best Way, Lord – Lectio Divina
So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all. 1 Corinthians 12:31 (New Living Translation) "Let me show you a way of life that is best of all."Yes, Lord – show me the best way.Not just the best, but the best of all.I too soon grab for the good.I rush into the better.I yearn for the best.The good, the better, and the best dazzle and distract me from You. I fill up on Your appetizers and never enjoy Your entrée or leave room for Your fabulous dessert.You offer to show me the best of all.Open my eyes to see the path You chose as the greatest way.Open my ears to hear Your directions.Spirit, fill my heart with the power of Your patience to wait for Your finest gifts.My eagerness to live a full life on this wonderful earth You created and gave to us, blocks my view of You. I focus more on the blessings and not the One presenting the gifts.You say, “Let me show you.”I say, “Yes, show me, Lord.” … [Read more...]
Autumn Equinox – Quote of the Week
“O sacred season of autumn, be my teacher for I wish to learn the virtue of contentment. As I gaze upon your full-colored beauty, I sense about you an at-home-ness with your amber riches. You are season of retirement, of full barns and harvested fields. The cycle of growth has ceased; the busy work of giving life is now completed. I sense in you no regrets; you’ve lived a full life. “I live in a society ever restless, always eager for more mountains to climb, seeking happiness through more and more possessions. As a child of my culture, I am seldom truly at peace with what I have.“Teach me to take stock of what I’ve been given and received; may I know that is enough, that my striving can cease in the abundance of God’s grace. I know the contentment that allows the totality of my energies to come to full flower, May I know that like you, I am rich beyond measure. As you, O Autumn, take pleasure in great bounty, let me also take delight in the abundance of simple things in life that are … [Read more...]