How do you prepare your heart for pilgrimage? I leave in a few weeks for a bucket list pilgrimage to Ireland. One-third of the joys of travel is the anticipation of the time away, one-third the actual journey, and one-third reminiscing and beholding the memories after returning home. I want to be fully present and prepared for this special pilgrimage. What is Pilgrimage? A pilgrimage is a journey packed with sacred meaning. More than just travel, pilgrimage is a trip that transforms. I have written before about the spiritual practice of pilgrimage on this blog. If you don't know much about pilgrimage or want to read more check out these posts: Pilgrimage with Prayer The Difference Between a Vacation and a Pilgrimage I treasure how I grow spiritually on those journeys and thought of them once again a few weeks ago while reading the book, The Art of Pilgrimage by Phil Cousineau. Rich with great quotes, it was one of those books I underlined quite a bit. “If we … [Read more...]
Waiting in Prayer
Waiting for a prayer to be answered is hard. I have several prayers I have been hounding God about for years. I haven't heard no. I haven't seen the results I told him I wanted. I will be honest I have more than suggested something he may want to take care of. Now, please, Lord! We wait in prayer and often don't get the answer we wanted. Sometimes while waiting in prayer, the answer appears in an unexpected way. Or even better than ever imagined blessings. But my pile of "someday" prayers simmers in my heart. Waiting in Prayer I don't have tricks or techniques to help in the time of waiting but have been exploring and talking with God about this phenomenon we all experience. Perhaps God uses this time like weight-training but spelled differently -wait-training. Here are some gems to consider: But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. – Romans 8:25 Patience? Sigh. Waiting in prayer does teach us patience or at least attempts to foster … [Read more...]
A New View
I heard the grinding before I knew what was happening. My peaceful morning in my office erupted with noise and flying sawdust. Men next door were cutting down my neighbor's huge tree that long loomed between our two homes. The tree companioned me through all the seasons. As I sat in my glider for my morning time with God, I would watch that tree as I prayed, journaled, sought God. The tree that shaded my backyard and yes, rained down leaves in my garden. The tree that spun gold in fall and gave birth to new life each spring. The tree that housed black squirrels who dance in its limbs. I loved watching its branches wave back to me as we shared years and prayers together. A few springs ago we noticed its twigs were slow to grow new leaves. After a wind storm, big limbs dented the neighbor's car. The tree's fullness waned. Like a receding hairline, more sky peeked through the branches. Even the trunk looked grayer. The tree aged and died this year. Is it silly to … [Read more...]
10 Quotes on Prayer During Difficult Times
In September we have been looking how to pray when it is difficult. This is all part of the Year of Prayer here on Healthy Spirituality. You may find the previous posts about praying during difficult times here and here. I love chewing on great bits of wisdom found in the wise words from others. Here are 10 thought-provoking and inspirational quotes about prayer that I hope will help you in hard times. Find one or two of your favorites and tug them into your journal and/or Bible. May these words bubble up and find you again just when you need them. Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference" Max Lucado ****** Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts. Mother Teresa ****** I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming … [Read more...]
Invitation to Retreat – New Book by Ruth Haley Barton
Here is your invitation to retreat – Dear Beloved Child of God Your presence is requested in my Presence. You are invited to come away with me. This time is my gift to you – being together with your Creator, Savior, and Spirit. This time is also my summons, a necessity for your soul-health. Come. Be. Retreat. The spiritual practice of going on retreat is a discipline I have experienced and believe is one of the most essential tools for nurturing my spirit. I have written about this practice in the past on several blog posts such as How to Prepare Your Heart for Spiritual Retreat and 5 Ways Spiritual Retreats Transform Your Life. I even wrote a book called Spiritual Retreats in response to a friend's questions about my practice. I was thrilled to hear about a new book on this topic by one of my favorite authors. What a great combination! Ruth Haley Barton just released her latest title: Invitation to Retreat – the Gift and Necessity of Time Away … [Read more...]
Praying When You Don’t Like What You See – Guest Post – Kelly O’Dell Stanley
As we continue to explore the spiritual practice of prayer this year, this month the word "difficult" frames our prayers. If you missed last week's post, you may want to check it here. I have so enjoyed bringing some different voices to Healthy Spirituality through guest posts. I am delighted to introduce you to my friend, Kelly O'Dell Stanley. We met at a writers conference eons ago- we were both very green as writers - and I have been so blessed to watch her now blossom into a published writer and writer conference speaker. Be sure to check out her books and her blog! Here is a little more about Kelly: Kelly O’Dell Stanley is the author of Praying Upside Down and Designed to Pray. A graphic designer who writes (or is it a writer who designs?), she's also a redhead who’s pretty good at controlling her temper, a believer in doing everything to excess, and a professional wrestler of doubt and faith. She blogs at kellyostanley.com and calls small-town Indiana her … [Read more...]
Making Prayer Too Difficult
Are you guilty of making prayer too difficult? I know I do at times. Okay, most times. I was thinking the other day how I have been walking with you this entire year, discovering, exploring, and tasting prayer. Though the adventure has been rich and full, how am I going to remember to "do" all these prayers, these wonderful "techniques" and of course, do them correctly so I earn an A in the course? I know. I know. I know that isn't what God wants. Me neither. In September, a word to frame our traveling with prayer will be "difficult." Today is reflecting on making prayer too difficult and next week will be when it is too difficult to pray. Earlier in the summer, I updated a free prayer resources called "The Prayer Tool Box. " This pdf has lots of digital and analog ideas for spending your time with God. Click the button at the bottom of this post to get yours if you didn't get one in June. Making Prayer Too Difficult K.I.S.S. – Keep It Simple, Sweetie! Sometimes the best … [Read more...]
Monthly Musings –What I Learned in August
August Monthly Musings August? Already? The older I get, the faster time flies. And summer races by the quickest. Another great reason for taking the time each month to pause, remember and behold the past weeks and tuck into our hearts all of life's sparkle and lessons. How are you living a reflective life? Each month I look back at what I am discovering, learning, and exploring in life – I call these my monthly musings. Capturing these special moments gives meaning, depth, and delight to life. Let’s wake up to the wonders in the ordinary all around us. I record what I notice on the pages of my Monthly Musing Journal. You can use anything, scraps of papers, a journal, or a calendar. Copies of my Monthly Musing Journal are available on Amazon and are a convenient way to keep track of the little things in life we often miss. Or if you want to click the button at the end of this post to get a FREE copy of my one-sheet Monthly Musing handout. What I Learned in … [Read more...]