Be Still and Know I am God. Stillness – this essential ingredient in prayer does not come naturally to me, to many of us. How can we practice more stillness in our time with God? With 2018 being the year of prayer here on the Healthy Spirituality blog, in April we are looking at the keys of slowing down to spend time with God in stillness, slowness, solitude and silence. Each month this year on the Tending the Holy Thursdays there will be a focus on an aspect of prayer. On my Thursday posts, I pick one theme (or person of faith) to explore deeper. I call this series Tending the Holy Thursdays. I updated a handout I used in 2016 called "Slowing Down to be with God" and this will be this month's free guide for you. It contains ideas, resources, and questions to consider when getting off the busyness treadmill to abide, to be with God in prayer. You can download this free guide by clicking the button at the end of the post. Stillness The greatest blessing … [Read more...]
Ever Hear of Easter Monday?
Easter Monday? I read about this designated day three times yesterday; each time realizing I never thought about the Monday after Easter being anything special. Have you ever focused on Easter Monday? With the "big event" featured on Sunday – He is risen! – Monday seems a letdown, a back to work routine, a ho-hum-who-cares type of day. But after seeing Easter Monday referred to multiply times – duh, a spiritual 2x4 wake-up call – I figure I ought to find out more about this day. And what I discovered sure was interesting! I am beginning to appreciate the spiritual practice of being curious and asking questions to explore different points of view. Easter Monday Easter Monday is an official holiday in many countries such as England, Northern Ireland, and Wales. It is also observed as a public holiday in dozens of other countries around the world, including Australia, Italy, Netherlands, Uganda, and Belize, for example. Easter Monday, also known as Bright or Renewal Monday, Wet … [Read more...]
Monthly Musings –What I Learned in March
March Monthly Musings What did the month of March teach you? What are your monthly musings? Life offers us so many lessons, opportunities, challenges – always a learning process, a refining, a growth edge. 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, scrapes 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 March Monthly Musing Lesson Learned: Will I ever learn to pivot better? I am … [Read more...]
Lent Madness – The Final Four
One of my favorite Lenten traditions is following and voting in the annual Lent Madness. Lent Madness concludes this week with the crowning of the coveted Golden Halo to the "saint" who receives the most votes. This crazy fun, inspirational and educational project began in 2010 and is repeated each year. How does it work? The format is pretty simple: 32 saints are placed into a tournament-like single elimination bracket. Each pairing remains open for a set period of time and people vote for their favorite saint. 16 saints make it to the Round of the Saintly Sixteen; eight advance to the Round of the Elate Eight; four make it to the Final Four; two to the Championship; and the winner is awarded the Golden Halo. The first round consists of basic biographical information about each of the 32 saints. Things get a bit more interesting in the subsequent rounds with quotes and quirks, legends, and even weird and unusual saintly kitsch. This week is the conclusion for the 2018 … [Read more...]
Prayers for Different Seasons
How does your season of life affect how you pray? Last Thursday we began to explore the seasons of prayer and listed the many ways to describe your current chapter of life. With 2018 being the year of prayer here on the Healthy Spirituality blog, this month we are looking at seasons of prayer and of life. Each month this year on the Tending the Holy Thursdays there will be a focus on an aspect of prayer. On my Thursday posts, I pick one theme (or person of faith) to explore deeper. I call this series Tending the Holy Thursdays. This month we've looked into our reasons to pray. I did complete a printable for you called the "Seasons of Prayer Worksheet" which asks leading questions to help you explore and name your season, what emotions dwell in this time for you and possible ways to praying. You can download this free worksheet by clicking the button at the end of this post. Today I'd like to share with you some examples of prayers for particular seasons of life. I hope some … [Read more...]
What Are You Reading? Year of Reading Update
One of my goals this year is to read more. What are you reading right now? In January, I proudly told you that beside this being the year of prayer and creativity for me, it was also the year of reading. I shared a video from Pat Flynn where he recommended reading every day, so I put reading on my daily to do list. I even created an editorial calendar for my reading. Well, that lasted most of January, but disappeared in February. While on vacation a few weeks ago though I began to read again. Maybe there is hope yet. Here are two books I just finished to share with you. I found it interesting that both books combined something practical with inspiration and scripture. Reading: A Pinch Wisdom, Taste of Scripture – Guiding You into the Word Around the Table. I love this newest book by Clella Camp. Think spices, meal ideas, and inspiration all rolled into a devotional recipe book. Clella writes about spices and herbs such as cinnamon, allspice, basil and tells … [Read more...]
Seasons of Prayer
What season are you in? How does your season affect your prayer life? With 2018 being the year of prayer here on the Healthy Spirituality blog, this month we are looking at seasons of prayer and of life. In January we explore the definitions of prayer and last month discussed why we pray. Each month this year on the Tending the Holy Thursdays there will be a focus on an aspect of prayer. On my Thursday posts, I pick one theme (or person of faith) to explore deeper. I call this series Tending the Holy Thursdays. What is Your Season? Seasons can be defined in different ways. This following list isn't complete, but may give you more than one way to describe where you are right now. What season are you experiencing? Season by Age Childhood Teenage Young Adult Middle Adult Young Older Adult Getting Older Adult Older Adult Over the Hill – Ha! Season of Life Births/birthdays Baptism Confirmation Driver's License College … [Read more...]
Overwhelmed? Simply Take the Next Right Step
Vacation was delightful. The trip home uneventful. I didn't even gain weight this time, so rejoiced at my Weight Watcher meeting. Then the "overwhelms" engulfed my world. Sickness. Deadlines. Immediate needs/expectations from others. Longer than anticipated meetings. A crowded, unrealistic to do list. I felt overwhelmed, beaten, and swamped last week. When stress floods my soul, I procrastinate – putting me even further behind. Anyone else react that way? My frustration mounted until I remembered the wisdom of only focusing on the next simple step. Simply Take the Next Right Step Feeling overwhelmed arises from the sense of not being in control. I can't control everything, especially from others and situations filled with viruses and bacteria. But I can control my attitude. I can decide what is the next right step and choose to focus only on getting that step done. What reminded me of this good advice was the following video about dominoes. Please take the time … [Read more...]