Three Pentecost Symbols Pentecost will be celebrating in many of our churches this coming Sunday. I love the imagery and symbols of this important day in the church. Many Christians emphasize Christmas and Easter – and rightfully so – so why do we ignore this key moment in our church? I compiled a guide for ideas to celebrate Pentecost. You can download this resource at no cost by clicking on the button below. Click here to get Pentecost Ideas What is Pentecost? Pentecost is sudden and powerful arrival of the Holy Spirit in and around the disciples and their friends gathered together in Jerusalem Pentecost means "the 50th day" and marks the end of the Easter season. According to the second chapter in Acts, here is what happened: Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the … [Read more...]
Prayer Ponderings
Prayer Today is the National Day of Prayer in the U.S. Prayer is an essential tool for healthy spirituality and one spiritual practice that we can always learn more about, one to try new approaches and one that continually nourishes our soul. How is your prayer life? Sometimes it is hard to answer that question. I know my intentions for this discipline are much higher, more robust and less me and more God than what I put into practice. Yet I am always seeking new ways to be with God throughout the day, to prayer without ceasing as the Bible directs us, and quiet my inner chatter to hear God. "Prayer is an expression of who we are…. We are a living incompleteness. We are a gap, an emptiness that calls for fulfillment." Thomas Merton I have heard that a Gallop poll revealed in one week more Americans will pray than will exercise, drive a car, have sex and go to work. Nine out of ten people say they do pray. We "say" prayer is important to us, to our faith, for our families and … [Read more...]
Monthly Musings – What I Learned in April
Monthly Musings Each month I pause and take a look back at what I am discovering, learning, and exploring in life – I call these my monthly musings. Living a reflective life is a spiritual practice that adds depth and gratitude to our lives. Often our busy schedules make it difficult to keep a daily journal, but we can find the time to take notes of the some of the highlights, lessons, and joys by waking up and paying attention. I record these 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. What I Learned in April Lessons Learned The series I wrote in April on discernment struck a chord with many readers and deepened my awareness of discernment, not just a tool for a major life decisions, but a way of life to live each day. What a blessing we have to have so many … [Read more...]
Discernment – Lessons Learned
Discernment Discernment has been the theme for April's Tending the Holy Thursday posts. I find it fun and insightful to dig into a topic with more depth. This week I am sharing some lessons I have learned and pondered while studying discernment. May this topic help you through those difficult transitions and just plain daily choices. The first week we began with defining and exploring discernment, second week I shared tips and how-to's, and last week's post of quotes and resources. You may want to read or review them as you need. Discernment – Lessons Learned. Discernment is more than decision-making. Yes, we use discernment at times of major life transitions and crossroads, but this practice also enhances our daily living. Living a discerning life is " hearing a deeper sound beneath the noise of ordinary life and seeing through appearances to the interconnectedness of all things, to gain a vision of how things hand together in our lives and in the world." Henri … [Read more...]
Blessings – How to Use Blessing as a Spiritual Practice
Blessings Blessings – we use this word all the time. "God bless you," we respond when someone sneezes. "Bless your journey," – we might say as someone leaves our presence. Blessings – a single word we could use to close our note or blog post comment. We may even pray using the word "blessings," even with a little sarcasm. "Lord, give me patience to endure these blessings." But have you ever paused and thought about blessings. What does that word mean? How can we intentionally use blessings as a spiritual practice? What is a Blessing? A blessing is a special prayer given from one person to another, as in sincerely wishing the best for somebody. Another way of defining blessing is an unexpected, perhaps undeserved gift. Or to give someone your blessing is to give them your permission, an approval to go ahead with their plan, such as when a young man asks his girlfriend's parents if he can marry their daughter. Blessing can be the words we say before a meal to … [Read more...]
Discernment Quotes and Resources
Discernment is the theme for April's Tending the Holy Thursday posts. This week I am including quotes to inspire you when pondering discernment and some resources to help you along the way. Next week I summarize the lessons we all can learn by living a discerning life. May this deepening topic help you through those difficult transitions and just plain daily choices. This is the third week to explore discernment. The first week we began with defining and exploring discernment and last week I shared tips and how-to's. Quotes to Ponder about Discernment Enjoy the following words of wisdom and feel free to share them on social media and/or Pinterest: "It's funny: I always imagined when I was a kid that adults had some kind of inner toolbox full of shiny tools: the saw of discernment, the hammer of wisdom, the sandpaper of patience. But then when I grew up I found that life handed you these rusty bent old tools - friendships, prayer, conscience, honesty - and said 'do … [Read more...]
Spiritual Spring Cleaning
Spiritual Spring Cleaning Have you started your spring cleaning yet? Warmer weather here in Ohio invites me to scrub, scour, and sort. I love having the windows open for the fresh air, but then notice the smudges and spots from winter on the glass. I emptied cupboards, reorganized shelves, and even washed the outside windows. The silver tea service I inherited from my mother is buffed and polished. The house is beginning to shine. That is not all. I even have a dental appointment this week to get my teeth cleaned. Sparkling though and though, right? Yesterday I tackled the first batch of weeds in the flower gardens. Looks like we have lost two of my rose bushes this year. But then again, that means some fun time shopping in the garden section where I am sure I will find more than just roses. Spiritual Spring Cleaning Inside the house work. Outside the house work. Then I felt God say to me quietly – how about inside your heart? What inside – inside of you – needs … [Read more...]
Discernment – How to Make those Divine, Daily, and Sometime Difficult Decisions
Discernment. Discernment. Facing those difficult moments of deciding what to do can be hard, confusing, and sometimes life altering. Which way to go? Who will this impact? What will be the consequences? Facing a difficult time of indecisiveness and confusion twists our guts and fogs our faith. Even living with day to day decisions and making the best choices becomes overwhelming in a world distracted with marvelous, tempting, and also annoying options. How can we live and thrive and grow as discerning people? Discernment is the theme for April's Tending the Holy Thursday posts. This week we will explore some of the methods that are helpful with this much needed practice. Next week I will share some quotes and resources, then end with lessons about discernment. May this deepening topic help you through those difficult transitions and just plain daily choices. Remember discernment is more than decision making. To discern in Latin means to discernere - dis = apart and cernere … [Read more...]