Have you heard of a Rule of Life? Have you written your own Rule of Life? A Rule of Life is identifying the essential spiritual elements in how you feel God wants you to life this human life. A Rule for Life is a collection of guidelines for living. It can also be called a Way of Life. Its purpose is to help us keep our sense of balance by intentionally addressing all aspects of life: physical, emotional, socially, spiritually, etc. As part of my training as a spiritual director ten years ago, we were encouraged to write our Rule of Life. I keep a copy in my journal and my bible and often look at its wisdom. Am I adhering to my basic beliefs and do my thoughts and behavior mirror them? Over the years, I have revised them, but amazingly they are quite similar to what I originally wrote. I find having a Rule of Life helps me refocus on my deepest desire - to be with God, learn to love like him, and to serve him as he calls me. On Tending the Holy Thursdays, I present a topic that we … [Read more...]
Is Your Heart Prepared for Lent?
Lent begins this week. Are you ready? Is your heart prepared for Lent? I used to jump in at the last minute in my preparation for this solemn time of year pondering the time before Easter we call Lent. To be honest, often it would be two weeks into the season before I would think – “Wow, Easter seems early this year? Am I ready?” Of course, getting ready meant buying spring outfits for the kids and new shoes. Maybe decorating with rabbits and coloring Easter eggs. Ham for the big meal? Sunrise or regular services that morning? Don’t tell anyone, but often I would want to just skip the sad readings in my devotionals, the dreary February weather skies and hop right into green spring in Ohio. But now I prepare my heart for Lent differently. Perhaps because I am older and closer to death myself. Maybe the truth we call God’s love is finally sinking to my dry soul. I am more intentional about my Lenten practices now and dare I say, look forward to spending in-depth time … [Read more...]
Finding a Blessing in a Mistake
Ever find a blessing in a mistake? Last November, I made a mistake. Trying to provide more value for you as readers of this blog, I have been offering on some posts, an additional free item to deepen whatever the day's theme featured. For example, last Tuesday I offered a one page printable called Monthly Musings, to record your learnings and observations for the month. All I ask for in return is your email address. Simple, right? Well, not if how you set the system up is wrong. My fault. My error. My goof-up. I didn't follow the instructions correctly so when someone clicked on the button requesting the freebie, entered their email - well, they got nothing... crickets...WHERE'S MY GIFT????? Ironically what item they were requesting was my 50 Questions to Nurture Gratitude. I certainly didn't feel very grateful once I learned the system wasn't working. A fellow blogger was the one to let me know - thank you, Martha - and I soon corrected it (though to be honest I … [Read more...]
January’s Monthly Musings – What I am Observing and Learning in this Wild Adventure of Life.
What are Monthly Musings? For the last few months at the beginning of the month, I share lessons I learned from the previous month. I call these my Monthly Musings (I have a free cheat sheet if you want to help with this practice you (see end of this post) and/or a printed book, Monthly Musings Journal, available on Amazon if you are interested). These are ways to incorporate the spiritual practice of reflection into your life and often I see God's touch and presence more in this rearview mirror look-back on life. January Monthly Musings Lessons Learned: Patience! No, I haven't learned this lesson completely yet and wonder if I ever will, but God sure took me into the classroom in January. Technology can be wonderful when it works, but when your computer quits, the frustration erupts. And for someone who writes, the irritation grows exponentially. My poor laptop is back in the shop for a second time and the reality that I may have lost several years of work is looming. Yes, I … [Read more...]
Finding Your Purpose – Lessons Learned – Tending the Holy Thursdays
Finding Your Purpose - Lessons Learned In January on Tending the Holy Thursdays, we have been exploring finding your purpose. I encourage you to reread the first three blog posts about this topic and if you haven’t already, download the Spiritual Autobiography Resource Guide to complete to help you in your search. (See button at end of this post) This week the focus is on the lessons learned and I invite you in the comments to reflect on what you learned. Have you received any insights into your purpose or what new ideas appeals to you as you continue to distill this longing within your heart? Lessons Learned – Finding your Purpose God first – I will never have all the answers and can’t even find the next step without focusing on God first. The whole process of finding meaning in my life begins with him. He planted this hunger within me and I truly believe he sows the seeds of desire in my heart. As I dig and listen and seek for answers, prayer soaks the whole experience. … [Read more...]
Prayer – Why Do We Pray? How To Freshen Your Prayer Life
Prayer - Why Do We Pray? How To Freshen Your Prayer Life Prayer - I have really needed and thought about and lean upon prayer this past week. Prayer is a foundational practice for many of us and for me I know prayer strengthens and guides me. Have you ever thought about why we pray? Why Pray? We pray for many reasons. God invites us into relationship and discussion with him in prayer. Doesn't it just blow your mind that the almighty, ever powerful God, creator of all things, desires to be with little old you and me in an intimate conversation? Wow! How could we turn down this gift of being with God? Prayer gives us the opportunity to praise and glorify God. To stand among others throughout history, those present now, and those yet to come into human form in awe and wonder of something so much greater than ourselves. Prayer changes us - turns our every cells, thoughts, and behaviors around to look, seek, and reach for God. Prayer makes us pliable in the hands of the … [Read more...]
Finding Your Purpose – Quotes to Ponder – Tending the Holy Thursdays
Finding Your Purpose – Quotes to Ponder In January on Tending the Holy Thursdays, we have been exploring finding your purpose. I encourage you to reread the first two blog posts about this topic and if you haven’t already and download the Spiritual Autobiography Resource Guide to complete to help you in your search. (See button at end of this post) Next week I will summarize this topic and add some of my lessons learned and will invite you in the comments to reflect on what you learned. Today I am going to simply list thoughts/quotes what others have written about finding your purpose. It is my hope these words guide you to clarity, stimulate your imagination of what could be and motivate you to keep searching. “Let yourself be silently drawn by the stronger pull of what you really love.” Rumi ******** “Decide upon your major definite purpose in life and then organize all your activities around it.” Brian Tracy ******** “Uncovering purpose helps to refine passion, … [Read more...]
Luther and Katharina – Book Review
I love a book with a strong female lead. And when the story is partially based on history, the reading becomes more intriguing. A great read for the upcoming 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Luther and Katharina – a Novel of Love and Rebellion by Jody Hedlund tells the story of Martin Luther and Katharina von Bora’s relationship and then marriage. This fast read swept me quickly into the 1500s dark history of war, reformation, courage, and turmoil. This is a love story more than a history book. I kept wondering as I read it what was true and what was the author’s imagination. Hedlund clarified that in the author’s notes in the back of the book which as I reader I appreciated knowing. To be honest, I am a non-fiction reader and rarely read or enjoy fiction books. So it is quite an accomplishment to have a novel keep my attention from the start and draw me into the story with great dialog and description like this book did. The story captivated me and made me curious about … [Read more...]