Thanks to all of you who took the time to fill out my little survey from a few weeks ago. As I read and summarized it, I found surprises, insights and affirmations. Your kind comments warmed and encouraged my heart and your honest sharing fostered a deepening connection and compassion for all of you. Again thank you. What did I discover? Affirmations: Most of you like when I post twice a week – just the right amount of time. I reduced the number of posts a few years ago from four to two and wondered how you liked it. I haven’t lost as many email list subscribers that way. People just get so much email I felt I had to be careful with my number of posts. Great feedback. Also your feedback on my topics was also beneficial and you gave me a wonderful list of ideas for upcoming posts. I also want to do more mini series to provide more depth. Insights: Your list of spiritual practices both confirmed and inspired my writing. The most used practices are ( won’t be too shocking read … [Read more...]
What’s in Your Spiritual Toolbox?
What’s in your spiritual toolbox? We all have them – the go-to tried and true ways we come to God and those little someday I may try that ideas. I like the concept of a toolbox. Now I do believe God is with us all the time and there is nothing we can really “do” to evoke his presence. He is the pursuer of our hearts and surrounds us and lives within no matter what we do. Yet often we can’t hear him, experience him, find his comfort and wisdom. Like the out of control, full melt-down toddler sometimes we need something to cuddle with our worn out blankie or much loved, one-eyed stuffed animal or just spend time in loving arms, to calm our nerves and find the peace, healing and love we so desperately seek. What do we turn to in those times? What do we rely on even in good times? Those are the tools in our spiritual toolbox. Some basic tools we use all the time, like a hammer and screwdriver. The spiritual tools like prayer and Bible reading are essentials in everyone’s … [Read more...]
What is the Most Important Invention Ever Discovered?
What is the most important invention ever discovered? I read the other day one answer to this intriguing idea is this: The QUESTION. I think there is some validity to pondering the process of asking questions in our lives, our faith, and our thinking. The question is a priceless tool for growth. Even God uses questions: But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” Genesis 3: 9 Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? Psalm 139:7 Jesus … asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" … He asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Mark 8:27,29 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Romans 8:35 I love taking questions found in the Bible and using them in my meditations and journaling. Often just one question has inspired an entire multi-day retreat for me. Living a reflective life is a spiritual practice that … [Read more...]
Gratitude Is Powerful but Also Tasty
Our pastor shared this story last Sunday that has lingered with me this week. He was preaching on the text: Giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5: 20 I really do believe in the power of gratitude but never really considered how being thankful also adds joyous seasoning to my life too. Here is the story he shared: The late Dr. Fulton Oursler used to tell of an old woman who took care of him when he was a child. His caregiver not only expressed her thanks, but felt it and lived it each moment. You see, Anna was a former American slave who, after emancipation, was hired by the family for many years. He remembered her sitting at the kitchen table, her hands folded and her eyes gazing upward as she prayed, “Much obliged, Lord, for my vittles.” He asked her what vittles were and she replied that they were food and drink. He told her that she would get food and drink whether or not she gave thanks, and Anna said, … [Read more...]
Quote About Love – Richard Rohr
Rediscovering a Treasure – A Diary of Private Prayer
My mornings are blessed lately by rereading a classic – A Diary of Private Prayer by John Baillie. First published in 1936, A Diary of Private Prayer remains a devotional masterpiece with more than a million copies in print. To be honest, this old book has been sitting on my shelf untouched for quite awhile. I don’t remember buying it. I even don’t know what made me find it a couple of weeks ago and put it by my Bible. This last week its words just called to me to open it and I was amazed and taken in by its wisdom. Each prayer captures my deepest desire to love God more. His language is a beautiful devotional testament to his love for God. Each day has two pages, one titled Morning and the other Evening and there are 31 chapters for each of the days of a month. The language is old – lots of “thees, thines and thous and didst” but the meaning is lovely. I simply translate them in my heart and mind to “you” and “did.” This morning I read one aloud twice – once with the archaic … [Read more...]
Seven Summer Lessons from the Wonderful Watermelon
I love summertime. One of the best joys are all those fresh fruits and vegetables – healthy and delicious combinations of exploding nutrition in our mouths. Even the colors – inside and out – are refreshing to the eyes. One of my favorites is the watermelon. Just learned I missed National Watermelon Day, which was celebrated August 3. So let’s celebrate a little late this year and wonder about the watermelon. If you take something you really enjoy and let your mind and heart wonder a bit, God shows up. As I relished a sample of watermelon last week I became curious about this innovation from God. I never realized all the interesting facts, diversity, and varieties of watermelon that existed. God just amazes me with His creativity and gifts. Perhaps that is why this column by Omid Safi attracted me a few weeks ago. He writes once a week on On Being (I signed up to get once a week email summary of their blog posts and almost always find treasure in their words.). Go read Safi’s … [Read more...]
Expand your Vocabulary and your Faith – Hiraeth
I expanded my vocabulary last week and learned a new Celtic word - HIRAETH. Ever hear of it? Even if you haven’t I bet you have experienced it. The web site, Innerwoven, presented a five part series explaining this Celtic word. I encourage you to go there and read all of its wise and thought provoking words. Hiraeth is actually a Welsh word that basically means longing or homesickness. Robert Rife writes: “It might be defined as a longing, a homesickness for a home to which one can never return. It is the unrequited hope that produces ever more unanswered longing. It is a grieving for the lost places and moments of one’s past – a sense of loss for loving moments and places, fondly remembered. It sits in the dream world where longing, belonging, home, and wanderlust meet.” A few years ago my hubby and I discussed where we wanted to spend our rest of our lives. We just retired and the world was open to the next chapter in our lives. This small rural town I lived in for … [Read more...]