Tuesday, first week of Lent
We were discussing Lent in class yesterday when one woman declared she was fasting from critical thoughts. Ouch. What would happen in us and in our relationships if we did this? How can we create space in our souls to love those who hurt us and deal with those who annoy us? We could simply pray and ask God for His thoughts.
Medicine from Sacred Scripture:
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8, 9
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Monday, February 18, 2013
BREAKFAST WITH GOD
Monday, first week of Lent
Waffles, strawberries and whipped cream lined the counter this morning as we prepared for another Monday; but an unexpected power outage brought us house guests. We made room. What joy- little ones who say, "Come here, come here, come here!" A little different than our "normal" teenage morning.
I think this is the true meaning of Lent- God saying, "Come here, come here, come here," drawing us close to His heart of love. "Want to have breakfast sometime?" My friend's question stole quietly into my heart and soothed the lonely places in me. I wonder what would happen if we answered God's call to come near?
Medicine from Sacred Writing:
"So God asks us to come to a table of fasting, to breakfast there, while others eat. How can this be? "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." We come to feast with God at the table of fasting; He fills us with good things- with His words, His compassion and perspective on the poor, on our own appetites."
St. Augustine on the Psalms Psalm XLIII.7 NPNF vol 8:140
Waffles, strawberries and whipped cream lined the counter this morning as we prepared for another Monday; but an unexpected power outage brought us house guests. We made room. What joy- little ones who say, "Come here, come here, come here!" A little different than our "normal" teenage morning.
I think this is the true meaning of Lent- God saying, "Come here, come here, come here," drawing us close to His heart of love. "Want to have breakfast sometime?" My friend's question stole quietly into my heart and soothed the lonely places in me. I wonder what would happen if we answered God's call to come near?
Medicine from Sacred Writing:
"So God asks us to come to a table of fasting, to breakfast there, while others eat. How can this be? "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." We come to feast with God at the table of fasting; He fills us with good things- with His words, His compassion and perspective on the poor, on our own appetites."
St. Augustine on the Psalms Psalm XLIII.7 NPNF vol 8:140
HELD
First Sunday in Lent
Snow swirled on the roads as I skidded into church yesterday- a telling picture of my exhausting week: boys' races, teacher conferences, dinners and people commitments had all depleted me. I needed rest.
The heavenly Father quieted the storm in me as I obediently gave Him that time of worship. He held me in His mercy. All the rush, the frantic pace and misplaced priorities melted in the light of His presence. Do you need help, do you need to be quieted by His love? Run into His arms and ask, "Hold me in Your mercy."
Medicine from Sacred Scripture:
"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16
Snow swirled on the roads as I skidded into church yesterday- a telling picture of my exhausting week: boys' races, teacher conferences, dinners and people commitments had all depleted me. I needed rest.
The heavenly Father quieted the storm in me as I obediently gave Him that time of worship. He held me in His mercy. All the rush, the frantic pace and misplaced priorities melted in the light of His presence. Do you need help, do you need to be quieted by His love? Run into His arms and ask, "Hold me in Your mercy."
Medicine from Sacred Scripture:
"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16
Sunday, February 17, 2013
SNOW
Saturday After Ash Wednesday
I woke Saturday to a fresh snow; layers of white wrapped the early morning in stillness. I thought of the Lord's words in Isaiah 1:18, "Come now, let us reason together, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."
On this journey in Lent would we be willing to talk to Our Father and reason with Him? Could we ask Him about our sin and see what He has to say? We might be surprised; I see the scarlet of my sin, He sees snow.
Medicine from Sacred Writings:
"Blessed be God who has comforted our sorrowing souls and stayed our agitate spirits."
St. John Chrysostom Homily IV Concerning the Statues NPNF1 vol 9, 364
I woke Saturday to a fresh snow; layers of white wrapped the early morning in stillness. I thought of the Lord's words in Isaiah 1:18, "Come now, let us reason together, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."
On this journey in Lent would we be willing to talk to Our Father and reason with Him? Could we ask Him about our sin and see what He has to say? We might be surprised; I see the scarlet of my sin, He sees snow.
Medicine from Sacred Writings:
"Blessed be God who has comforted our sorrowing souls and stayed our agitate spirits."
St. John Chrysostom Homily IV Concerning the Statues NPNF1 vol 9, 364
Friday, February 15, 2013
SPRING THAW
Sun poured down yesterday in the White Mountains as I watched our boys race. The late winter snow yielded to the warmth of the day. Last week's blizzard dumped plenty of powder for their skiing, but Mother Nature was melting all she had made.
There is so much in my heart that needs a good spring thaw:
~ resentments piling up like ice jams causing structural havoc on the roof of my soul
~daily frustrations settling like a cold snap causing frigidness in my relationships
~fresh onslaughts of cares, concerns and worries which toss me about like a nor'easter
~doubts and fears acting like black ice tripping me up when I least expect it
A winter walk under a dazzling blue sky touched the frozen places in me. What was it that lifted my soul? It was the light. I can choose to lift my face and feel the sunshine warm me and let God's creation remind me: Someone is watching over me.
Medicine from Sacred Scripture:
"I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip- He who watches over you will never slumber." Psalm 121:1-3
There is so much in my heart that needs a good spring thaw:
~ resentments piling up like ice jams causing structural havoc on the roof of my soul
~daily frustrations settling like a cold snap causing frigidness in my relationships
~fresh onslaughts of cares, concerns and worries which toss me about like a nor'easter
~doubts and fears acting like black ice tripping me up when I least expect it
A winter walk under a dazzling blue sky touched the frozen places in me. What was it that lifted my soul? It was the light. I can choose to lift my face and feel the sunshine warm me and let God's creation remind me: Someone is watching over me.
Medicine from Sacred Scripture:
"I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip- He who watches over you will never slumber." Psalm 121:1-3
WALKING IN THE LIGHT OF LENT
A friend of mine goes into the depths of despair during Lent- so much focus on sin and repentance and purifying ourselves can be overwhelming as we look within ourselves and find so little that is holy. So, I decided I would write the forty days of Lent- you may want to follow along if you struggle with the how and why of Lent.
On Ash Wednesday I was marked with ashes that signified I was Christ's own.
"Do my words and actions tell others I am His? The call of Lent is the call to die to our old way of living," Fr. Don said. I cried through the service as I realized just how much had to die in me to be holy and His. I don't need to stumble around in the darkness of my old ways- anger and frustration and resentment; I can let them go in the light of Lent. I can embrace the One who is called the Light of the world and ask Him to take my hand this Lenten season and lead me in holiness.
So every day of Lent I will write a little thought, snippet or post something from Sacred writing or Scripture that might light your path.
Medicine from Holy Scripture:
"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin." 1 John 1:5-7
On Ash Wednesday I was marked with ashes that signified I was Christ's own.
"Do my words and actions tell others I am His? The call of Lent is the call to die to our old way of living," Fr. Don said. I cried through the service as I realized just how much had to die in me to be holy and His. I don't need to stumble around in the darkness of my old ways- anger and frustration and resentment; I can let them go in the light of Lent. I can embrace the One who is called the Light of the world and ask Him to take my hand this Lenten season and lead me in holiness.
So every day of Lent I will write a little thought, snippet or post something from Sacred writing or Scripture that might light your path.
Medicine from Holy Scripture:
"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin." 1 John 1:5-7
Thursday, January 24, 2013
BUBBLE WRAP
I threw the few scattered belongings I had grabbed into the backseat of my Volvo XC90 and descended the steep snowy road and headed home; selling our mountain house fully furnished left very little to be packed up, but still, I needed bubble wrap. My beautiful blue pitcher and bowl broke with my hurried handling.
How like my life. I try to rush through every move, even the natural rhythm of moving through each day. I am impatient and harsh and my fragile heart breaks with my rough handling of myself. Kneeling in prayer the other day I saw the little things wounding me: words that hurt, days that are too cold, a need for direction, feelings I can't understand. God whispered, "Let Me wrap you in Divine love and embrace and give you the protection you need. I want My love of you to inform all your actions and reactions. Move and live and have your being from a sense of My Holy handling of you and those in your life, then the words, the hurts, the trials, the misunderstandings won't hurt you so deeply."
Who's handling your heart and hurts? Trust the One who longs to wrap you in love
Medicine from Sacred Scripture:
"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you." Psalm 143:8
How like my life. I try to rush through every move, even the natural rhythm of moving through each day. I am impatient and harsh and my fragile heart breaks with my rough handling of myself. Kneeling in prayer the other day I saw the little things wounding me: words that hurt, days that are too cold, a need for direction, feelings I can't understand. God whispered, "Let Me wrap you in Divine love and embrace and give you the protection you need. I want My love of you to inform all your actions and reactions. Move and live and have your being from a sense of My Holy handling of you and those in your life, then the words, the hurts, the trials, the misunderstandings won't hurt you so deeply."
Who's handling your heart and hurts? Trust the One who longs to wrap you in love
Medicine from Sacred Scripture:
"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you." Psalm 143:8
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)