Tag Archives: Spirituality

I Love Spending Time With You

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I know a lady whose husband often spoke those words to her, “I love spending time with you.”

It made me think of how God longs to hear those words from us.

Can we bring ourselves to not only say those words to Him and mean them, but also spend some time with Him every day? Happy Sunday.

Isaiah 30:18 New Living Translation (NLT)

Blessings for the Lord’s People

18 So the Lord must wait for you to come to him
    so he can show you his love and compassion.
For the Lord is a faithful God.
    Blessed are those who wait for his help.

 

 

The Unseen Force

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While watching the leaves on my birch tree fluttering gently in the breeze, it came to me how that movement was very noticeable but the source of the movement was not.

Recalling a recent thunderstorm where my veranda chairs took off across the lawn and tree branches were bent almost to the ground I remember thinking that while the strength of the source was visible, the source itself was not.

Years ago I was blown off my feet by gusting winds while keeping my head down against them. I literally sailed through the air like Mary Poppins, and although I felt the force, I did not see it.

The Holy spirit can be compared to the wind responsible for all these happenings. He is at times an unnoticeable movement in our lives, and at other times a strength that can move deeply rooted trees, and still other times, a gale that can cause us to soar through life even when we’ve got our heads down against the winds of change.

Thanks to our assistant Pastor Monica, who, in doing a five week series on the Holy Spirit, has made me more aware of this unseen force. Happy Sunday.

 

Tree, Palm, Tropical, Wind, Storm, Weather, Nature

 

Loud and Clear

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It never ceases to amaze me how God speaks to us when we are open to hearing. I’m reading The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren for the umpteenth time. Although there are a couple of things in the book I can’t come to terms with, for the most part it is a “handbook for life”. The book was given to me in 2003 at a time when my life was so stressed that I just wanted to pack up and move away to the country and become a hermit. My almost daily mantra was, I’ve got to get out of here! That was not a good idea nor a good option but it was how I felt…and then I read this on page 263 of The Purpose Driven Life...

You may be serving in obscurity in some small place, feeling unknown and unappreciated. Listen: God put you where you are for a purpose! He has every hair on your head numbered, and he knows your address. You had better stay put until he chooses to move you. He will let you know if he wants you somewhere else. 

Let me tell you, I got that message loud and clear! I never again felt the desire to move and I’m still here fifteen years later.

 

Peace Be With You

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The Trappist monk Thomas Merton once said, “We cannot be at peace with others because we are not at peace with ourselves, and we cannot be at peace with ourselves because we are not at peace with God”. Peace be with you. Happy Sunday.

Image result for Thomas Merton

Blessing or Curse?

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Jesus Christ!

To those of us who know about him, or better still, know him, just seeing these two words is a blessing. They fill us with hope, faith, peace, happiness, awe, expectation…

But to others, these two words are used as a curse. Why? Because they don’t know any better. They don’t realize that he was an actual man who walked the face of this earth over two thousand years ago; who was a born leader, a teacher, a philosopher, a son, a brother, a friend, miracle worker…

I prefer to believe this rather than think that people know of him and still use his name as a curse. That would not only be disrespectful, cruel, cutting, but blasphemous.

So why not use anyone’s name as a curse? There are plenty of historical names that could be used, names of people who were known as destroyers of humanity by their evil deeds. Or why not just any ordinary person’s name. Why not yours or mine?

The fact is Jesus Christ did once inhabit a place on this planet as do we today. The fact is that he does not deserve to have his name “dragged through the mud”.  The fact is that he obviously has a place in our consciousness or we would not be using his name in any way.

Whether or not we believe that this man was also the Son of God, it is incumbent upon us to rethink how we utter his name.

Jesus Christ!

Blessing or curse?

Now that you know…choose…

 

 

 

 

 

Another Virtual Coffee Date

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It’s been a year since our last virtual coffee date and it’s time to catch up. Upon meeting I will still ask, “What’s new and interesting in your life?” Perhaps you will say, “Nothing, really.” But we both know that’s not true. Much has happened in the past year…you just need a moment of recall. Oh, yes! You met someone to share your life with; the relationship is getting serious and you are very happy. And I’m very happy for you.

You are slowly being healed of that debilitating health problem that has plagued you for so long…the one you asked for prayer for. The best part about being sick is getting better.

Your life became a little fuller when you discovered you were unexpectedly expecting a brand new little person to join your family; the family you thought was complete but God knew better. Congratulations!

You have read several good books within the year and can’t wait to share them with me because you know how much I like to read. I can’t wait to dig into them.

You had a heart attack? Oh, no! Ah, but you are on the mend and have changed you lifestyle to add many more years to your life. That’s what I like to hear.

Your marriage came to an end after twenty years and you are trying to pick up the pieces. It’s very difficult but you are determined to put your life on track again, and have learned something about yourself. Good for you!

You had a marvelous spiritual experience a few months back? Oh, wow, I can’t wait to hear all about it.

Well, it’s been nice catching up with all of you. We must do this again…I love coffee and conversation. Tea is good too.

What’s new with me? Nothing, really.

Image result for virtual coffee date

 

 

 

Wow! What a Day!

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You know how some days can have that extra special zip? Well, my Sunday was like that. It started out in church even before the service began. Three people came down the aisle to the front row; a mother in her wheelchair wheeled by her son, followed by her daughter-in-law. The man and wife were in their very early mid years; the mother probably in her late eighties. It was touching to see how, with great care, the young man eased his mother out of the wheel chair.. she trembling with the effort to stand…and guided her to the pew where his wife waited to put her arm around her mother-in-law. The whole scene was one of gentleness, love and dedication. Wow!

The second “wow” came in the sermon, “How Small is Small?” This included the parable of the mustard seed (Matthew 13:31-35).  I’m not about to print the sermon or try to preach one, but I can tell you I know of five scriptures written about the mustard seed. My favorite is Matthew 17:20 from which stems my own faith. People who know me know that I once had a store which I named, “The Mustard Seed Gift Shop”. My car licence plate is MSTD SD. So, yes, the sermon was another “wow”.

See this dot  .  ? It represents the mustard seed.

The third “WOW” came in the form of my ninth great-grandchild; a beautiful, perfectly healthy baby girl, Violet Madison. She was born into my world on Sunday also. How wonderful to have the opportunity to say with great conviction and heartfelt love, “Wow! What a Day!” TYG

(You can read more about the mustard seed in Mark 4:30-32, Luke 13:18-19, and Luke 17:5-6. “).

 

Giving Up

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Many people, as a form of penance, either fast or give up something meaningful during the Lenten season. Others take on a new ritual such as daily prayer, devotions, Bible reading…whatever…to develop a closer relationship with God. Either way, it is a forty day exercise and can be very satisfying or disappointing; like keeping or breaking a New Year’s resolution. In any case, it is meant to be a disciplinary and meaningful experience.

So what if we were to give up…let’s say… holding grudges, withholding our love, disrespect for friends or family, or people in general, and other things that are detrimental to good relationships and good living; give up these things instead of coffee, wine, or our favorite dessert.

What if we don’t believe in Lent, have a Spiritual background, or just can’t be bothered?

Sometimes giving up something can be a very positive experience despite the above criteria. Sometimes giving up something can add a whole new meaning to life…not just at Lent but forever.

Sometimes giving up “giving up” is also something to think about. Hmmm.