BUSY, BUSY

I have not been keeping up with my writing. This is not good, as it indicates I am not growing spiritually. God has not been able to fill me with His words because I have not taken the time to listen to Him. I have put other things first. Reflecting on what I have been doing, other than my normal routine, leaves my mind blank. It indicates I have put trivial things before praying with God, so trivial I do not even remember what they were.
It is quite easy to get too involved with the mundane executions of daily life. Sleeping an extra hour, reading the two newspapers and solving the daily puzzles as I sip my tea, tending to the dogs and picking up the house are only a few activities on how I fill my day.I am embarrassed to say how long I may stay on the computer, or trying to fix a problem this laptop gives me. One daughter wants me only to text message her from my cell, wasting another bit of time. Why do I give in? Because no matter how much I try to call instead, she will not pick up the phone. I toss it back and forth, asking myself, which will take the least amount of time, to text or to keep trying to call her. Since this is her only bit of rebellion as a teenager, I go along.
Back to what I was saying, on not having my time with God. I do talk about God a lot, conducting classes five days a week, sometimes twice a day. I make my lesson plans, being well prepared. However, this still is not giving me the special time God and I need together, just the two of us. I have managed to put Him on the back burner. Prayer time while I do my routine at the pool has been eliminated. This is hurting God in two ways; I am not having my talk time with Him and I am not taking care of the body He has given me. I preach to others about obeying the Two Great Commandments of loving God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind, and loving my neighbor as myself. He has blessed me with a beautiful spirit, intertwined with His, yet I am not nourishing it, tending to it so I may continue to grow in my love for Him. I have managed to place many obstacles in the path, preventing His love and kindness to prosper within my soul.
I must return to practicing the Fruits of the Holy Spirit, those of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self-control. It is okay to quit rushing to meet my self-made expectations. Maybe I will be able to cross everything off on my list of things to do, but what good is it if I have made no time for God? He is part of me in everything I do, yet I do not pause to praise Him and His mighty works. A dark void will overpower me if I continue to live my life this way. Maybe this has already happened to people I pass on the street, why they are not smiling and their eyes are sad.
Prayer needs to be my focal point,forgetting about those things on my list that I want to check off. Instead, 'pray' should be written at the top, middle and end of my list! Recently, I came across a “Three Minute Prayer,” by Father Lukefahr. In the first minute,he says to think about a wonderful blessing you have received in the past 24 hours. Thank God for this blessing. In the second minute, think about a significant failing you had in the past 24 hours. Ask Jesus to forgive you. In the third minute, think about a challenge you are to meet in the next 24 hours, praying to the Holy Spirit to help and guide you as you accept the challenge. As for my challenge,I ask the Holy Spirit to help me erase the obstacles I have placed on the path to prayer. Let Him guide me, as I pray to Jesus for forgiveness, not making God my priority. May I put one foot in front of the other, taking small steps, allowing me to feel His presence as I open up the door to let Him in.

THE SHACK

I just finished reading the novel, The Shack, by Wm. Paul Young. It is a spiritual book, one I will be recommending to many. The story starts with one family’s sadness. Because of it, there is a learning how God is with us at all times, not against us, when something terrible happens. The father in the story is in anger, which anyone of us would be, if we experienced a similar tragedy. Taking on human images, God, His Son and the Holy Spirit go through the process of talking to the father, all taking place at a mountain shack, close to the place where the sadness began.

This is a beautifully written book. I read it in two days, not wanting to stop. One feels as if God is actually speaking.  In a way He is, using the author to have His words expressed. It makes sense in all that is said, in this 248 page book. I was surprised to see it had this many pages when I put the book down, as it seemed less than 100, with one page flowing to the next. I sound as if I am writing a review for the author. It is more I am writing a review of how wonderful God is, even in times of terror and agony. It helps me understand what those who have passed away unexpectedly are saying to us, and gives the reason for forgiveness so one may continue a wondrous life with God.  It is written in ‘down to earth’ terminology  on what we are to do and how it can help those left behind.

I just finished it, but I would not mind picking it up and reading it again, right at this very moment.  There are endless words of wisdom told to the father of the story, ones we can easily and readily apply in our own lives.

It is a book apropos to this very day, Good Friday. Here is an innocent person, Jesus Christ, going through agony, ridicule, betrayal, torture and death. Jesus prays for forgiveness of those who tormented Him.  We wonder how He could do this. Yet, it is explained with such tenderness, love and beauty in this book. It makes me love Christ more than I already do. For those who know me, you are aware how much I love our God. What a huge impact this simple book can leave on the soul.

As I read the book, I could feel my cheeks begin to feel a bit sensitive; it was because I was smiling all the while because of the words written.  I feel myself still smiling at this very moment! You will think of those you love, having much more acceptance of all of God’s children, no matter where they are in their lives, whether good or evil.

The Shack has a website, http://www.theshack.com, where you can read a few excerpts from the book. This is a different kind of blog I have written today.  But, oh, what a difference this read can make in your life.  You will not forget it. You will look at life, nature and everything in between in a whole new way.

God Bless all of you, as we feel the passion of Christ today, praising his love, acceptance and forgiveness for all.  We thank our Lord for His abundance of caring, ever-so bountiful kindness and gentleness. We proclaim our love for Him, as He fulfills our spirit and souls with his Spirit, making us face whatever is given to us, no matter how hard it is. We understand that being divine, He is with us wherever we are. We cannot shield ourselves from Him.  He will find us, because of His love for us, never wanting us to face anything alone. We are part of His grace. How joyous it is!

A Similarity

In a discussion I was having through a recent on-line class, there was mention of the disaster on September 11, 2001. We all continue to mourn the loss of thousands, yet the feelings are different for the families and friends whom knew someone that passed away. To witness such atrocities that day changed lives forever. Families were broken apart, friendships were severed, and tears remain to be shed. Being thousands of miles from the scene, many of us understand it was a heinous act. But we really can't understand the daily fear of the people who live where the tragedies occurred. We never cease to pray for those affected, offering our sympathy. What suffering there has been, anger being taken out upon the innocent. The impact of the devastating actions on that particular Tuesday have never left our minds. We will never forget those who died.
While having thoughts of this enormous loss in my mind, I suddenly had an image of the Crucifixion. I noticed the similarities between these two events. Anger resulted in the death of the innocent. There was tremendous suffering, changing the lives of many. And, though we were not there to witness the death of Jesus, we do know there was great sadness that day. We were not present at the Crucifixion, but its occurrence continues to leave a tremendous impact upon everyone. It has never left our minds what happened on that particular Friday. We persist in praying to Jesus for His suffering, telling Him we will never forget the day He died.
One of the last words of Jesus was, “Father, into Thy hands I commend my Spirit (Luke 23:46).”
May those left behind after the catastrophe on September 11 feel comforted, knowing their joyous spirits now reside with God. May you feel their light, resting within the light of God, being part of all our days. In the darkness, there is always this flame of light, giving us the warmth of His comfort and love, as His Spirit dwells within us.

PUTTING AWAY

I took down the Christmas tree today, with its withered branches and dried needles collecting on the floor.  It is always hard to take it down, so full of memories. I see  play dough ornaments and Popsicle stick stars made by the children years ago.  I look at the small, carved hummingbird we bought on our first date, and others given to us as wedding presents.  I admire the lovely trinkets presented to us through the years from dear friends and decorations passed on from generations before us. Each child has his or her own list of meaningful ornaments, so they may take those special ones to their own homes one day, ready to start their own family’s tree. It is a bittersweet moment, as I place decorations into their own boxes.  I remember why each was a unique adornment for this child, from the time their tiny hands were holding it up in wonder.. Generations will pass away, but the stories, the laughter, the tears of excitement and the love of tradition will never end. Faces will continue to light up as memories are brought alive, just as the Spirit lights up our souls with His radiance every Christmas.

OLD FRIENDS

OLD FRIENDS

While out doing some Christmas shopping today, I heard a familiar voice call out my name.  I had not heard this voice in over 30 years, but I knew it immediately, belonging to a former high school friend.  We started laughing and visiting as if we had seen one another last week. After an hour, we finally pulled away to start our shopping once again. Of course, there were a few more hugs good-bye and a few more of 'one more thing to say', before we both went on. This friend is quite spiritual, which made our conversation take on a different tone than the one we had in high school. We have led different lives since our high school graduation, yet the Spirit brought us together for a chance meeting. It was a good example that though we may think we are different from one another, we still share the same Spirit of God, giving us enlightenment in our lives, no matter where we are!

THIRSTY

Can you recall when your mouth was so dry, you desperately needed water? We can't envision anything else, as everything inside dries up. Think in the same realm, but this time, be thirsty for the Lord.  What if you couldn't have Him in your life?  Would you die from not having God to replenish your thirst, as if you were out in the arid desert without a canteen? Instead, we can remember what we have been told, that if we continue to have faith as tiny as a mustard seed, we can achieve the impossible.  Our canteens would be filled, bringing back a new life.Our souls would constantly be replenished by the love of God, having the Holy Spirit being actively alive within each of us.  Never stop those prayers to God, asking Him to please keep you going in your spiritual life, never letting its stream of wisdom, knowledge and love go dry. As it continues to flow, so will you words of encouragement and prayer continue to flow, always blessing God for the good life you have been given.

RESPONSES

I recently had a theology course, having weekly discussion boards. After one of my entries, a classmate said my response would help her have a new relationship with her teen.  I had said that no matter what young adults told me, I responded with sympathy. It might be a broken fingernail, a happening in their day, or how a friend responded to something that had said. I have also done this with the students I have had for the past 38 years.  To them, whatever the catastrophe, it is a true problem.  As adults, if we have a problem, we do not want someone to laugh at us. It is human nature to want sympathy. Have concern and listen to what they say.  Show expression in your response, letting them know you have heard them. It does not hurt to throw in a hug or two! They are the next generation; let us show them the way!  Open up your heart to the Spirit. Doing so will let your heart open up to everyone!

EXQUISITE

"Your words, Lord, are spirit and life." Ps. 19
How exquisite these seven words are. The Lord never stops speaking to us. He is there in the splendid array of reds and oranges from a sunrise or sunset, or by the snowflakes silently falling upon trees. We feel Him as the wind provides a peaceful breeze. He is in the sounds of ocean waves breaking as they reach the shore, the rain hitting the windows, a squirrel chirping, the birds singing.  There are the sounds of laughter, the cries of a newborn, the tears of sadness and joy. We hear it in the conversations with one another. We feel Him speaking as we share a hug or in the holding of hands. Our Lord never sleeps, always there to share His Spirit and His life, expressing His eternal love for us.

Ruah

The Hebrew language has a word, ruah, which means 'wind or breath.' It is apropos to what God did, breathing his Spirit into us.  It is a beautiful image, ruah, with more images of the Spirit to follow. There is the water to purify our souls, fire to give us light, and the dove, giving us peace.  Having the Holy Spirit direct our lives will produce love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and faithfulness, humility and self-control.
It is human nature to turn our backs on any one of these. What is important is to not keep our backs turned.  Otherwise,  wrongdoings will begin to eat away at our very souls. We could  no longer nourish the Spirit for which we have been blessed. We must pray for constant guidance from the Holy Spirit. We must also pray for those who have turned their backs on God, that they, too, will begin to nourish their souls, understanding right from wrong. Let the Holy Spirit guide you, as well as those who surround you, friend or foe. Let your face feel 'ruah,' knowing the Holy Spirit will never cease loving you.

CHANGES

Right now, as we look out, we see trees with bare branches and wilted flowers in the gardens. Everything looks so brown, all the bright blossoms gone for another season. I much prefer to have the warmth and color surrounding me, but this is not part of the plan, living where I do. I am even sad to see people leave their brightly colored clothes behind, replacing them with the darker shades of blues, greens and browns.  Yet, we can still find glory and joy as the autumn season fades and the happenings of winter begin. It is a time where people begin to get in touch with one another once again, getting updates on their lives since this time last year. There are the fresh foods from the garden, ready to be harvested and enjoyed. Families start to gather together more, in anticipation of a season which will be filled with beautiful music, laughter, hugs and excitement.   As we read in Ecclesiastes 3:1, Everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses," we continue to see how the Holy Spirit provides!
"Human beings are like leaves on a spreading tree. New growth takes the place of the fallen leaves; while some of us die, others are being born." Sirach 14: 18

What If?

Our lives can be filled with "What ifs.." "What if I had left five minutes earlier? What if he had stayed home that night? What if I hadn't said what I did? What if I had done this instead of that?"  The problem is we cannot take back whatever we did, nor can we change the actions of another.  We can work ourselves up in worry about what happened, doing havoc to the body. It is not an easy time, but we must continue to feel the goodness of the Holy Spirit, working within us.  We have to turn it over to Him, because what has happened cannot be undone. In some cases, we may be able to say, "Next time..." But, it is the Holy Spirit's power of love which will begin the healing process. It may take a long time to heal, but the Holy Spirit is patient; we will never be deserted.  The glowing fire of the Holy Spirit will be surrounding us,  keeping  us going and giving us strength to meet each day!

Take a Breath

In Chronicles 29:10-12, we read of the words David used to describe our Lord, "powerful, glorious, splendid and majestic."  He can is strong and powerful. Because we have been blessed with the Holy Spirit, we are also filled with what are behind these words.  We do have the power and glory to live a good life. Our souls have been satiated with His splendor and saturated with His richness, giving us an ebullient strength to never quit feeling his power. Take a moment right now to take a deep breath, mouth closed and feel His warmness begin to envelop you within. Now take another moment to thank God for sharing Himself, saying you will treasure what He has given you, feeling His awe-inspiring Spirit throughout your day!

Kairos

In my different readings, I am often reminded of 'Kairos.'  This is a Greek word, referring to time.  How do we use our time?  Is it always so busy we forget to make a moment to ourselves? We need to make that time, as this is when we can sit back, breathe in, shut our eyes, and think of nothing but of God the Father, His Son and the Holy Spirit.  All are intertwined, living as separately but as one, just as we have our parts of the body, but the head is what keeps us together. We must take this time to let the Holy Spirit come visit us, to strengthen us, giving us courage to attack our busy lives.  We will find we are content, able to face the world, because of taking the time to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Blessed Gifts, Blessed Fruits

..."For your imperishable Spirit is in all things!" (Wisdom 12:1) Can you imagine life if the Spirit wasn't always there, dwelling within us?  A part of our own spirit would be lost, as the Spirit makes us be who we are. What we have to do is nourish it, and listen to what is being said to us if we begin to take a wrong path. Have patience with everyone, as hard as it can get at times. Have generosity.Share the blessed gifts God has personally given you with others.Have joy in your heart.Bring a radiance of happiness to others instead of self-pity. Learn from the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Everything we say, every act we do, can build upon our experiences, strengthening the wisdom given to us.  Practice counsel. Strive for a life of perfection in the eyes of God. Practice piety. Don't be pious only once a week; have it be an active part of your daily life. Have understanding. What might seem trivial to us is important to another. Understand this, sharing your heart with all before you. Do have fear of the Lord.  Keep Him in awe. Recognize how great God is. Let the Holy Spirit constantly feed you with the grandeur of the Lord. Feel His power, Feel His strength. Feel the enormity of his passion and care. What He does for us, through His Son and in the Holy Spirit far surpasses what any other being can give us.  Be blessed!

Listen

Often, we can get so wrapped up in telling our story, we don't listen to someone else. Yet, if we do listen, we can learn from one another. At times, a person just wants to be able to talk, to clear the mind.  At times, a reply isn't really needed, nor an opinion stated. It is nice to only offer a hug of support.  Doing so can make someone's day, to allow one to get over the obstacle which has been blocking the path to move ahead.  You may feel the strength of the Holy Spirit as you listen, but you don't need to say so to another.  Instead, let your actions speak for you. Pray silently, asking God to let others feel the peace you do. God has His own beautiful way of taking care of things. For now, you be the unexpected friend to help them silently feel the power of the Holy Spirit!

What do you see?

While you are out today, look at your surroundings differently.  Maybe you didn't notice that small tree before, or that pretty potted plant on someone's porch.  Maybe you haven't noticed the artwork in your place of work before, nor that of your neighbor's. Swallow in the crisp, cold air, thanking God for letting you be part of this day. Take a walk around the block at lunch. Notice those small innocent children at play, wishing you could gain back some of that innocence. Look each person in the eye as you pass one another.  Smile and give a pleasant greeting to all you see.  Don't hold back.  Let the Holy Spirit guide you. Make your day better.  Make the day better for someone else, friend, stranger or foe.  You can do it.  The Holy Spirit will not let you down!

CLOUDS and HAPPINESS

Clouds have always fascinated me. As I see the different shapes and forms in the sky, I can go wild in my imagination.  I don't always think of them as taking the form of an object, but instead how they affect my soul.
They seem to bring such a calmness about me. Always, they lead me into prayer. I am thanking God for allowing me to see these beautiful pieces of art into nature.  I can truly feel my heart start to beat a little faster and my cheeks begin to be a bit warmer. Just as with people, no two clouds are alike. And, as with people, each can affect another in a different way, though there is a common thread to keep all united.  May the brightness and softness of every beautiful cloud cause for you to also feel a happiness within your spiritual soul.  Be good to yourself, nourishing this internal glow. Gently reach out to others, giving them the same opportunity to feel the calmness of God and the Holy Spirit, having all us stay united with our Lord.

Radiance

We often say how our heart is filled with warmth at a particular moment, as something special happens in our lives.. But what we forget to say is how our Spirit is also filled with warmth.  This is where the glow is starting from, the fire burning within the Holy Spirit. From there, it radiates out, warming our hearts and our souls, with our eyes radiating, as if, they, too are feeling the fire of the Spirit. May you feel the warm blessings of the Holy Spirit today, letting your sparkling eyes reach out to others, bringing a joy to all of you!

Endurance

     A favorite Bible passage of mine is Romans 5:3-5, "We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts, through the Holy Spirit, which has been given to us."
     It is hard to understand at times how we can rejoice in our sufferings.  I had a seven year old girl ask me why there had to be so much sadness in life. I did my best to explain to her how we get stronger every time something sad does happen to us. I said after knowing sadness, we do not take anything for granted in life. Rather we start seeing life as something very precious.
     It is a hard to understand this, no matter how young or old we are. We can only pray to God for strength to get us through our daily endeavors. It is not easy.  But, we must remember we have not been abandoned; the Holy Spirit is there, providing us with love and care. His power of love and care is beyond words. It is up to us to accept what He provides, as we continue to go about facing what each day brings.

A Silent Night

A good day to you!  I almost wrote this inspirational note at 4AM, since I was wide awake, ready to roll. I gave up trying to sleep, coming out to the living room to sip chamomile tea.  How silent it was!  Even the dogs were fast asleep. I enjoyed the stillness and the quiet.  It became my time with God, knowing there would not be interruptions, nor having to respond to the fastness of every day life. I absorbed the silence, immersing it deep into my soul. Feeling completely content and relaxed by 5:30AM, I was able to drift off to a peaceful sleep. I thought  I would sleep well into the morning. However, at 9:30 I woke up, feeling happy and refreshed. Ah, the Holy Spirit can do amazing things!