See, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth. Do you not perceive it? In the desert I make a way, in the wastelands, rivers. Isa 43:19.
Thanks for following!
Yesterday I had another follow-up exam by the doctor. I was feeling nervous - nervous about the procedure and a little nervous about the results. When thoughts of cancer recurrence crossed my mind, I dismissed them and thanked God for healing.
I asked the Lord to be with me during that appointment.
Praise God, I did receive a good report. The doctor said that there are not even any signs of the radiation treatments that I had which had showed up on previous exams.
What a relief! And again a feeling of being set free.
On the drive home I was listening to the radio. Matt Maher's song was on, and - alone in the car - I began singing along with a very grateful heart.
May His Kingdom come into our hearts, into our lives, and into our world.
"For the Kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours forever!"
My husband called up to me from the kitchen. "There's an accident here!"
"Oh, no, did the dog have an accident?"
"No, I spilled a drink."
So I went downstairs to see a large container of mango juice from the refrigerator splashed across the kitchen floor. "Oh, no!"
I was clearly not happy. I grabbed one, two, three towels to wipe up the juice. Then I got the Swiffer mop and went over the area one, two, three times. I was feeling a little upset with my husband for being so clumsy, but I know I need to forgive.
Good news is that the floor in the kitchen is freshly mopped. (It needed it.)
I went upstairs to make the bed. I then accidentally knocked over a floral arrangement in a glass vase that had a lot of very tiny glass pebbles in it. Oh, no! Clumsy me! Accidents happen. I had to smile. "Good one, God."
All is forgiven. Life is good. Praise God in all circumstances.
I was reading about how our mission as Christians is to expand the Kingdom of God. So I asked the Lord, "How are you asking me to expand your Kingdom?"
"Begin in the kitchen."
The kitchen! Really? (I was hoping to hear of a more lofty mission.)
"The kitchen. Write it down."
I do spend a lot of time in the kitchen. I am aware that I sometimes complain - if not out loud, but to myself - of the loads of dishes and pots and pans that need washing. And of how bored I can be doing those routine meal preparations, like peeling potatoes and carrots, and how I'd rather be doing something else. And, honestly, I don't really like unloading the groceries from the car and putting them away (especially after a Costco trip!).
I began thinking about the kitchen being the heart of the home where we gather, share conversations, are nourished. Is our kitchen as clean and welcoming as it deserves to be?
The kitchen is definitely a place where the Lord can work on changing my attitude in doing chores. And it's a place where I have daily opportunities to be creative with meals and to show my family and friends how much they are valued and loved.
When I am alone in the kitchen and loading the dishwasher, I do praise and thank the Lord. Moments of drudgery can truly become moments of joy.
I am reminded that St. Therese of Lisieux once said, “to pick up a pin for love of God can save souls.” I can certainly set the table and load the dishes for the love of God.
May His Kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
My daughter said to pick him up at 3 PM. That's when the school bus comes. I was at the bus stop before 3 PM, just in case the bus would arrive early.
3 o'clock came and no bus. I waited and waited and watched. I anticipated the bus coming at any time.
Finally! I saw the bus coming down the street. I was so eager to see my grandson whom I hadn't seen in quite some time. Then he got off the bus, he saw me, and he came running to me with arms wide open.
I braced myself. He was running and I didn't want to get knocked over! And he gave me a most precious hug. Joy!
"Hi! How are you? How was school today?" ...
Today I'm thinking about how God our Father is waiting for us. He is waiting for us to come to him with confidence and trust and with open arms and open hearts. He is waiting for our love, like a precious hug.
He longs to speak personally with each of us. We need to come running towards him to hear his words to us.
"How are you? How is your day?" He wants to hear from us. He wants us to know how very much he loves us and that he cares for each detail of our lives. And his love is everlasting.
“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness." Jeremiah 31:3
So often I am in the middle of doing something, and someone comes along and interrupts me. When I begin watching a favorite program, the phone rings... Just as I sit down to eat, the dog decides she needs to go out... I'm in the middle of a really good book and my husband needs help with something - now... I'm praying and someone walks in on me...etc., etc. It sometimes seems like my life is full of interruptions. Too often my response is to feel aggravated or resentful.
I became aware of this while reading Jacques Philippe's book Interior Freedom and how he describes St. Therese of Lisieux's perspective on being interrupted. She had very little "free time" in the convent, and just when she did find the time to write or to paint, someone would come in and ask for her help. She decided to choose interruptions in her life, to welcome them. Therefore she would not become aggravated or resentful. She remained in peace. When, however, no one would interrupt her, she accepted this as a "charming present" from the Lord.
Yesterday I decided that I, too, would welcome interruptions. And yesterday I was really challenged; it seemed like I was interrupted more than usual. I still felt somewhat resentful of the demands made on "my time," but I was reminded that "my time" is to serve others and not myself.
Lord Jesus, Thank you for the gift of time and for the opportunity to work on projects and to serve others. Please keep reminding me of the Scripture "the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve," (cf. Mark 10:45), and that if I am to follow you, I am also here to serve others, and not myself. To you be all the glory now and forever. Amen.
Recently I had a complete set of scans. Results indicated no evidence of cancer. Wow.
Having been diagnosed with 2 different kinds of cancer, and being successfully treated for both, I feel amazed and grateful. It's like I've been given a new opportunity to live a healthy life to its fullest.
It's been a journey of faith in our Almighty God.
Today I looked back at what I had posted on August 3, 2019, and I see this as true today as the day I had written it. Read about it here:
I'm eager to get my garden in. The other day I planted peas, beets, and onions. It was muddy from the recent rain.
As I tried to move away from the garden, I felt stuck. My garden shoe had sunk into the mud. Water was puddling around my feet. It was with real effort that I pulled my foot out of the mud. The shoe was filthy. I'd have to clean my shoes before going into the house.
This morning I read Colosians 1:13: He rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of his beloved Son. I envisioned God pulling me up out of the muck of sin in which I was stuck. I am set free. With his Holy Spirit he cleanses me so that I am fit to dwell in his house. I no longer live in darkness, but I dwell in the kingdom of God. I live in the kingdom of God! It's not that he will rescue me, but that he has already rescued me. I don't want to go back to the muck.
Sometimes I include a favorite hymn or a specifically Christian song in my posts. Not today. Today it's Tony Bennett.
During moring prayer, I was thinking about how Jesus is always with us - in the good times and in the not-so-good times. He is even with us in our daily chores.
Later in the day I got into the car to do some grocery shopping. I thought about Jesus being with me, even during routine shopping trips. As I started the car, a CD began playing. It was one that our daughter had given us of Tony Bennett. The song he was singing was "Just in Time." I couldn't help but relate some of the lyrics to a relationship with Jesus.
"You found me just in time... No more doubts and fears, I've found my way."
I found a youtube version of this song that was posted to share:
I have a passion for "Word Blitz." I play this game on my phone. I really enjoy finding as many words as quickly as I can in the grid of letters in front of me. As an English major in college, I've always liked words and their nuanced meanings.
I began to think of Jesus as The Word - the Living Word. I find Jesus before me. When I take the time to look carefully, to focus on life's events, I begin to see Him. I see Redeemer. I see Savior. Son of the Father. Brother. Friend. Mercy. Life. Truth. The Way. Son of Mary. Son of the Father. Divine Presence...
Thank you, Jesus, for being with us always, and for revealing to us the overwhelming Love of the Father for each of us. You have promised to never leave us. May we see You with us in all of life's events. May we know the comfort and the challenge of your Divine Presence. Praise to You, to our Father, and to the Holy Spirit of Love.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1.
Our God speaks to us in many ways. One way is through our thoughts, the little inspirations we receive.
Before leaving church the other evening, I paused and asked the Lord whether He had a word for anyone that he would want me to share, maybe a word of encouragement. Immediately the name of a distant friend came to mind. I knew her when we were kids growing up, and now we keep in contact through facebook.
My first reaction: this is just me, this is my imagination. Why would she come to mind? And I kind of dismissed the thought.
When I came home I opened facebook. Lo and behold, there is a post from her. She just recently had surgery and she was in pain.
Oh my, now I know why she came to mind. The Lord was giving me an impression that I ought to pray for her.
Never again will I dismiss those little inspirations, especially to pray or to share with those people the Lord puts in my mind and into my heart.
Yes, there are many ways the Lord communicates with us. We need to learn how to hear from God.
When I begin exercising, or before beginning a run, I spend five minutes warming up. I walk at a comfortable pace to "limber up" and to gradually increase my heart rate so I am ready for a work-out.
During this time I am thinking:
Am I ready for this? Am I dreading the exertion, or am I eager? Am I dressed appropriately for the weather? Am I feeling any aches or pains?
Then I pick up the pace and I'm off.
We're now completing this first week of the Lenten season. For me, the past few days have been like a warm-up. I've been thinking:
Am I ready for this? Do I have a plan? Am I dreading any sacrifices, or even complaining about them? Or I am grateful and eager? Have I put on the garments of faith, truth, readiness, and righteousness? Do I take up the word of God and pray for all kinds of requests? (cf. Ephesians 6: 10-19) Am I experiencing spiritual aches and pains of sin that need repentance?
Now is the time to pick up the pace.
I focus on the present moments of my Lenten work-out that are taking me, step by step, to the culmination of Easter when we celebrate the new risen life of Jesus that we share. Hopefully, through this Lenten journey I, together with my brothers and sisters in faith, are becoming spiritually fit and strong.
Lord Jesus, may we always follow you more and more closely. Thank you for being The Way to our Father and to eternal life. Jesus, I trust in you.
Our daughter sent me a link to a New Year walking challenge: 1 mile per day through February 14. She encouraged me to register. I'd need to record daily distances walked, and at the end of the challenge I'd receive a really nice t-shirt. When I went to sign up, however, the message read that registration was closed!
So I decided to do my own challenge. I would walk a minimum of 1 mile each day, beginning January 1 through February 14. Then I went online to order a new pink t-shirt to wear at the end of the challenge.
It is now mid January and I've walked, and sometimes ran, each day. It's taking a deliberate decision to find the best time of day to do this. (Fortunately the weather has been mild.)
I've walked in light rain, in snow, and in slush. It's been a good time to pray. It's fun greeting people who are also out walking. Sometimes I take photos.
If I were not out walking, I'd be missing out on a lot of seasonal beauty.
And so I resolve, as long as I am able, to do at least 1 mile per day each day during every season. I know it's possible.
Frost and snow, bless the Lord,
praise and exalt him above all forever. Daniel 3:69.
It was the day of Christmas Eve and the family, including our two young grandsons, were coming to visit.
I prepared the home as well as I could, cleaning and decorating. I shopped for favorite foods to prepare. Presents were arranged on a table around two huge poinsetta plants. We eagerly waited for the family to arrive.
What a gift it was to have the whole family together to celebrate. I treasured every moment. As they were getting ready to leave, the seven-year-old said to his parents, "I want to stay here." Oh, joy!
On Christmas Day I went to Mass. The church was decorated most beautifully. As I sat in the pew, I realized how much at home I feel here.
I recalled Midnight Christmas Eve Masses years ago when the church was packed and there was standing room only. Sadly, not today. As I looked around, I saw some empty pews.
In a way, this church is Jesus' home on earth. He has a very special and real presence here. I was thinking that Jesus may be looking out at the empty pews, as I was, and longing for all his family to be here.
I thank the Lord for the family He has given me, and for my much larger family of faith where I feel so very much at home. Indeed, "I want to stay here."
Our grandson was learning to ice skate. He kept falling on the ice. He was very, very discouraged. Then our daughter signed him up for ice hockey with 6, 7, and 8 year-olds.
"What? Ice hockey?? He can barely stand up on skates! How is he going to be able to play?" I was doubtful.
Our daughter tells me that one of the first things the coach taught them was about falling. Falling and getting up again. So our grandson looked around and he saw that everyone was falling on the ice. And they were getting up. It was an "eye-opener" for him. To fall isn't such a bad thing after all. In fact, to fall and get up again is good. That was a turning point for him. And he continued to improve.
So over the weekend I had the opportunity for the first time to see him play. Yes, he fell, but he got up and continued playing. AND, he scored his very first goal. To see his joy and the smile on his face really touched my heart.
I came home from that game feeling newly energized and motivated. Our grandson showed me perseverance, even through his discouragement. And he showed me that much can be achieved when we don't give up, even when we fall. And we can do more than we think we can.
So yesterday I went for a walk. A slow walk, but a long one. I hoped to go for at least 4 miles. I kept thinking of our grandson and his perseverance and his joy. And I kept going. I walked for over 5 miles! Yes, we can do more than we think we can.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phillipians 4:13.
I signed up for the 50 miles in 50 days challenge. The challenge for me is not so much in walking 50 miles, but to walk at least that one mile each day.
It was a brisk late afternoon when I did my mile yesterday. Actually, I walked more than 3 miles. I was walking really fast when I looked around me. I literally stopped. The views were breathtaking. My walk was along a very scenic road in our neighborhood.
We are now in peak foliage season where I live. The leaves are changing colors from green to brilliant reds, golds, and yellows, along with browns and greens. While warm summer days seem to linger, autumn days go by so fast. I stopped to savor the moment.
Just, "wow." Beauty is all around me. I feel grateful. And I think of our Creator God who designed all of this.
I am reminded to pause frequently during the day - to be in the moment - and in the presence of our God who is ever-present, and just say, "Thank you, God. Thank you for the beauty of your creation."
To our Loving God be the praise and honor and glory, now and forever. Amen.
One of my favorite TV programs on The CatholicTV Network is Poco a Poco, four Franciscan friars sharing views on spirituality and practical applications in everyday life.
On the episode I watched a few nights ago, one of them suggested to take time to look at a crucifix, perhaps one on a wall that we walk by so often during the day, or to gaze upon Jesus in Adoration, and ask oneself, "What difference does this make in my life?"
My Dad often carried coins in his pocket. He had a nervous habit of putting his hand in his pocket and jingling the coins. My Mom would become annoyed with him when she knew people would hear the jingling coins. However, my Dad had grown up poor, and this may have been a way of reassuring himself that, as long as he had coins in his pocket, he no longer lived in poverty.
We don't carry coins in our pockets as often anymore, especially since we rely on credit cards for many of our purchases. But coins are indispensible in sporting events. There's the coin toss to determine who starts with the ball. The call is, "Heads or tails."
When I was a kid I'd like to call, "Heads I win, tails you lose." (Clever, if anyone would fall for that.)
Today I was thinking that, in a way, my life is like a coin. On one side there is joy, peace,and an optimistic sense of well-being. On the opposite side are the trials and sorrows and everything that tries to bring me down. I like to think that - whichever way "the coin" lands each day - it is "Heads I win, tails you lose," you being anything that tries to separate me from the Lord. The truth is that whatever situation I am in, He is always with me - good times and in not-so-good times. That's a win-win situation.
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8: 38-39.
Thank you, Father, for your eternal love for each of us. May we be totally confident in your love in good times and in difficult times. May we trust in you and in your unfailing love in every situation, with Jesus, and in the Holy Spirit of Love. Amen.
I had a simple, yet profound, experience of freedom.
Since a cancer diagnosis (twice!), and successful treatments, I am being closely monitored by my doctors. A few days ago I had CT scans again. I receive the results online, even before seeing the doctor. Each time I nervously look at the report, reading it one line at a time.
And so when the recent report came to me, I again looked at it line-by-line. It all looked great, untilI read, "Bowel blockage or inflammation."What?! I wasn't panicked, but I did feel disappointed. I went to my doctor's appointment wondering whether there would be more tests and treatments.
When I met the doctor, he read the report and looked at the scans while I was with him. "It looks good," he says.
"What about the 'bowel blockage or inflammation?'" I asked.
He looked directly at me. "That's a typo," he said. "It should read NO bowel blockage or inflammation."
What?? A typo? Everything is okay?? He reassured me. It's a typo. No blockage.
I felt relief. AND he said he did not want to see me again for 8 months! (It's usually 3-4 months.)
Praise God for that.
I've been thinking about this experience. This morning during prayer time, I realized I have a new sense of peace and - I would say - freedom. I'm taking time to let that permeate. How am I really feeling about this? I feel gratitude. And peace.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Galations 5:1.
I think the Lord may have allowed this experience for me to sense, even in a simple way, the meaning of being set free. It's like a burden is lifted. It is relief. It is joy. It is being in the Lord's presence.
I want to relish this feeling of being free. I want it to be an integral part of me that I can return to often. I want to live in this space of peace and freedom. It is a way to enter into the Lord's presence. I know I can trust him - ALWAYS.
The other day my husband and I had lunch with another couple who are our good friends. We met several years ago. We keep in touch mostly through emails. Every once in a while I see or hear something that reminds me of them. I am very grateful for our friendship.
When we and our friends get together in person, however, it's a whole different experience. We have the joy of seeing one another. We share what is happening in our lives and with our families. We may make plans about getting together again. We come to know one another in a deeper way. Our friendship grows.
I was reminded of this when I read a quote from Pope Francis: "I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus."
Christians are those who have met Jesus. We know Him. We are his followers, His friends. We may think of Him often and even do good works that are pleasing to Him, but that is different from a personal encounter. Just like I think about my friends and occasionally connect with them at a distance, this is not the same as sitting down with them at the same table, in their presence, and enjoying one another's company face-to-face.
To encounter Jesus, I need to go where I can find Him, whether it is in a church, out in the beauty of nature, or in a quiet corner of my room. I put other activities and distractions aside to meet Him one-on-One.
Here I am, Lord. Thank you for being present here and now. Here's what's been happening in my life... What is it You would like me to know? What can we do together? Where else would You like us to meet? ...
I remember a lot about first grade. How some kids cried on the first day, not wanting to be separated from their parents. The little cartons of milk we drank each morning. The pink and green paper letters of the alphabet that we put together to make words. And I remember a blue catechism book with stories and questions with answers to memorize.
"Why did God make you?" "God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him, and to be happy with Him forever in heaven."
That response which I learned in first grade pretty much sums up the whole purpose of life. So very many years later I continue to strive to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him. Happiness with Him begins here and now.
In Him I live, and move, and have my being. Acts 17:28.
There was a story I heard once about a saint who was dying and who was criticized by someone close to her for briefly complaining about her suffering. Her response was, "Thank God, I still need my Savior."
I don't know how true that story is, but when I think of it, it gives me hope. I am always in need of my Savior.
I am continuing to read Casey Cole's book on the Beatitudes. Yesterday I was reflecting on the chapter "Blessed are the Meek," and considering situations that lead me to losing my control. When do people get a rise out of me? When do I tend to lose my temper?... And I resolved to be patient, kind, and keep my composure.
That same day I experienced someone criticizing me. I felt so misunderstood. My immediate response was to to raise my voice in anger to defend myself. Words were no sooner out of my mouth when I just knew that this was NOT the right response. I was far from being meek.
Why did I respond in that way? As I think about it, what the person said had some truth to it. Pride kept me from accepting it. I could've said, "You know, you are right about that. I could've done it differently." Words spoken in anger cannot be taken back. Sometimes it's hard to say, "I'm sorry," because it is hard to admit to being wrong.
I am super impressed with a book I've been reading, The Way of Beatitude, Living Radical Hope in a World of Division and Despair. It's by Casey Cole, OFM and recently published in 2022.
In it, the author speaks about his own experiences with each of the nine beatitudes in the Bible, gives a little theological background, then presents questions for reflection AND suggestions on how to live out each beatitude. I'm on the first one, blessed are the poor in spirit. He writes about the spirit of poverty as an experience of being dependent and needing to rely on others, ultimately upon God.
One practical example the author suggests to develop a spirit of poverty is to begin a project for which you have no skills. (That takes trust!) Experience the stress and frustration of trying to do it on your own, and then the humility it takes to reach out to someone for help.
Another example is to give away something - not an item which you no longer use and "no longer gives you joy," but something you really like. Better still, give away something you need. This is a way of feeling poverty and identifying with those who are truly poor.
Well, I have a brand new pair of Darn Tough socks. I got them for free and I really, really like them. So I've been sensing the Lord saying to me that I need to give these away to my daughter. What a very small sacrifice. Very, very small. Just to think about giving them away, however, makes me feel a sense of loss. Over a pair of socks. But I will do it. She may not even like them, but that's not the point. I need to give them away.
I am thinking about re-claiming Friday for myself as a day of penance. Perhaps Friday is a day I can focus on living a spirit of poverty, a spirit of generosity and of healthy reliance on others. (More on that another time.)
For now I need to go and wrap up those socks. 😊
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3.
Today is Sunday. One of the readings at Mass today was from Luke's Gospel, chapter 9, verses 51-62.
Jesus is on a journey to Jerusalem. It says he was "resolutely determined" to get there. On the way, at least 3 people expressed desire to follow Him. He did not immediately say, "Yes, come with me," without making known what this would mean for each one. He did let them know that to follow Him would be a serious challenge.
I'll admit, I used to think that Jesus may have been a bit harsh to these would-be followers. He did clearly make known, however, that following Him needs to be a priority, above all else.
To the first one He said that He "the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head." I am thinking that the first person was used to his comforts, and that is something he would have to give up.
To the second when Jesus said, "Follow me," the man replied, "let me go first and bury my father." To me this does not seem like an unreasonable request. However now I am thinking - this is just my imagination - that the person's father may have still been living, and the person wanted to be with him until he died.This may have been days, months, or even years away. The immediate call of Jesus would have been long gone by then. (Okay, this may be a stretch, but the man was more concerned about his father's affairs than becoming a follower.) Jesus simply said, "Let the dead bury the dead." He - Jesus - is all about life.
The third person simply wanted to tell his family "good-bye," that he would be leaving to become a disciple of Jesus. Again, this does not seem unreasonable. In fact, it seems like the kind thing to do. However, if that person would return to his family - again, in my imagination - I am thinking that the family would persuade him otherwise. "What are you thinking?" "Why would you do that?" "You don't even really know this Jesus!" And the person would be more influenced by his family than the call of Jesus. (I would even suggest that if the person did immediately answer the call to follow Jesus, the family who cares for him would wonder where he had gone and go out looking. They would find him with Jesus, and perhaps they would all become followers!)
A main point of this reading from Luke is that once you hear the call to follow Jesus - that's it! - Drop everything. Don't hesitate. Nothing is more important than becoming a follower of Jesus. Comforts are not lasting, the dead will be buried, families will carry on... But the follower of Jesus will be forever changed. She or he becomes like the One who is followed.
Just as Jesus would not wait and would not let anyone deter Him from his mission, we also should not wait nor let anyone deter us from following Him.
When Jesus makes a difference in our life, we can make a difference in the life around us with the power of Love that only He can give. Hope abounds. Faith becomes real. His love is personal, freeing and healing. We come to know God as an infinitely loving Father and we share in a common life with our brothers and sisters. He meets all our needs and more. He cannot be outdone in generosity.
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20.
People do not run through gardens. There is something so very peaceful about being in a garden that one walks slowly, sometimes pausing to take in the beauty.
In response to a comment on the post Walking and Talking With a Friend, I saw this video on youtube (with a share option), and so I share it here. It is an old traditional hymn about a very personal friendship with God that is found in the peace of a garden in the early morning. The hymn speaks to me of taking time in our hectic lives just to be at peace with the Lord and talk with him as with our very best friend.
Thank you, L. for your comments, and for sharing "In the Garden."
My prayer is that each of us reading this may come to know Jesus as Friend and Savior, that we grow in this friendship and experience the peace and the joy that only He can give.
A friend and I have been emailing back and forth, and finally we found a time when we could get together in person. We met at a nearby recreation path. We walked on the path and we talked for almost an hour. The time flew by.
Yesterday, another friend wanted to go out for lunch. "Let's get together and go for a walk first," she said. So we drove to a recreation path in the next town. We walked and talked together before heading to the restaurant.
I came away from both of those meetings feeling uplifted and very much at peace. We had shared about what was going on in our lives, a few memories, and our plans. We shared what was new and even what we had not known about one another before. Trust grew. Friendship deepened. AND we got some exercise!
I am reminded of the Scripture reading, "Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God." Romans 15:7. Another translation reads, "Befriend one another..." I like that. Friendship is a precious gift.
In Scripture, we read that Jesus walked a lot. He walked from town to town in the company of his friends. He did a lot on walks. He worked miracles, he taught, he met new people along the way.
I want to make "walking and talking" with friends a regular part of my life. And I want to invite Jesus, who is The Best Friend, to always be with us.
"Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Matthew 18:20.
God wants to communicate with us. In fact, Jesus is the Living Word spoken into our lives by the Father. We can go through life, however, not hearing His word because we do not listen for Him. We don't know how, we were not taught to actually hear from God, or we are just too busy. Most serious of all, we don't care.
Where to begin?
God loves it when we ask Him questions. He loves it because this is when we are expecting to hear from Him, He does not disappoint.
Ask Him anything and see what happens. He may answer immediately through thoughts - even by one word! - ("Whoa, I never thought about that before."). Or He may answer through someone who comes into your life ("Wow, that is an answer to my question."). Or a response may come through circumstances ("I never looked at it that way before!). He may answer through something you read ("Wait, I have to read that again.").
Or He may answer in other countless ways.
“Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” Mark 4:9.
I am thinking that if the response we hear brings us closer to Him, to know Him and to love Him even more, that response may well be from God.
Two days ago I asked, "Father, what do you want me to know about your goodness?" A one word answer came to me, almost immediately. "Constant."
God is constant. Everything around me may be changing, but God is unchanging. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." Hebrews 13:8.
The word "constant" is derived from the Latin: "con stare," translated "to stand with." God is always standing with me, no matter what I am going through.
So today, to my surprise, the opening hymn in the Magnificat prayer book is: "There is no friend like Jesus, so constant and so kind..." Wow - there's that word again. And I marvel at God's friendship, kindness, and His never changing love for us.
Asking God questions and receiving His responses to those questions is one way to grow in a personal - one-on-One relationship with Him.
Again this morning I asked the Lord, "What do you want me to discover today?" And I immediately pictured a rock. The words came to my mind, "My love is hidden under the rocks of your life."
Rocks are hard and of different sizes. I can stumble over them, complain about them, or remove them. The smaller rocks I can remove on my own; with the big rocks, I may need help.
If a farmer owns a large rocky field, he could plant crops between the rocks, but crops would not thrive. Those rocks have got to go!
The rocks in my life are anything that hides God's ever present love. His love is hidden by hurtful actions and harmful attitudes. I am stumbling over them all the time. When I am ill and am tempted to doubt God's love..., when someone needs to talk and I am reluctant to give up my time..., when I feel blamed and respond with angry words..., when I am faced with challenging tasks and I let discouragement take hold..., etc., etc. All these rocky occasions prevent me from seeing God's love. The Scripture reading that was especially meaningful to me this morning was, "her deserts He shall make like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord." Isaiah 51:3. What a hope-filled verse!
And so I imagine my life becoming a beautiful garden filled with prayer and good works and the amazing love of God. Just as the farmer has to remove those rocks to have a productive field, I need to remove whatever is hiding God's love. May the wastelands of my life become "like the garden of the Lord."
All glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit forever. Amen.
There's a priest I know of who each morning asks the Lord, "What do you want me to discover today?" The ideas that come to him guide him throughout that day.
I've picked up on this, and now I also frequently ask the Lord, "What is it You want me to discover today?"
This morning what came to mind was the account of Jesus' final moments when He was dying on the cross. His mother Mary and his disciple John were standing close by, together with Him. Jesus said to John, "Behold your mother," and "from that time the disciple took her into his home." John 19:27.
John was a disciple of Jesus from the earliest days of His ministry. And John lived a very long life, according to Biblical scholars. How very much he accomplished during his lifetime as a Christian. It was at the time of Jesus' death, however, when the first thing he did was especially profound. He provided for the mother of Jesus so she would not need to be alone. He loved her as his own mother. He offered her caring, loving hospitality. How much this must have meant to Jesus.
As I thought about this, I think what the Father would have me discover today is the immeasurable value of truly loving those who are closest to me, to do whatever I can to show loving care. It means doing those routine chores for the family, like preparing meals and doing laundry, etc., not just as chores to get done, but as ways to honor those in my life. It's a way God provides for His love flowing in me and through me to grace the lives of others. There is immense value, even in my routine houseold responsibilities. To God be the glory.
Jesus says, "Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water, welling up to eternal life." cf. John 4: 13 - 14.
The footnote in my Bible says that "welling up" is an expression with a vigorous meaning like "leaping up." Jesus was speaking about a vigorous abundant life.
When we call on the name "Jesus," we enter into his presence. What a beautiful name it is!
Jesus, Our parched lives are in need of your living water. Please be a fountain of life welling up within us and may your precious life and love overflow into the parched lives of people around us. Come, Lord Jesus, come.
People who read the Bible regularly, or perhaps even occasionally, have favorite verses - words that have a special personal meaning. I have one very special verse. That one verse confirmed for me a life-changing decision.
Well, actually, there are two verses. The first one is Luke 11:12: "If you... know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Thinking about that verse I was able to open my heart to receive God's love for me - his Holy Spirit - in a profound way.
The second verse is Psalm 37:4: "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." I still remember where I was, the room and the chair where I was sitting, when I stopped to consider those words. What were the desires of my heart?
Even though life seemed to be going well, the desire of my heart was not to be living where I was. This confirmed for me a decision that changed the direction of my life. I decided to move back to my hometown. I changed my job which led to a new career. And this decision eventually led to an amazing marriage.
Today when I pick up the Bible, I like to read the passages slowly. There are times when certain words "jump out at me" and I pause. I wonder, what is it the Lord is speaking to me through these words? And this leads to prayer.
What are you saying to me, Lord? How can I respond to what you are saying? What are you asking of me? How and when do you want me to do this? What do these words tell me about who you are? About who I am with you?
And then I often take notes about the ideas that come to me.
I've been keeping a small notebook with short Scripture verses that I see as helpful to me in my daily life. Sometimes I will read them aloud and let the Holy Spirit inspire me through the written word.
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