I Love Lent

I know it's strange to hear someone say they love Lent. But I do. Because I'm the first one to find faults in my life, I love this time of year when I can publicly shout out I'm a sinner and am doing some work to get better. The Lenten Season offers me the opportunity to really look at me and practice strategies that will move me forward towards God. I'm so past the giving up stage and so on the path that makes me consciously say "timone you need to open yourself to listening more; snapping off less; speaking to others with less "crispness"; exercising to help remove the crippling effects of arthritis; smiling more and writing more." Lent is about change for me. Changing so that I may move closer to Christ. Changing so that I may be more equipped to help someone else move closer to Christ. Oh I just love Lent.

Beyond Me

It only takes a moment to move beyond self. And often we don't take advantage of the opportunity. I'm calling it an opportunity because moving beyond me allows Christ to shine forth. Today I spoke with a friend who longs to have the experience of clarity in what God is asking of her. After 30 minutes of dialog I pointed out that clarity exists, she just wasn't calling it clarity.

If I had not moved beyond my own issues and thoughts, I would have missed an opportunity to allow Christ to move through me. I just gotta tell you, it feels so good to be USED by GOD. Yes it does, even when inconvenient. Once God is in the mix, it's all good.

As Ash Wednesday draws closer, contemplate how your practice of your chosen spiritual disciple will allow you to move beyond self. That's what I'll be doing.

God's Beauty

Sometimes when I look in the mirror, I don't see God's beauty in me. Sometimes all I see are blemishes, red eyes, chapped lips, hair unkempt, etc. God's beauty goes unrecognized.

How often do we treat one another like that? Failing to see God's beauty in them? Way too often!

I challenge us to look more closely at ourselves and smile at the beautiful person God created and take that same attitude into the world.

Is My Meditation Worthy of God's Presence?

When I sit with God in silence, do I really take my whole self or do I take the part that's been on its best behavior? I mean, do I say I'm going to pray, meditate on God and God's blessings only to find that I'm thinking about what someone did to me, or the various things I need to get done?
Meditation worthy of God demands that I give God my full attention; Focus on God and what God is currently doing in me.

I keep thinking about my 40-Day Lenten Sacrifice to be a better Christian. What will that be?

Are You Ready?

The Lenten Season is fast approaching. In a mere week we begin the journey of reflection and purification. Lent offers us a great opportunity to assess our lives and take our shortcomings to God for forgiveness. The beauty of this time is that it's not only about confessing our wrongs, it's also about being made whole. We are given time to renew ourselves and work anew toward Kingdom-building. Are you ready? Are you ready to begin the journey, to give your all to the process? Are you ready to the newness God will bring?

Do more than make Lent a 40-day diet plan. Sacrifice something really dear to you or better yet, start something new that will bring you closer to God.

December 2005 Poetry

Untitled
I watched the trees yield to the wind
and thought of God.
I move where You blow O LORD
and if need be, I will break.
I give seed for life.
I watched the trees yield.

The Side Roads
the better view of life
where the flowers bloom
where discoveries are made
the heart beats, -- naturally,
where people touch

Bracing Myself for the Gifts from God
firmly I plant my feet in the Word
I arch my back and fling my arms wide
people come to enjoy my shade
birds nest
leaves unfurl
and I, -- GROW

A Suitable Partner

The Lord God said: “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him.”
—Genesis 2:18

Many of us have looked for and not found a "suitable partner." We have a list of criteria that must be met, before people are even considered. In the verse above God says He "will make a suitable partner for him." Translation for today: allow God to make YOU a "suitable partner." In other words, allow yourself to be transformed by God into a "suitable partner." This aspect of searching is often overlooked - becoming suitable not only for someone else but for ourselves. Ever wonder why some people keep attracting the same type of person? They haven't transformed self. God can make you suitable if you only allow Him. The question is "Can you allow yourself to be reshaped?"

Word

What is Word that it must be spoken?
Spoken Words wrought light.
Words spoken provide delight.
What is Word that it must be spoken?
Spoken Words command power.

Things come to be.

What is Word that it must be spoken?

Jesus

Stretching

Can you allow Christ to stretch your spirit beyond you?
Yea I know it's a crazy question, but an important one to address. Our growth in faith and our movement toward Christ hinges on how we answer this question. Most times our struggles in faith are with ourselves. We have difficulty moving out of the way of the work Christ is seeking to do in and through us.

As I have attempted to write daily on this blog I have allowed myself to be deterred thinking that my musings were not worthy of reading. I have been so wrong. I'm not the only one with rumblings going through their head about the way God is moving in and through our situations.

Look for me more regularly and don't hesitate to comment.