It's Not Epiphany But It Is

Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica

"You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results.  We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition.  For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you.  On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.  You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness.  We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority.  Instead, we were like young children among you.

Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.  Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.  You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.  For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,  encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory."

1 Thessalonians 2

"We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts." 1 Thessalonians 2:4b

It is not Epiphany season but I just had an epiphany.  The day I stopped being a doormat and became a servant was the day I stopped helping people trying to please people.  Instead I began to serve my neighbors to please God.  I surrendered myself to the Christ within me reaching out to the Christ within others.

"Rejoice, Rejoice!  Emmanuel shall come to thee Israel"

There is so much more here in Paul's letter to talk about, but not today.  Today I will sit with this new knowledge and Rejoice!

Mary or Martha

I am wondering this evening if I am being a Mary or a Martha?  You see I spent a little over 10 hours at church today.  Big day.  Regular worship followed by preparing for our annual advent festival and then the festival.

My feet hurt, my back hurts, I think my head might even hurt.  But instead of curling up in bed and sleeping the evening away I have edited two blogs (did I mention I am now helping out with 2 more blogs?  Don't ask how that happened...for some reason I *think* I offered) answered e-mail, written an article, read an article and now look across my desk to see my study book for tomorrow's bible study - the one I had an extra week to prep for but uhm didn't.  The story of Mary and Martha, the "be"er and the "do"er.  The long studied women, the examples set up of who to be and who not to be. 

I wonder why we do that?  Set these two women up?  Jesus very clearly appreciates both women and their unique perspective on life and the talents they have been given that they utilize to bless others.  And who is to say that tomorrow Mary might not act like Martha and Martha might be Mary?  Isn't it a season of our life they represent - even if those seasons are only days and projects apart?

I am not sure who I am tonight that I cannot sleep until I crack open my bible and explore further these two beloved women.  No matter what this study teaches me this evening what I know for sure is Jesus loved both Mary and Martha, he spent much time with both of them. 

No matter if I bring my Mary heart or Martha heart to God tonight I know He will be well pleased that I chose to spend my time with Him.

Advent Music Is Playing

It was about 5-7 years ago that I began to make the switch of celebrating Christmas to celebrating Advent.  I am not sure the process is complete but it really has changed my focus so much.  In just two days the advent season begins.  For me Advent is a lot like Lent.  A preparation.  In Advent I am preparing myself not only for the birth of the Christ Child but the Second Coming of my Savior. 

I heard a sermon a few weeks ago and the priest said "what if Jesus walked in the doors right now - are you prepared?"  As Christians we are called to be prepared at all times, in all places, keeping the lamps lit and our hearts open.  The season of Advent is this reminder.  Prepare!  Hope and Love! Await!

The scripture readings for today are powerful reminders of what we are waiting for:

"Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,

‘Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name’; and again he says,

‘Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people’; and again, ‘Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him’;

and again Isaiah says, ‘The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope.’

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." 

Romans 15:7-13

 
and
 

"After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, “Why are you untying it?” just say this: “The Lord needs it.” ’ So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ They said, ‘The Lord needs it.’ Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying,

‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!  Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!’

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, order your disciples to stop.’ He answered, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.’" 

Luke 19:28-40

I pray God make me a disciple and keep me from being a Pharisee as I await.

Music Feeds My Soul

Interestingly enough I have to confess - I cannot carry a tune.  I can't sing, play an instrument, read music, I can barely hum without getting strange looks!  (don't tell anyone but I was in marching band playing the clarinet in my early high school career - you would never know it now!)

But music brings me closer to God then almost any other avenue.  I use music for worship, prayer and really for everything. 

Today is not what I would consider a good day.  I am thankful for the day and it started out promising but everything I touch seems to turn to dust.  From conversations, to writing, to deeds.  It is thanksgiving eve and all that I thought would get done - hasn't.  I have a sick child and now it seems I am getting sick.  Don't you love when people say "I don't have time to be sick" - well I don't!!  ;-)

So I have been saving my new Michelle McLaughlin "Christmas Plain and Simple" CD for next week - Morning Prayer and studying.  I broke it out a few minutes ago.  I wish I didn't have anywhere to be because what I really want to do is close the door to my office, light my candles and turn the volume louder, cuddle under my prayer blanket and read C.S. Lewis.

Sometimes people think Christians aren't supposed to be sad, sometimes even Christians themselves think it.  But sometimes the deepest Joy and Peace are found in the saddest of moments.  I think because I am so busy and I am getting sick that my sadness is deeper today than it normally would be.  I miss people today who have passed on to their Life Eternal.  I want to talk to some of them and they aren't here and it just stinks.

So I envelope myself in my music as I gather my strength for the rest of today.  I pray in thanksgiving for all the artists who bring my sadness into Joy and bring my prayer alive through their gifts.  Thank you!

C.S. Lewis

Yesterday we commemorated C.S. Lewis.

I am really at a loss for words.  I love C.S. Lewis.  I love his life story, his faith journey.  His words and books brought my own faith journey alive in ways I never could have imagined.  I cannot think about Creation without going back to my memories of reading The Magician's Nephew - the end of chapter 8 and into Chapter 9.

"Then two wonders happened at the same moment.  One was that the voice was suddenly joined by the other voices; more voices than you could possibly count.  They were in harmony with it, but far higher up the scale:  cold, tingling, silvery voices.  The second wonder was that the blackness overhead, all at once, was blazing with stars.  They didn't come out gently one by one, as they do on a summer evening.  One moment there had been nothing but darkness; next moment a thousand, thousand points of light leapt out - single stars, constellations, and planets, brighter and bigger than any in our world.  There were no clouds.  The new stars and the new voices began at exactly the same time.  If you had seen and heard it, as Digory did, you would have felt quite certain that it was the stars themselves which were singing, and that it was the First Voice, the deep one, which had

made them appear and made them sing." 

"Glory be!" said the Cabby.  "I'd ha' been a better man all my life if I'd known there were things like this."

Oh and there is so much more!  I can not say the Lord's Prayer without thinking of The Last Battle and imagining the Kingdom of God here on earth as C.S. Lewis portrayed in chapter 13:

"He looked round again and could hardly believe his eyes.  There was the blue sky overhead, and grassy country spreading as far as he could see in every direction, and his new friends all round him, laughing.

"It seems, then," said Tirian, smiling himself, "that the Stable seen from within and the Stable seen from without are two different places."

"Yes," said the Lord Digory.  "Its inside is bigger than its outside."

"Yes," said Queen Lucy.  "In our world too,

a Stable once had something inside that was bigger than our whole world."

Can't you just see Jesus laying in the manger, our chronos and our kairos interlocking and our worlds mingling, our earthly presence with our divine purpose.  Gives me shivers!

I could go on and on, but really you have to experience it for yourself.  Read the Chronicles of Narnia, read The Screwtape Letters, Mere Christianity, The Great Divorce and anything by C.S. Lewis that you can get your hands on.  You won't be disappointed.

With total excitement I am counting down the days to opening night of "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" - just 18 more days!!!

I am thinking about having a viewing of the first two movies at my house and then heading to the theatre for the late showing.  Wouldn't that just be a perfect Friday Sabbath!?

Thanks Be To God

"Thank the Lord because he is good.  His love continues forever."  Psalm 106:1

"Worship is when you're aware that what you've been given

is far greater than what you can give. 

Worship is the awareness that were it not for his touch,

you'd still be hobbling and hurting, bitter and broken. 

Worship is the half-glazed expression on the parched face of a desert pilgrim

 as he discovers that the oasis is not a mirage.

Worship is the "thank you" that refuses to be silenced.

...

Worship is a voluntary act of gratitude offered

by the saved to the Savior,

by the healed to the Healer,

and by the delivered to the Deliverer."

(excerpt from In the Eye of the Storm by Max Lucado)

I am so thankful for worship.  I am so thankful for those God has called to serve him through the Church.  Today I am so thankful for a pew to kneel in, a choir to raise their voice to heaven, a congregation to slip into and gather with to say my confessions, to share the Peace of the Lord, to gather in remembrance that Christ died for me and that my life is my offering, my Thank You.  I am thankful for all those who came before me in the history of the Anglican Tradition who developed these liturgies of Holy Eucharist and Evensong so that I might sit and just be and open myself to the Spirit moving through this world, as it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. 

Thank You and Amen.  Thank You and Amen.  Thank You and Amen.



Laundry Homework Lattes Amen

I have class tomorrow and tonight is the final preparation.  The "did I print that?", "did I write that?", "which book do I pack?"  I have numerous books, papers, litanies and even a liturgy this time.  I do not want to show up and be asked for a paper and only have a look of dumbfounded confusion on my face!

Laundry is the perfect respite between preparing for each class.  The monotony of folding and hanging and putting away gives you ultimate freedom to pray and release.  Give it all to God, knowing I am putting in my full effort and doing the best I can at this moment in time.

Lattes are a perfect sweet ending and pick me up!  I don't normally splurge but my hubby saw the piles on my desk and noticed I never quite looked up when he was asking me a few questions hence his running out and getting me a Gingerbread Latte - very yummy and just the thing I needed to then move forward and read over my Morning Prayer notes.  I am leading tomorrow for my class - and for critique.  Some moments I get nervous because I want to do well and then moments where I am not nervous at all knowing I just want to offer my classmates an opportunity to worship in the morning before we begin our studies.  I want their prayer time to be fruitful and get them centered on the Spirit.  Why else do we even gather?

So as I sipped my latte and folded my laundry and pondered my last paper on Richard Hooker and the via media I began to think again about the Cost of Discipleship and our possessions.  I spoke last about our tangible physical possessions and how they can rule our lives and take us away from God.  What I didn't explore were the mental possessions, the heart possessions.  I was thinking about holding on to fear and anxiety, grief and sorrow, disappointment and bitterness, blame and shame, guilt and ego.  Those are possessions too, possessions that can hold on to us and put a stumbling block on our path to discipleship.  How about fear of praying out loud and being embarrassed by our love for God? 

Had the greatest God moment this morning.  It is Friday so the hubby and I went out for breakfast.  We pray before we eat and I could feel eyes upon us and two of the tables took up fervent whispering.  I tried to block out the thoughts in my head that said "what are they saying?" and instead kept refocusing on my husband's voice and his words of thanksgiving and praise.  Letting mental picture images of his words float through my mind and into my heart.  Then we began eating and talking and all was normal.  Until I looked up and noticed a table of 8 men.  Some in suits, some in sweats, all of them earnestly talking and listening and...praising God!  It was a men's bible study/fellowship group who were talking to each other about employee/employer sticky situations and being humbled, about families and marriages, about friendships.  Weaving into it all was glory for God and human responsibility and effort and discerning God's will.

I realized I was the one who was now staring and wanting to witness all that they were sharing.  A witness in the wilderness as they spoke about the costs of discipleship.  Alleluia and Amen!

The Cost of Discipleship

"Now large crowds were travelling with him; and he turned and said to them, ‘Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, “This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.” Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. So therefore, none of you can become my disciple

if you do not give up all your possessions.

‘Salt is good; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored?  It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure heap; they throw it away. Let anyone with ears to hear listen!’   Luke 14:25-35

I am thankful to host bible study at my house once a week.  It makes me pick up my house!  I want the prayer and study space to be comfortable - therefore it needs to be clean.  I light candles asking God to be with us and I pray in the space before the group shows up.

But something interesting happens to me each week.  Each week I begin my cleaning thinking "ugh this house needs to be painted."  "Good grief this couch is way past its date to be thrown out."  "oh no the kids ate white powdered donuts in this chair again."  "Oh good grief this table leg is wobbly."   And as I go on these thoughts can start to rack up into the chant of "I want".  "I want a new couch",  "I want new carpet", "I want new tile", "I want a new table", "I want speakers mounted in my walls". 

I want then becomes frustration because of "I can't" buy anything because "I don't" have any money.  Then I get a little pity party going Oh woe is me.  I begin to think "why do I host and invite people over when my house is so unworthy."

Then lightening strikes!  ;-)

As soon as I have that thought my soul fights back my ego and tells it to "raphah" - be still.  The ONLY thing that matters is The Word.  Reading the Word, studying the Word, sharing the Word, fellowship with people around the Word.  Then I begin praying to The Word - "Dear Jesus, forgive me my trespasses.  Forgive me for not being content with my life, which you have repeatedly saved, thank you for the air I breath, thank you for my hands and feet that can clean up, thank you for this home that shelters my family, thank you for this mess my children make - they bring me joy and love and laughter and blessings, thank you for this furniture which has served my family and my friends and your children who gather to pray and learn."

Seriously - 7 years ago this furniture was brand new and I loved it - spent time picking it out, spent money on it, got all excited about having it delivered.  Loved sitting in it and moving it around.  In just 7 years it shows much wear and tear and already I wish to replace it.

"So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions."

Nothing in my possession can be more sacred than God.  I can't stop inviting people to my home to share God's Word because of the possessions I have or the lack of possessions I think I want.  I can't spend so much time on my possessions - cleaning them, organizing them, admiring them, bemoaning them - that I take away time I should be spending with God.

I joke often that I wish I had my own little apartment so that I could have a quiet place where no one touches my stuff.  Everything is clean and in it's home.  It would be perfect.

Or would it?

Where there is no mess would I find community and love, tears and joy, grief and happiness?  Would the quiet engulf me and leave my life barren and unable to communicate God's great deeds?

What is the cost of discipleship?  What do you have to give up, where do you have to let go and let God?  Possessions are just one tiny fraction of the conversation.

The Great Dinner

"He said also to the one who had invited him, ‘When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbours, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.’

One of the dinner guests, on hearing this, said to him, ‘Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!’  Then Jesus said to him, ‘Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. At the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, “Come; for everything is ready now.” But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, “I have bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see it; please accept my apologies.” Another said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please accept my apologies.” Another said, “I have just been married, and therefore I cannot come.” So the slave returned and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his slave, “Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.” And the slave said, “Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.” Then the master said to the slave, “Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those who were invited will taste my dinner.” ’  Luke 14:12-24

I would not want to be the person sleeping in and missing church when this scripture is read!  How many times in a day - a single day - does this scripture play out in our own lives.  "Dear God - oh hold please, someone just called."  "Okay, God, back to praying I was saying - oh wait a minute I forgot I had an errand to run."  I wonder what would happen if you actually sat down with a pen and piece of paper and broke our 24 hour day down into the hours and documented your day.  Sleep, eat, bathe, commute, work, play, homework, family time, entertainment, chores...on and on. 

When do you pray?  When do you worship?  What are you going to do when the Great Steward of the The Great Dinner comes to you and says "All are welcome and All is prepared, please join me."  Will you need to make one more phone call, read one more e-mail on your blackberry.  Will you not be able to miss one more "emergency" meeting or fix one more "to do" list item?  Will you be ready?  Will you understand that you must drop everything to join the Eternal Word for the Feast of your life?  Do we ever understand that the minutes of our busy day, all the minutes we claim we can't spend with God or for God are speedily adding up to account for our Life?

This week is busy for me, chaotically so.  I have all my normal routine and I must prep for school this weekend and my church visit.  The best part of this "Holy Chaos" is that all of my work and all of my study is grounded in God, grounded in the Spirit.  I am so blessed.  I did my grocery shopping early this week so I don't have to be distracted by what we need for dinner every evening.  While I grocery shopped in the empty store I spent many good moments with God.  Praying in Thanksgiving for this blessed life and the ability to be able to purchase groceries and prepare a home made meal for my family each evening.  There will come a time in my life when it is just me and my husband and our kids will be too busy to come home for dinner with us - hmmm what does that remind you of in the scripture we just read?

Part of my Holy Chaos is getting ready to church visit this Sunday and I can't wait to go.  I met the Rector of this church at a conference I attended a few months ago and he had some great insights.  I can't wait to hear him preach.

My Sabbath - With Sirach

"The leader of his brothers and the pride of his people was the high priest, Simon son of Onias, who in his life repaired the house, and in his time fortified the temple.

When he put on his glorious robe and clothed himself in perfect splendour, when he went up to the holy altar, he made the court of the sanctuary glorious.  When he received the portions from the hands of the priests, as he stood by the hearth of the altar with a garland of brothers around him, he was like a young cedar on Lebanon surrounded by the trunks of palm trees.  All the sons of Aaron in their splendour held the Lord’s offering in their hands before the whole congregation of Israel. 

Finishing the service at the altars, and arranging the offering to the Most High, the Almighty, he held out his hand for the cup and poured a drink-offering of the blood of the grape; he poured it out at the foot of the altar, a pleasing odour to

the Most High, the king of all.

Then the sons of Aaron shouted; they blew their trumpets of hammered metal; they sounded a mighty fanfare as a reminder before the Most High. Then all the people together quickly fell to the ground on their faces to worship their Lord, the Almighty, God Most High.

Then the singers praised him with their voices in sweet and full-toned melody.  And the people of the Lord Most High offered their prayers before the Merciful One,

until the order of worship of the Lord was ended, and they completed his ritual.

Then Simon came down and raised his hands over the whole congregation of Israelites, to pronounce the blessing of the Lord with his lips, and to glory in his name; and they bowed down in worship a second time, to receive the blessing from the Most High.

And now bless the God of all, who everywhere works great wonders, who fosters our growth from birth, and deals with us according to his mercy. May he give us gladness of heart, and may there be peace in our days in Israel, as in the days of old. 

May he entrust to us his mercy,

and may he deliver us in our days!" 

Sirach 50:1,11-24

I have studied the Old Testament and the New Testament - I have never really read more than bits and pieces of the Apocrypha.  Sirach is a new discovery to me and it has been wondrous.  The past few weeks my readings have been a combination of Sirach and Revelation and WOW!  Sirach talks about practical ways of following Jesus example:  don't gossip, don't slander, tithe with joy not grudgingly, etc.  Then follow it up with the imagery of Revelation and what is to come...

This portion of Sirach reminds me of Anglican and Episcopal worship today.  The beauty, the intention, the prayerful peace of giving back to God what He has given us and blessing it for us.  This particular passage reminds me of the Offering and Eucharist, the Blessing and Sending.  Part of the deacon's role in liturgy is presenting the gifts of the people to God and the gifts of God to the people.  The give and take of abundant blessing.  Deacons also get to do the Sending.

"Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.  Alleluia.  Alleluia."

"Thanks be to God."  Alleluia.  Alleluia."

Hidden Homeless

I just met a man who is one paycheck away from being homeless.  He is a single father trying to raise two kids.  He got hurt on the job and was out of work - with no pay - for a few weeks.  When you live paycheck to paycheck you can't afford to miss work.  Missing work means missing a payment.  This month it meant not having enough to cover his rent and still be able to put food on the table.  His work hours are such that he can't make it over to the local food pantry. 

This work can be so frustrating and so joyful all at the same time.  I can't "fix" anything.  I can offer a hand up and a hope for particular situations but I can't make anything better for the long run.  By the grace of God I was able to help him secure funding to keep from getting an eviction notice but what happens next month as the weather gets colder and his heating bills rise. 

"Praise be to the LORD, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever."  Psalm 28:6-9

There is nothing I can do.  I can only pray.  I can only drop to my knees and cry for mercy and beg for strength.  This "work" I do it pulls me and shapes me and drains me and invigorates me.  The calls keep coming, the need keeps growing.  I work with great people who spread the resources as much as they can, but it never feels enough.  There are still so many people who need shelter, food, clothing, safety, mercy and love.

I am so blessed, beyond blessed.  I spend my days caring for God's children, sharing God's word of Hope and Redemption.  Every breath I take is a gift, every moment spent with someone who walks away feeling loved and cared for is sacred.  I want so much, sometimes it makes my stomach hurt and my breath grow quick for all the work there is to do and how much I want.  I want every child to know the feeling of security and love and a full tummy, to have the opportunity to go to school and just play and be and imagine and learn and grow - without fear, without angst, without growing up too quickly.  How different would our world look if people felt heard and loved?  Isnt' that what we all want, at our core? 

Love.  To be heard.  To be seen.  How many are hidden amongst us?

Jesus saw them.  Jesus called them by name.  Jesus healed them.  Jesus saved them.  Jesus loved them.

You could re-write that to say:  Jesus saw Me.  Jesus called Me by name.  Jesus healed Me.  Jesus saved Me.  Jesus loves Me.

Thank you Jesus!

My Own Little World

My Own Little World by Matthew West

Behind every news story there is a life story.  Behind every application for assistance is a human being.  Behind every ambulance and police car flashing lights is a family drama or tragedy playing out.  Behind every played out scene in literature, on the movie screen, reality tv and real life scenes in grocery stores, libraries, walking paths is a dynamic that had years in the making - we see only a glimpse, catch only a thought.

Perspective.  You can live in a world where the only perspective you filter life through is Your Own.  Or you can live in a world where you add the perspective of the One who created all of our lives and knows all of our stories personally.  The One who waits for us on the front porch with open arms, no matter how far away we have traveled and no matter how long it took us to get home and truly no matter what shape we arrive in - the more in need we are, the more welcoming our Host.

What is your perspective?  Do you live a life of scarcity and keep your hands tightly clinging to all that you have, even though all of it is perishable?  Or do you live a life of abundance, in thanksgiving for all that you can be a part of, hands open to receive the Eternal and all the blessings just waiting to pass through your life into all the lives you can possibly touch and imagine?

Dreaming of I AM

The other morning my youngest son said to me "Mommy did you know that you can talk to God when you are asleep?" A few weeks ago at a bible study entitled "Let Your Life Speak" an adult said they can't imagine God entering their dreams.

I have met people who say they do not dream. I have met people who have visions.

One of my bible study workbooks professed that there are no longer prophets in our world. I know Christian mystics who have shared with me words that could only be prophetic and of God.

Do we live in the mists? Are we behind the veil? Do we forsake the mystical for fear of the magical? Is the Truth so real that we escape into the designed reality of this world - our own human making?

I read a blog by a RC priest who alleged that practicing Centering Prayer is akin to opening the front door to the devil. I heard a christian radio host allege that reading the Twilight series is a sin. I read a news article about a SB preacher who told his congregation that practicing Yoga was not a viable christian practice but fraught with evil teachings.

What I wonder the most is when these particular people began to believe in a god who is so small? God the Creator, Jesus the Savior and Holy Spirit the giver of Life transcend all human knowledge and understanding. Why can't God enter our dreams? Why wouldn't God use visions to reach us? Why couldn't the voices of Gandhi, Desmond Tutu, Maya Angelou, Mary Oliver, C.S. Lewis and Madeline L'Engle be prophetic? Why couldn't christian mystics still surround us and prayerfully keep a tangible hand in the World of Eternal? Why must we not practice quieting our heart, mind, souls and bodies through yoga and meditation, song, dance and Centering Prayer so that we can "be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10? When did we become so afraid that we forsake the power and grace of our Almighty? Or is it not fear? Is it arrogance in thinking we hold the answers, that our language speaks volumes and we understand all?

I am in Awe of the great I AM, of YHWH, of Yahweh, of Jehovah, Adanoia, El Shaddai, of the One who can not be imaged in human characteristic, who can not even be named, who tells me to "raphah" - be still. This life of mine only exists by the grace of this God. I am but dust molded by the infinite mercy of Love itself. I can be calm and serene in the spirituality of the All knowing, All giving, All merciful, All patient source of All Being, All Creation. I have nothing to fear as I sit in the mists of I AM. I welcome the dreams, the visions, the prophetic voices, the stillness of body, mind and soul, the darkness and the Light that shall overcome it all. God can move and be through it all.

Where is God in all this we call life? is a question uttered every day by many. I AM is within it all, is my response. Dream big today.