Faith, Grace, and Hope

When I want to sink down in frustration, Lord, keep me moving. When I don’t want to hear any more, Lord, keep me listening. When I don’t have the words, Lord, keep me praying. When I am ready to dismiss, Lord, keep me loving. When I feel alone and overcome, Lord, keep me. Amen. Originally posted at RevGalBlogPals

NaBloPoMo  Prompt for 7 February 2014: Show Me Fridays : upload an image to your blog (with or without words) of your most prized possession. Before posting, I decided to clarify "possession" for myself.  Possession: the state of having, owning , or controlling something. I don't see myself as "owning" the pictured items. God KNOWS I don't control them. 

I'm renewing my efforts at losing weight. Well, I've failed at that before, so I'm trying a new perspective. Bison stew with veggies. Mmmm! I am working toward a HEALTHIER me! This is, therefore, not about numbers on a scale, but about: - reducing my risk of heart disease - improving my race completion times - avoiding Type 2 Diabetes - setting a good example for my children - appreciating the gift of my body and what it can do All of this means working on a different perspective toward food (and exercise, but that's a different day). I love food. I don't want to stop loving food. A right (better) relationship with food means making better food choices (bye-bye, Valentine heart candies). It means thinking when I eat, not just using one hand to put things in my mouth while doing something else with the other hand (to save time, prevent boredom, whatever). That re-focus helps to think about food as a gift- how it gets to me, who grew it, handl...

I frequently ponder this quote: "There is meaning in every journey that is unknown to the traveler.” ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer Photo by J. Seymour (Dunlap)- Scotland, 2005

NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) Theme for February 2014: Perspective Prompt for 4 February:  Do you think it's possible to ever truly see the world from another person's perspective, or are we held so tightly to our own way of viewing the world? No. I think we each have motivations, experiences, understandings, misunderstandings, confusions, intentions, frustrations, and desires that are unique to us. While there may indeed be nothing new under the sun, we are all slightly different. This isn't to say we're all special little snowflakes. It is that we are all very different, even in the ways we are same. No one has my same history. No one has my same thought processes. No one approaches things the way I do. Because this is true not just for me, but also for everyone else, we need (NEED) a way to approach each other with compassion, even in judgment and structure. Thus the need for the 8th commandment: Thou shall not bear false witness . Don't...

Psalm 2 Why do forces- even people- try to be greater than God? Kings, presidents, governors, village elders come together and say, “We have power. We can subvert the Lord’s plans- especially the Lord’s plans for the beloved.” The Lord smiles, but is not amused. When the Lord acts, all will know! The Lord will speak from a place of determination and frustration, saying: “YOU WILL NOT PREVAIL OVER MY CHOSEN.” I will dare to share the Lord’s words. The Lord has revealed to me: “You are my child. Today, every day, I give you life. Ask what you will of me. Your place in creation is my gift to you. All that you can comprehend- and beyond- is your inheritance. Those who would conquer you will taste defeat.” Thus, I warn the presumptuous rulers: Be smart! Be wise! Be alert, you who think you are gods. Serve the Lord. Serve the Lord alone. His wrath is great, but his mercy is greater still. ...

John 4:1-42             On the first Sunday of each month, we usually have a faith story. This is a chance, typically, for you to hear from someone other than me (hooray for you) and for me to have a little rest (hooray for me). Today, I’d like to give you a little faith story of my own. Since I’m up here most often, you often hear little snippets of my experiences or of my family. I try not to do that too often and rely on other things to flesh out my explanations of the gospel and where I believe God is in the world.             And it’s very rare that I tell you something big that you don’t already know about. That’s not because I’m keeping secrets, but because I don’t really share that much. I don’t want to get in the way of God’s story, so I try to keep my story and myself out of the way.             Around...