Tuesday, January 4, 2011

A New Season

A season of hope,
restoration & renewal

A season of faithfulness,
commitment to live honestly

A season of patient trust,
grace & gentleness, healing


All is gift,
All shall be well.

Monday, January 3, 2011

Unfamiliar Path - III

Barabara Brown Taylor: Leaving Church - a memoir of faith

Like every believer I know, my search for real life has led me through at least three distinct seasons of faith, not once or twice, but over and over again. Jesus called them finding life, losing life, and finding life again, with the paradoxical promise that finders will be losers while those who lose their lives for his sake will wind up finding them again.

In Greek the word is psyche, meaning not only "life" but also the conscious self, the personality, the soul. You do not have to die in order to discover the truth of this teaching, in other words. You only need to lose track of who you are, or who you thought you were suppose to be, so that you end up lying flat on the dirt floor basement of your heart.

Do this, Jesus says, and you will live.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Unfamiliar Path - II

Back in August Dave told his African safari story where he learned to track wild animals. When he lost the animal's tracks Dave was ready to look for another set of tracks to follow. But Dave's teacher/mentor tracking guy said no, you follow the obvious path. Keep heading towards the watering hole, that's where all the animals will end up.

Even though my path is unfamiliar it doesn't mean I look for another path to follow. I am confident that this path leads me towards God. In the meantime however I will cling to the very basics of my faith. I will follow the obvious path.

Jesus loves me
this I know
for the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong
they are weak, but
He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Unfamiliar Path

6 months of chronic pain - January - June
4 months of heavy pain meds - May, June, July, Aug/Dec
2 major surgeries - total hip replacements - July 7, 2010 & December 14, 2010
1 Doctorate of Ministry - May 9, 2010
1 father passed away - January 19,2010

At the end of 2010 I find myself on a very unfamiliar path of my journey. Spiritual disciplines that I have known and practiced seem out of reach, but I trust "the process." I trust that Spirit is present.
. . . "through the heartfelt mercies of my God
God's Sunrise will break in upon me;
shining on those in darkness
those sitting in the shadows of death,
then showing me the way, one foot at a time,
down the path of peace" Luke 1.78-79 msg

She is guiding me, one foot at a time, down the path of peace. I trust that this unfamiliar path over time, will draw me closer to the Heart of God.