Check this out! Amazing conference in May 2011. Begin to plan to go NOW! I am working on fundraising to help women who would like to attend. Keep watch.
Women's conference www.womensgathering.ca
Fecundity .... fertile abundance .... Spirit Care 101
27/07/2010
Steamy hot summer weather
Good Morning, As I struggle along trying to find a cool spot in our recent heat wave, I find myself surfing the net. My Facebook friends are fun and I love keeping in touch by email. It is in this that I received a request to tell a school chum how I found myself in the ministry and heading for ordination. This request, needless to say, created some pondering.
In that pondering this was part of my explanation to her:
"Spiritual formation is very satisfying and keeps us humbled and true to what is important. I am not saying life is easy and I am certainly a poster child for financial stress and face challenges every day trying to buck our modern individualistic culture. However, it is worth it because nothing and no one can let me down. I am intrinsically happy and although I suffer from loneliness, at times, I am trying to work through that loneliness with prayer and reading and hope that I will meet someone to share my life and will also share my passion for faith."
What do we sacrifice to be faithful? How do we know when we are there? God offers us heartfelt peace in our lives but does that blend with society at large? These are all challenging questions, ones that are newly faced every new day even when we feel we have the answer.
Blessings
In that pondering this was part of my explanation to her:
"Spiritual formation is very satisfying and keeps us humbled and true to what is important. I am not saying life is easy and I am certainly a poster child for financial stress and face challenges every day trying to buck our modern individualistic culture. However, it is worth it because nothing and no one can let me down. I am intrinsically happy and although I suffer from loneliness, at times, I am trying to work through that loneliness with prayer and reading and hope that I will meet someone to share my life and will also share my passion for faith."
What do we sacrifice to be faithful? How do we know when we are there? God offers us heartfelt peace in our lives but does that blend with society at large? These are all challenging questions, ones that are newly faced every new day even when we feel we have the answer.
Blessings
26/07/2010
Importance of prayer and meditation...
Yesterday's lectionary was focused on Luke 11: 1-13 which holds the Lord's prayer as we recite it today. It offered the opportunity to speak about prayer.
Why do we pray? Do we pray because God expects it or for our own sake?
Years ago in the prairies during the winter the farmer would tie a rope from the back door to the barn so, in blizzard conditions, one would not get lost between the house and the barn. This exercise was the result of experiences where people would lose their way and freeze to death before anyone knew. Are you lost in the blizzard of your life? Tying a rope from your heart to God might be your lifeline. Keeping in touch with self allows God to be present in your life.
What if you do not know how to pray so depend on the Lord's prayer as your guide? The Lord's prayer is actually structured in such a way that has five imperatives. The first two concern the holiness of God and the establishment of God's kingdom, The final three ask for necessary provisions, forgiveness of sins and freedom from testing (Sacra Pagina 3, Luke pg. 179). This offers the opportunity to adopt a mantra and helps with consistency. However, in praying this way do we fall into the habit of just saying the words and not truly praying what it in our heart? Do we feel fulfilled?
Neil Douglas Klotz took the original words spoke by Jesus, in Aramaic and translated the Lord's prayer in many ways. Aramaic, like Greek, has the ability of words to have many meanings and emotion. This alternate translation can touch your heart and soul in different ways.
O radiant one: you shine within us,
outside us – even darkness shines – when we remember,
Focus your light within us – make it useful;
Create your reign of unity now ~
Your one desire then acts with ours,
as in all light, so in all forms.
Grant what we need each day in bread and insight.
Loose the cords of mistakes binding us,
as we release the strands we hold of others’ guilt.
Don’t let surface things delude us,
but free us from what holds us back.
From you is born all ruling will,
the power and the life to do,
the song that beautifies all,
from age to age it renews.
Truly ~ power to these statements ~
may they be the ground from which all our actions grow: Amen.
Pray from your own heart and as you connect with self you will open the door for God. As you pray remember those around you ~
Pastoral Prayer: Gracious God, Father and Mother, Shepherd and Judge, Lover of all Creation: we come this day knowing that you are with us always. We reflect on the simple things of life, especially the way in which Jesus taught us to pray. When we are overwhelmed, remind us to reflect on the basic aspects of life and our relationship with you. Help us to know that you hear us always, that you respond according to your will, and that you love us forever. Amen.
Blessings to all!
Why do we pray? Do we pray because God expects it or for our own sake?
Years ago in the prairies during the winter the farmer would tie a rope from the back door to the barn so, in blizzard conditions, one would not get lost between the house and the barn. This exercise was the result of experiences where people would lose their way and freeze to death before anyone knew. Are you lost in the blizzard of your life? Tying a rope from your heart to God might be your lifeline. Keeping in touch with self allows God to be present in your life.
What if you do not know how to pray so depend on the Lord's prayer as your guide? The Lord's prayer is actually structured in such a way that has five imperatives. The first two concern the holiness of God and the establishment of God's kingdom, The final three ask for necessary provisions, forgiveness of sins and freedom from testing (Sacra Pagina 3, Luke pg. 179). This offers the opportunity to adopt a mantra and helps with consistency. However, in praying this way do we fall into the habit of just saying the words and not truly praying what it in our heart? Do we feel fulfilled?
Neil Douglas Klotz took the original words spoke by Jesus, in Aramaic and translated the Lord's prayer in many ways. Aramaic, like Greek, has the ability of words to have many meanings and emotion. This alternate translation can touch your heart and soul in different ways.
O radiant one: you shine within us,
outside us – even darkness shines – when we remember,
Focus your light within us – make it useful;
Create your reign of unity now ~
Your one desire then acts with ours,
as in all light, so in all forms.
Grant what we need each day in bread and insight.
Loose the cords of mistakes binding us,
as we release the strands we hold of others’ guilt.
Don’t let surface things delude us,
but free us from what holds us back.
From you is born all ruling will,
the power and the life to do,
the song that beautifies all,
from age to age it renews.
Truly ~ power to these statements ~
may they be the ground from which all our actions grow: Amen.
Pray from your own heart and as you connect with self you will open the door for God. As you pray remember those around you ~
Pastoral Prayer: Gracious God, Father and Mother, Shepherd and Judge, Lover of all Creation: we come this day knowing that you are with us always. We reflect on the simple things of life, especially the way in which Jesus taught us to pray. When we are overwhelmed, remind us to reflect on the basic aspects of life and our relationship with you. Help us to know that you hear us always, that you respond according to your will, and that you love us forever. Amen.
Blessings to all!
20/07/2010
Steps along the way...
We all face day to day challenges and then thrown our way is a boulder. How do we cope? Like water working its way down a mountain as we find obstacles we have to decide are we going to let them stop our flow or will we find a way around? Being made up of mostly water we need to keep hydrated and not allow our water to become stagnant or pool in despair.
We all face endings, neutral zones and then new beginnings. Like the seasons in our great country we see change. Most often we cannot change the circumstances but we can change how we deal with them and how we work them through. Life can be cruel sometimes.
Teilhard de Chardin 1881 - 1955 said "We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, but spiritual beings having a human experience". I believe the spirit of my ancestors are with me, around me and present in a different realm. Is this realm heaven? Who knows but I do believe we are here on this earth a short time, our spirit inhabiting a vessel and experiencing that which makes us human. Eating ice cream, sharing in love and passion, and cheering on our favourite sport team. Spiritually we connect with others and live life.
How do you connect? How do you cope? Are you living in the pain of your past unable to move forward? Take some time in meditation and prayer and ask the greater good, your higher power, the God of your life to be with you and help you find the light. Each moment of life should be savored and appreciated and when we get stuck we need help.
A great short read to help you understand all these zones of life, William Bridges Transitions: Making Sense of Life's Changes ISBN 0-7382-0904-X Get yourself interested in where you are in your life. Breathe in life and begin to live ~~ come to life again!
Have a great day!
We all face endings, neutral zones and then new beginnings. Like the seasons in our great country we see change. Most often we cannot change the circumstances but we can change how we deal with them and how we work them through. Life can be cruel sometimes.
Teilhard de Chardin 1881 - 1955 said "We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, but spiritual beings having a human experience". I believe the spirit of my ancestors are with me, around me and present in a different realm. Is this realm heaven? Who knows but I do believe we are here on this earth a short time, our spirit inhabiting a vessel and experiencing that which makes us human. Eating ice cream, sharing in love and passion, and cheering on our favourite sport team. Spiritually we connect with others and live life.
How do you connect? How do you cope? Are you living in the pain of your past unable to move forward? Take some time in meditation and prayer and ask the greater good, your higher power, the God of your life to be with you and help you find the light. Each moment of life should be savored and appreciated and when we get stuck we need help.
A great short read to help you understand all these zones of life, William Bridges Transitions: Making Sense of Life's Changes ISBN 0-7382-0904-X Get yourself interested in where you are in your life. Breathe in life and begin to live ~~ come to life again!
Have a great day!
18/07/2010
One year later...
A year has passed since I started this blog and have let it slide very badly. So it is time to get back at it and update my progress.
It has been a year since I was in England and enjoyed my time at Cuddesdon. The Biblical Study was amazing even though it was a little marred with my mother's illness, then my son's tragic accident and upon returning home, the death of my mom. My son has been a year healing and it has been an emotional spiritual journey.
I have studied for a year at Knox College and have now put behind me one year of my theological study. I have been told I am more polished and am showing signs of great improvement. I am now a student pastor at a local church enjoying time in the pulpit.
So stay with me and share in a spiritual journey. I will keep up my posting and link to great sites as well as share some great reading material.
God bless ....
It has been a year since I was in England and enjoyed my time at Cuddesdon. The Biblical Study was amazing even though it was a little marred with my mother's illness, then my son's tragic accident and upon returning home, the death of my mom. My son has been a year healing and it has been an emotional spiritual journey.
I have studied for a year at Knox College and have now put behind me one year of my theological study. I have been told I am more polished and am showing signs of great improvement. I am now a student pastor at a local church enjoying time in the pulpit.
So stay with me and share in a spiritual journey. I will keep up my posting and link to great sites as well as share some great reading material.
God bless ....
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