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 ....
16/08/2009
Is it real?
I am Knox Meaford this morning and as I ponder the scripture and think about the people who wrote these words down so long ago I look to my present condition. My mother died this week and it seems now like she was just a figment of my imagination. I have pictures and I have momentos but I don't have her in body or in presence any longer. She is in spirit only. She gave me life and gave me hope and lived her 90 years with tenacity. She was strong and independent and, sometimes, ornery but always loved me with all her heart. Mothers are the unconditional presence in our lives. They represent what God is to the world and to our overall spirit. Giving life and remaining steadfast with us in life and in death we know our mothers are with us.
As I move forward this week and begin the journey of saying goodbye to the physical earthly presence it is my job through the euology and service to keep the faith and maintain hope that she is in a better place, with my dad and her loved ones who have gone before her. Soaring with the stars and moving about in the spirit world watching over me and others she loved. We are the ones left behind to cope with the painful loss of our mother but in the long haul God is present and eases the pain of this loss if we only trust.
As I move forward this week and begin the journey of saying goodbye to the physical earthly presence it is my job through the euology and service to keep the faith and maintain hope that she is in a better place, with my dad and her loved ones who have gone before her. Soaring with the stars and moving about in the spirit world watching over me and others she loved. We are the ones left behind to cope with the painful loss of our mother but in the long haul God is present and eases the pain of this loss if we only trust.
04/08/2009
August Abun-dance
Well as I launch into August and think about the past six weeks or so, life has certainly changed me. We are our experiences and through this living we change, mold and grow. Life's experience is a tough teacher and can be ruthless in its challenges. I must remember to be in the moment and remember we are human becomings and not simply human beings or human doers; life guides us to greater heights should we let it.
The doors close behind us sometimes and it is with regret or longing that we want to turn around and run back through before the last crack of light is gone. Traces of the past beckon us and the future is unknown so all we have is now. God is in the now. Real, ephemeral and can be trusted. The greatest part of this knowledge is that once you discover that there is a whole world that opens up to you.
Tonight is a full moon or, if not full, at least very close to full. Mother Earth is basking in the lunar brightness allowing just a hint of shadow. Fears can lay in these shadows or we can wait for the light of day to give us the whole picture. I like that thought; hunkering down to the sounds of the crickets and waiting for the sun to come out once more.
Be well my friends and remember God is with you as long as you are with God.
The doors close behind us sometimes and it is with regret or longing that we want to turn around and run back through before the last crack of light is gone. Traces of the past beckon us and the future is unknown so all we have is now. God is in the now. Real, ephemeral and can be trusted. The greatest part of this knowledge is that once you discover that there is a whole world that opens up to you.
Tonight is a full moon or, if not full, at least very close to full. Mother Earth is basking in the lunar brightness allowing just a hint of shadow. Fears can lay in these shadows or we can wait for the light of day to give us the whole picture. I like that thought; hunkering down to the sounds of the crickets and waiting for the sun to come out once more.
Be well my friends and remember God is with you as long as you are with God.
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