Category: Challenge

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Book quotes, Challenge, Faith, Joy, Just do it, Praise, Prayer, Worship

Advent with Every Moment Holy

I looked through the featured liturgies from the daily reading I get from Every Moment Holy. Here is a small portion from the one entitled Entering the Advent Season  by Lanier Ivester

God-With-Us, be my peace 
as I embark upon this holy season.
Help me to carve out quiet for
communion with you
sheltered moments in which to contemplate
the earth-shattering gift of a self-giving Savior.
And where quiet cannot be found,
so tether me to your presence within that
nothing without would unravel my calm.

I love the images there. Help me carve out, not turkey or the ham or any other delight, but more so “carve out quiet for communion with” God.

“Sheltered moment and earth-shattering gift.” This writer understands what we are celebrating right now!

And so, with the confidence your people 
have carried since your first coming,
I look toward your second with
expectant love,
echoing the cry your church
has intoned through the ages:
Even so, come, Lord Jesus

Commenting upon the word Maranatha, Wikipedia says: Use in contemplative prayer

Based on the teachings of John Cassian, John Main recommended the recitation of Maranatha as “the ideal Christian mantra“, meaning “Come Lord”, repeated silently interiorly as four equally stressed syllables Ma-ra-na-tha: “Not only is this one of the most ancient Christian prayers, in the language Jesus spoke, but it also has a harmonic quality that helps to bring the mind to silence. Other words or short phrases could be used but he saw it as important that during the meditation one doesn’t think about the meaning or use the imagination.”[5] Other Christian authors and communities cultivate similar practices centered on this recitation, such as Pablo d’Ors, who also recommends it as one of the linkages (along with the breathing and the hands) for the practice of contemplative prayer.

I have read both John Cassian and John Main. Making Maranatha a prayer to focus upon your breath is very powerful. The focus is upon the four stressed syllables but also upon the plea of the word prayer Maranatha. Come Lord, be with us. Come Lord i your power and glory.

Hearing the Messiah reminded me of the song of the angels in Revelation 7:11-2

All the angels were standing around the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before his throne, and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might, be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

If you recite nothing else this Advent I challenge you to recite Blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power and might. These be to our God forever and ever. Amen!

And again in Revelation 5: 11-/13

 I looked, and I heard something like a voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders. The number of them was ten thousands of ten thousands, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who has been killed to receive the power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing!”

13 I heard every created thing which is in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion, forever and ever! Amen!”

Is this what you think about during Advent and Christmas? If not usually, try this with the ten thousands of ten thousands!

power 
wealth 
wisdom
strength
honor
glory 
blessing
dominion
thanksgiving
might
Even so, come, Lord Jesus, come!

Maybe I have to get this printed as a card for next year!!

Posted on in Aging, Book quotes, Challenge, Faith, Focus, Joy, Listen, Memories, Obedience, Poetry, Praise, Rest, Worship

Macrina Wiederkehr

“Macrina Wiederkehr, OSB (1939-2020), was a spiritual guide, popular retreat facilitator, and author who made her home with the monastic community of St. Scholastica in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The Benedictine traditions of deep listening to the word of God and hospitality toward all of life form the roots of her writing and retreat ministry. Wiederkehr is the bestselling author of ten books, including The Flowing Grace of Now, Seven Sacred Pauses, Behold Your Life, and The Circle of Life, which she coauthored with Joyce Rupp.” from Ave Maria Press

Macrina influenced my Christian formation through her writings. I was able to hear her in person once. It was delightful to be under her teaching that evening. I first read this poem a number of years ago and think of it every Advent. I had difficulty finding it this year. Guess I had best print it out for myself!! I used to have the book The Circle of Life where this poem was published.

O God of words, dear Word made flesh
give birth to my thoughts
change them into words
that will help me Christmas up the lives
of those I love, for I am weak and fragile
scared and empty this year
and still I feel You very near.

Jesus, I think I hear You coming
I think I hear a sound that says
you’ve cared your way into my life again.
I think I see a light more lasting
than the ones we hang on trees
I think I see a world
that’s splashed with God again
so gospelled with his presence
so covered with his love yet, lonely still …

O shoppers, dear shoppers put your carts away.
Please put your carts away
and search deep down within your hearts
for gifts that will not rust or fade
for where your treasure is there is your heart. (Matthew 6:19–21)
O look into your God-splashed, gospelled hearts
and see! See Christmas standing there
waiting to be, not bought but given free.

We are Christmas shoppers, Lord
We are shopping for a way to make your coming last
O take the blind in us and hold it close
O teach us how to see
decorate our lives with your vision
for Christmas, let us see!

O shoppers, dear shoppers hang lights in your hearts
instead of on your trees
for the One we’ve hung our hopes on
has come, and now we’re free
but only if we see.

Jesus, we long for Christmas-eyes.
Please heal the blind in us
for Christmas, eyes that see! Makrina Wiederkehr

Isn’t she amazing in her imagery and passion for Christ and the lost? I just love it! Addressing us directly, “Shoppers put your carts away!” “Dear shoppers hang lights in your hearts instead of on your trees.” May your God-splashed, gospelled hearts rejoice all through this season!

Posted on in Book quotes, Challenge, Faith, Family, Illness and Health, Prayer, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Surrender, Trust, Yield

Your Prayers Are Needed

I am asking prayers for one recently released from 3 months of therapy and coming to terms with losing custody of her two youngest children, needing AA, counseling, and medications to cope with addiction issues, and mental illness. This is a heavy load for any young woman.

This morning I was touched with this psalm which is similar to a psalm the Lord gave her mother a decade ago when she was recovering from alcohol addiction.


The Lord is a friend to those who fear him *
and will show them his covenant.

My eyes are ever looking to the Lord, *
for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.

Turn to me and have pity on me, *
for I am left alone and in misery. Psalm 25:14-16 BCP

God knows exactly what this woman needs to heal and walk in a sober and upright way. I believe our prayers can help lift her to wholeness and health. Obviously, she must choose that option for herself every single day of her life.

I also believe that we are to “confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.” James 5:16 NRSVUE

So please pray for this extended family member, that she may find her peace and healing in the arms of the Lord and walk with God in deliverance from the enemies of her soul, find ways to make peace and keep her sobriety, finding her health and source of life in the ways of God.


The Lord is a friend to those who fear him.
 
He teaches them his covenant.
My eyes are always on the Lord,
 
for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies.
Turn to me and have mercy,

for I am alone and in deep distress. Psalm 25:14-16 NLT

God is faithful and I believe nothing is impossible to Him with whom we have to do.

“O blessed Lord, you ministered to all who came to you: Look with compassion upon all who through addiction have lost their health and freedom. Restore to them the assurance of your unfailing mercy; remove from them the fears that beset them; strengthen them in the work of their recovery; and to those who care for them, give patient understanding and persevering love. Amen.“ Book of Common Prayer, #56. For the Victims of Addiction

Posted on in Aging, Challenge, Cooking, Faith, Family, Humor, Joy, Just do it, Praise, Thanks

Each Turkey I Cook

Pilgrim Gnome saying “Raise your turkey leg high in thanks to God!”

When I cook a turkey or chicken I try to use the bones to make broth for gravy or soups. This year I had 2 turkeys to cook. If you have ever processed bones for broth, especially turkey bones, you know what a mess it can be. Turkey is very oily. First you simmer the bones and then strain them out of the broth. I did the first batch in the Crockpot for hours and hours. After I processed the first carcass I thought to myself, “Nope! I am not going to do the second one. That is enough.” After letting the broth chill I skim off any fat that has risen to the top. I then freeze the broth in Ball jars for future use. The house smells delightfully of turkey, turkey, turkey!

Then my son taught me that if I caramelize the bones in the oven and then simmer, the broth will be even better. Of course, I was challenged to try his method. I keep telling that young man he should write a cookbook!

Simmering with vegetables to reduce into a rich broth.

Of course, my son, the chef, was absolutely correct. The next batch of broth was stunning. Best gravy I have made in years.

We had a lively feast with a prayer of thanksgiving and much stuffing into mouths. Dressing, two kinds of sweet potatoes, gravy, butter rolls made from scratch, mashed potatoes, turkey and more turkey. The person bringing the corn pudding had to work so alas we had none of that. The pies were tasty as was the made from scratch banana sugar-free pudding. (Except the cookies in it were not sugar free.) Gourmet cookies that sent my glucose soaring, but oh yum. Those were dangerous!

Is there something you do traditionally with your turkey bones or other holiday meal? I encourage you to write it down for your family. They will eventually benefit from what you learn along the way!

I make a cream soup with wild rice and turkey. It ought to be outrageously good with this new broth!

Posted on in Aging, Challenge, Faith, Family, Humor, Joy, Praise, Prayer, Surrender, Thanks

The Pre-Thanksgiving Shenanigans

So about all I had left to do was to make the pumpkin pies for the celebration. I also planned to make my almost sugarless pumpkin filling for my diabetic self. In case you are not aware, pumpkin pie filling is a custard that starts out incredibly runny and firms up as it bakes.

I was using my Kitchen aid mixer which I am still getting accustomed to.

A screw fell out of the mixer, but I was so grateful it did not go into the filling! I went to turn the mixer off and slid the switch the wrong direction. (See that sliding button above that says stir 2 4 6 8 10?) Wrong direction is 10!! Pumpkin filling flew everywhere as I turned the mixer to high instead of off. I had pumpkin filling splashed on my new lilac sneakers. Pumpkin down the cabinets. Later I found pumpkin on the dining room rug. Pumpkin all over the mixer itself. Pumpkin on the quilted pad under the mixer. Could I stay calm and grateful even then? Tough doing that.

I finally got the pies in the oven. Cancelled the plan for my filling. Geesh, what a mess!! I usually have too much filing for the two deep dish pie crusts. I use a baking bowl like my mother had for the left over. I figured no leftover with this mess. Much to my surprise there was some leftover!

They really were round though they look oval here!

After the pies baked I went to take a nap. When I awoke there was a leak from under our fridge. I thought maybe the door ice dispenser had a jam that had opened. Nope, too much water for that. I noticed the bottom ice maker had stopped making ice. Bob was able to pull this incredible heavy refrigerator/freezer out on its rollers. Yep! It was filthy back there. We cleaned that up, but still could not find the source for the leak. Bob watched a few repair videos and decided it was too much for him to deal with. We turned off the lower ice maker to see if that would help. Leak stopped.

Huge load of towels and laundry between the pie filling and the leak!

We bought a bag of ice for the celebration. WHAT A DAY!!

Our son came early to the celebration and offered to check out the freezer ice maker. We asked that he wait until after the celebration. He has learned so much in his job as an apartment complex maintenance person. He had never repaired this brand, but took a look after dessert was over.

In moments he had the back off the motor area. Then the ice drawer was out of the freezer, then the entire lower drawer. I do not know exactly how, but he got it working. We cleaned up the water from where the leak began during the testing. Another load or two of laundry from the dinner napkins, table cloths and towels.

I sent him home with lots of pumpkin pie! Oh what a relief it is not to need to call a repairman on a holiday! Thanks Jeff! You are the best!!

And yes, the pies were a hit!

in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV

In everything, not for everything.

Posted on in Book quotes, Challenge, Faith, Just do it, Listen, Obedience, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Surrender, Thanks, Yield

Every Moment Holy book

Grant us strength and grace, O God,
that we might move through today 
folding in humble obedience to you,
sensitivity of your Spirit,
and in joyful expectancy of your coming kingdom." A Liturgy of the Hours Midday, Volume 1

That phrase ‘folding in humble obedience to you,’ that just brought me up short. Folding in humble obedience to you. Yes, Lord, I want to be that sort of obedient.

Have you ever tried to carry an unruly child, one kicking and screaming, squirming to get down out of your arms? God does not want us to be like that.

 Listen to me, O house of Jacob,
    all the remnant of the house of Israel,
who have been borne by me from your birth,
    carried from the womb;
4 even to your old age I am he;
    even when you turn gray I will carry you.
I have made, and I will bear;
    I will carry and will save. Isaiah 46:3-4 NRSVUE

Even to old age and gray hair, (or no hair), God wants to be involved in our life.

Will we cooperate with those wishes?

Will we bend our heart in humble obedience, sensitivity to God’s Spirit, and in joyful expectancy of the coming kingdom? I hope and pray you will join me in this sort of yielding.

Posted on in Aging, Challenge, Faith, Listen, Memories, Music, Prayer, Trust, Worship, Yield

Called Here Repeatedly

Do you have a song that pulls you into God’s presence? This is one of mine. The opening photo shows verse 3!

Based on Psalm 84.

How lovely is your dwelling place,
    O Lord of hosts!
2 My soul longs, indeed it faints,
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh sing for joy
    to the living God.

3 Even the sparrow finds a home
    and the swallow a nest for herself,
    where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O Lord of hosts,
    my King and my God.
4 Happy are those who live in your house,
    ever singing your praise. 

10 For a day in your courts is better
    than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
    than live in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
    he bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does the Lord withhold
    from those who walk uprightly.
12 O Lord of hosts,
    happy is everyone who trusts in you. Selah NRSVUE

For those of you having difficulty this holiday season for whatever reason, please reflect upon this part of the same Psalm.

In Psalm 84, we are introduced to the Valley of Weeping. In some translations, it is called the Valley of Baca, a Hebrew word that derives from bakah (baw-kaw), meaning to weep, bemoan, bewail, complain, make lamentation, and mourn with tears. https://reasonsforhopejesus.com/what-is-the-valley-of-weeping-baca-psalm-84/

5 Happy are those whose strength is in you,
    in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
6 As they go through the valley of Baca,
    they make it a place of springs;
    the early rain also covers it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength;
    the God of gods will be seen in Zion.

8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
    give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah
9 Behold our shield, O God;
    look on the face of your anointed.

We go through the valley of Baca, we do not reside there. Please know if you are having difficulty emotionally this season there are those who are praying for you as you go through that valley. God sees your tears and is moved to comfort you.

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Challenge, Faith, Family, Music, politics, Praise, Prayer, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Yield

When You Hit Wrong Date as You Write

I wrote this last week. Then I hit the wrong date for it to post. It went up. I took it down. I reset for a different date. Bob said nothing seemed to post at all on that date. So, if you saw this video and read this already forgive me. Welcome to my world of less than perfect writer!

My husband took this video for me. He knows the poem I wrote about lily leaves at the pond. Trying to get ‘mercurial glistening spheres’ in words was tough. Perhaps the video will help you catch the vision! Please watch his video and then read or re-read the poem.

Video by r m dutina
Perhaps I Could Ask You Just to Stand and Tip? ©1990 Molly Lin Dutina 

Lily pads at the pond
grow on stalky stems
leaves unfold at opened palm
cupped at center point
summer shower starts to drop
mercurial glistening spheres
gathering in the center spot
'til bulbous weight smears silver drops
into glistening globs
and tips the leaves so full
to pour their content overboard 
and rising from the spill
stately shielded lily-hands
begin the cycle once more

Keep my stalk flexible, Lord
my hands open cupped
eager to receive Your all
questioning not Your skill
only trusting the power of Your love
to melt my rigid will

drench me Lord
in Your shower of love
let me gather and drink my fill
then spill over on those around
and rise to await your will

Send water of You Spirit
to tip me over, pour me out
then wash over me once again
fresh cleansing by Holy Words

Shine Your light through
this enshrouding mist
color me with covenant this:
Abiding presence and constant love,
indwelling grace that conquers sin
Transfigured rigid I
Yielded and bent 
in Your service
Spilling forth rivers of living water
and giving rest to croaky voiced frogs
who, when Spirit-kissed
become priests and kings
singing their praises to You.
 
Perhaps You ask me jut it be Your lily leaf
stand and tip.

Posted on in Challenge, Faith, Listen, Look, Obedience, Worship

Snowflake or Drop, Your effort Counts

Remember the recent post about avalanche? This quote came up and I had to share it with you. There is a great sense of helplessness in the world right now; especially in the United Sates. Mother Teresa had wisdom to share with us regarding this sense of helplessness.

We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.

SAINT MOTHER TERESA

Bob volunteers at the local food pantry once a week. We were going together on a separate day, but it got to be too much standing on the concrete with shoppers for a couple hours. We might go back though as the Inter Parish Ministry foodbank is swamped by people in need.

There is an evening “drive through” that was averaging 20 neighbors a week. Last week they had over 100 at that one event. Much of the food is bagged in advance. The staff was bagging food at 8 AM on Tuesday to try to provide for the drive through neighbors for Tuesday. Usually the bags are filled by volunteers.

One week I was amazed there was no shampoo to give out. V05 shampoo is about $1.25 a bottle at Walmart. Recently I found some environmentally safe shampoo at a resale shop in downtown Batavia. I bought what they had to try to make my “drop in the ocean” contribution.

What might you provide to your neighbors in need? I do not mean, Pat, next door. The IPM ministry is not calling those who come in need clients. We are referring to them as neighbors. And they are our neighbors.

Toilet paper, paper towels, diapers, shampoo, soap, canned foods, peanut butter, bread, so many needs. They tell us that a cash donation to the ministry is the best. The ministry can buy things from The Freestore Foodbank at better prices than we can obtain.

I find it disgraceful that we are supposed to live in the richest country in the world and we have people who are hungry, unhoused, un-cared for. Please do your part to help out in any way that you can where you live.

Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can. John Wesley’s Rule of Life

Posted on in Aging, Challenge, Faith, Family, Memories, Rest, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Thanks, Trust

Sixty-four Years Ago

My Dad died so long ago and my mom almost as long ago (fifty years ago). It is sad when one can no longer remember traits of a parent. I know stories about them, but the actual sound of their voice or personal traits, not so much. In this day and age of digital recordings, hopefully some of you might have a copy of your parent’s voice?

If not, how do you fill that gap? At age eleven or twelve when I realized that no one could replace my Dad, I began to pursue God. Even that lofty pursuit left holes and tears in the fabric of my living.

I have learned that the Trinity loves me tenderly like a mother, shields me daily like a father.

“As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.” – Isaiah 66:13

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.” – Matthew 23:37

The term “El Shaddai” translates to “God Almighty” or “the God who is sufficient.” It originates from ancient Hebrew, where “El” refers to God, and “Shaddai” is thought to denote strength or mountains, symbolizing power and stability. Some scholars suggest “Shaddai” comes from the root word “shad,” meaning “breast,” emphasizing God’s nurturing and protective qualities. https://biblicalchronology.com/what-is-the-biblical-meaning-of-el-shaddai/

One of the best loved Psalms declaring God’s protection is 91.

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”

3 Surely he will save you
    from the fowler’s snare
    and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
    nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
    and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
    and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
    no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
    you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
    I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble,
    I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.” Psalm 91 NIV

May you find nurture and protection, shelter and relationship in your fellowship with God.