Category: Spiritual discipline

Posted on in Collection of Quotes, Faith, Marriage and Memories, Spiritual discipline, Thanks, Trust, Yield

Not Certain of Article Origin Though Grateful For Our Long Marriage!

Bob found this and printed it out to read to me at our anniversary dinner. I was looking for the source online since it says a Harvard study, but it only seemed to be on Facebook and Instagram? I decided it was worth sharing regardless of who first wrote it! We found these to be true for our marriage also.

1. A Harvard study of 724 couples who made it past 30 years revealed something surprising: what kept them together wasn’t love, s*x, or kids. It was the ability to tolerate the same things in each other—over and over again. The ones who divorced thought, “This habit drives me crazy, but I can fix it.” The ones who stayed accepted, saying: “This is who they are. They’re not changing.”

2. Long marriages rarely resolve every conflict. That’s a myth. Couples who lasted 30+ years didn’t dig forever into every hurt feeling. They learned to let go. Not suppress—but release. “You forgot again,” “You said the wrong thing again”—short-term couples turn that into a fight. Long-term couples let it slide. Because they chose peace over being right.

3 . The real skill of lasting couples? Quick emotional recovery. It’s not about never fighting. It’s about bouncing back fast. He snapped two hours ago—and now he’s hugging her. No pride. No “you go first.” In marriages that last, the winner isn’t the one who’s right—it’s the one who comes back first.

4. The strongest couples weren’t bonded by “we have everything in common”—but by “we face the world together.” A shared struggle: poverty, toxic relatives, building a business, even a shared hatred for the system. Anything that puts you on the same team—us vs. the world—builds the bond. Couples without an external pressure? More likely to crack from the inside.

5. And the biggest truth? Almost every long-term marriage had a point where they were ready to call it quits. Almost all of them. But they didn’t. Not because they couldn’t—but because they gave it more time. The most common answer: “I decided to do nothing. And six months later, things shifted.” Turns out, most marriage crises die off—if you just stop feeding them.

Certainly worth consideration! We had a delightful celebration and spent some of the time looking back in wonder and another part of the time planning where we would still like to travel! Then this song from long, long ago popped into my head.

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Challenge, Faith, Just do it, Obedience, Praise, Prayer, Special Event, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Thanks, Worship, Yield

Did You Know This?

Our church bulletin says: “If you noticed a heavy emphasis on God’s creation in this liturgy, there’s a reason! From September 1 to October 4, Christians around the globe celebrate the Season of Creation.” Below is information copied from the online website https://seasonofcreation.org/about/

The Season of Creation is a time to renew our relationship with our Creator and all creation through celebration, conversion, and commitment together. During the Season of Creation, we join our sisters and brothers in the ecumenical family in prayer and action for our common home.

Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios I proclaimed 1 September as a day of prayer for creation for the Orthodox in 1989. In fact, the Orthodox church year starts on that day with a commemoration of how God created the world.

The World Council of Churches was instrumental in making the special time a season, extending the celebration from 1 September until 4 October.

Following the leadership of Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios I and the WCC, Christians worldwide have embraced the season as part of their annual calendar. Pope Francis established the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation in the Roman Catholic Church in 2015, and in 2019 started celebrating the Season of Creation as well.

In recent years, statements from religious leaders around the world have also encouraged the faithful to take time to care for creation during the month-long celebration.

The season starts 1 September, the Day of Prayer for Creation, and ends 4 October, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology beloved by many Christian denominations.

Throughout the month-long celebration, the world’s 2.2 billion Christians come together to care for our common home.

I like the idea of being united with other churches around the world for this event. As I look out the office window and see our burr oak tree changing her gown from green to yellow to brown, I am reminded that none of us inhabit this earth alone. We need to care for it in community and with future generations in mind. May God lead us in paths of righteousness regarding this gift of the earth we live upon and the air we breathe.

Posted on in Aging, Amazing Creations, Challenge, Focus, Listen, Memories, Music, Praise, Prayer, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Surrender, Thanks, Trust

Lectio 360

Recently Lectio used this prayer. I really like it.

Abba, Father, loving creator and sustainer of all things. You are God for me.  
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, saviour of the world. You are God with me. 
Holy Spirit, breath of God, bringer of holiness, peace and joy. You are God in me. 

The Trinity I worship is always present even when I fail to recognize the fact. Our worship bulletin shared this prayer one week.

O Almighty God, who pours out on all who desire it the spirit of grace and of supplication: 
Deliver us, when we draw near to thee, from coldness of heart and wanderings of mind, 
that with steadfast thoughts and kindled affections 
we may worship thee in spirit and in truth; thorough Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

That same day I was asked to help serve communion. I consider it a privilege to share the cup of wine with others. This particular morning I almost burst into tears when I realized the choir was singing In the Garden, the song my mother taught me. I had to compose myself and focus upon holding the cup and placing it where my fellow church members needed it, for them to dip their wafer or sip from with their lips. It took all my composure not to burst into tears of gratitude. Here I was sixty years after choosing the Episcopal Church, having buried both my parents and all those worship themes combined and blessed me immensely. Oh how things are orchestrated to bring us joy!!

The prayer above reflects my heart. Abba, Father, You are God for me. Lord Jesus Christ, You are God with me. Holy Spirit, Your are God in me.

May my God be glorified in all that I do, think, and say.

I will bless the Lord at all times;
    his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
    let the humble hear and be glad.
3 O magnify the Lord with me,
    and let us exalt his name together. Psalm 34:1-3 NRSUE

Posted on in Aging, Amazing Creations, Challenge, Faith, Family, Illness and Health, Just do it, medical treatment, Praise, Prayer, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Thanks, Worship

And then the Calendar got MORE full!

This week will not be any better than last week. We both have multiple medical appointments. I am trying to figure out a new schedule but as loaded as this schedule is there is NO wiggle room. If only I did not need an afternoon rest! If only my fatigue did not ramp up after 6 PM!

I just remembered the “If-onlys” can lead to increased emotional and mental suffering. I do not want to go there. This month we celebrate 55 years of marriage. In November I turn 75 years old. This is my life right now and I am never alone. God walks with me and also guides my steps.

1 Thessalonians KJV implores us to “rejoice evermore.”

 Rejoice always,  pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19

I rejoice that we have access to such good medical care. I rejoice that we are able to afford what the physicians and their assistants wast us to buy, be it medication or physical therapy or devices to aid in healing.

I rejoice that Bob and I are able to cheer each other on when one of us gets low.

I pray for healing, not only for ourselves. We have a neighbor who is not going to get well from Parkinson’s. I pray that neighbor can have the best life possible and find ways to cheer the family and self.

I give thanks for the flowers that have survived the drought so far. I ask for grace as I drag one the hose again. Not a drop of rain the forecast.

Okay, my ship is beached for now – but not forever!

Would you get hold of the passage above and form prayers,, thanksgiving and rejoicing for yourself and those you know?

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Challenge, Faith, Music, Nature, Praise, Prayer, Spiritual discipline, Yield

Like Water

I have always liked flowing water. In Hinds’ Feet on High Places Hannah Hurnard wrote “The Water Song.”

Come, oh come! let us away - 
Lower, lower every day, 
Oh, what joy it is to race
Down to find the lowest place.
This the dearest law we know - 
"It is happy to go low."
Sweetest urge and sweetest will,
"Let us go down lower still."
Hear the summons night and day
Calling us to come away.
From the heights we leap and flow
To the alleys down below.
Always answering the call,
To the lowest place of all.
Sweetest urge and sweetest pain, 
To go low and rise again.

Later in the book she wrote. 
"From the heights we leap and go
to the valleys down below,
Always answering the call,
to the lowest place of all.

Why am I quoting this now? I have been following a few lessons from a musician on the app Insight Timer. She recently did a sabbatical with her cello and studied the qualities of water. She leads a meditation and then has about 15 minutes of water and cello music blended together. Hearing the first lesson I immediately thought of Hind’s Feet. The lesson about going low is throughout the book. The Shepherd calls us to humility. The way of water is the path of least resistance.

Towards the end of the book Hurnard writes, “(They) saw that the great waterfall quite close at hand was leaping down to the Valley too, with the tumultuous, joyful noise of many waters, singing as they poured themselves down over the rock lip:

For the heights we leap and flow
To the valleys down below.
Sweetest urge and sweetest will,
To go lower, lower still.

Such a wonderful image for the call upon our lives. If we are to serve well we must desire the humility of our Risen Lord. The Almighty calls us to go lower still, just as Jesus did when he came to earth for us.

Listening to the meditations on water with the cello presented by “The Wong Janice” is helping me as I serve Bob during his recovery. When I am tired I remind myself to go low, take the path of least resistance, be like water.

We have a dearth of water in Ohio right now. Some counties have been declared drought areas. The farmer’s tomatoes have tough skins. The garden soil in my back yard is cracked. This is unusual as a natural spring flows on the back edge of our property. Anyone trying to grow anything around here is needing to drag the hose around and provide water to the plants. Yards are brittle and dry. I am surprised there are not more fires along the roadways. While trying to be like water I am praying for water, pleading with the Lord to let it rain here. We occasionally have a one to two minute sprinkle, not nearly enough to saturate the ground. I realize some areas of the country are flooded. There is nothing here but sunny days and dry air for the last six weeks of so.

We choose to go lower, lower still.

 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross! Philippians 2:5-8 NIV

Posted on in Challenge, Collection of Quotes, Faith, Focus, Just do it, Listen, Praise, Prayer, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Surrender, Worship, Yield

Using the Lectio 365 App

Bob pointed out this meditation to me. I missed reading it on the day it actually posted, the feast day of Bernard of Clairvaux, August 20. Bernard was a Cistercian monk.

Bernard of Clairvaux died 1153

Writing about the importance of meditation, Bernard said that ‘our meditations on the Word who is the Bridegroom, on his glory, his elegance, power and majesty, become in a sense his way of speaking to us. And not only that, but when with eager minds we examine his rulings, the decrees from his own mouth; when we meditate on his law day and night, let us be assured that the Bridegroom is present, and that he speaks his message of happiness to us lest our trials should prove more than we can bear.’**

Sometimes, I approach the Bible in a utilitarian manner. I want to skim through it quickly to find something helpful which I can use, but Bernard reminds me that the Bible is primarily given for meditation and conversation with God, rather than information about him. In Lectio Divina , I read slowly, prayerfully, and with imagination as a conversation-starter with the Lord who has a ‘message of happiness’ for me today..

Do I study the Bible or pray the Bible?  Do I read the scriptures, or am I read by the scriptures? Do I attempt to master them, or do I allow them to master me?  How expectant am I as I open God’s word today?

*** Bernard of Clairvaux, Intimacy in Prayer: Wisdom from Bernard of Clairvaux (Pauline Books and Media: Kindle Edition).

Bob focused on the question “Do I study the Bible or pray the Bible?” How about you?

Is your Bible time for ‘finding something helpful you can use,’ or allowing conversation with God? Do you even read the scriptures or just occupy your meditation time with devotionals from other people.

When you read the Bible do you turn what you read into prayer? “Do I study the Bible or pray the Bible?” That is a leap from just doing a daily reading or covering a certain number of pages or chapters. Study , prayer, conversation and of course, yielding to the Word of God.

I do all and none of the above. I desire for every time of reading to be prayer time and conversation with God. I do not always succeed. Perhaps we can change our time for devotions into one or more of the actions Bernard calls us to try.

Be expectant as you open God’s word today!

Posted on in Book quotes, Challenge, Faith, Listen, Music, Obedience, Praise, Prayer, Rest, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Surrender, Worship, Yield

A Full Stop

Approaching a stop light have you ever struggled to come to a full stop before the light changes? Maybe going a bit too fast or not paying attention to the signals? More and more people around here seem to think the light signals do not apply to them. They make no attempt to slow down or stop. The other day one vehicle nearly collided with me and other cars when it went blazing through an intersection. Several of us laid on our horns to voice our displeasure. Thankfully, no one was hurt.

The full stop I am most thinking of is the difficulty I have at times to turn off the flood of thoughts and just stop. Have you struggled with that? At our house we sometimes call it mind racing. Yesterday afternoon it felt like the torrential floods after the monster rain storms that have been occurring. We mostly see videos on the news. Yep, that was my brain.

Even my meditation and devotions were a struggle this morning. Turn it all loose, Molly. Open your hands. If I clutch topics and people in my hands, I know I am not free to receive what the Lord wants to place in my hands next!

So far the month of August has been very, very tiring. I know that is a large part of the problem. How I could think that my concern about a situation could ever change or effect it? Well, in clear, more sane moments I realize that is just nonsense. The Gospels tell me point blank Do Not Be Anxious.

 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:25-34 ESV

Anxiety mentioned five times in just a few verses. Brother Lawrence taught me that useless thoughts spoil everything. Paul in 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells me I am to take every thought captive to Jesus. I read that as I am to turn every thought over to Jesus. I am not to try to wrestle that thought, tie it up and deliver it to Jesus. Just give it to him, the One whose thoughts are not my thoughts, Whose ways are not my ways. (Isaiah 55:9 NIV)

And even this moment my concentration is shattered, splintered. Like the dog on “Up” I holler, “Squirrel!”

So I closed the blind over my office window next to my computer. I have experiential knowledge that the Lord God Almighty will meet me in the stillness. I choose even now to be still. One moment at a time.

There was another praise chorus that came to me years ago. It says, “Spirit of God within me, rise up. Spirit of God within me rise up. Take ascendancy over my body. Take ascendancy over my mind.”

Steve Green sang a song that asked, “You want to. Now Will you?”

I had to struggle to remember Isaiah 30:15 in the night. “In returning and rest I am saved, in quietness and TRUST shall be my strength.” And the zinger at the end, “But you would not.” Lord, I do not want to be one of those who would not.

All of that is still true this bright, sunny, hot and humid morning. It was true in the night. It will be true tonight and tomorrow. I need to cling to the source of my life and rest. Just rest in the truth that is my Lord. Even so, Lord, come.

I have decided that if there is a struggle today, I will require every thought to stop and state their business. If the business is not of God, I will require a toll of singing praise to the Lord God Almighty. If there is refusal to sing those praises, then the offender can simply turn out in the lane provided for dismissal. Nope, not welcome to come at this campground. Time for some rest.

Posted on in Aging, Art, Challenge, Faith, Focus, Memories, Music, Nature, Obedience, Praise, Prayer, Spiritual discipline, Surrender, Thanks, Yield

A Place

Grateful Living posted Thomas Merton wrote, “In a world of noise, confusion and conflict, it is necessary that there is a place of inner silence and peace; not the peace of mere relaxation but the peace of inner clarity and love.”

Remember my post about where daughters go to die? I shared it with a new friend. She is quite talented with poetry, photography and music. She took my barely understandable tune on staff paper and sent me an audio file through messages where she sang it back to me. (Ain’t technology grand?”) I mean it. This was unthinkable a decade ago! She was at the farm in Adams County at the time. There are cicadas and crickets in the background. I am absolutely delighted. I played it often these past few days to keep myself centered in surrender and the Presence of God.

When she returned home she sent me an audio file with the piano added.

I am trying to learn how to upload these so each of you can hear it. Not making much progress with Sound Cloud which WordPress says I should use. Grrr – old dog, new tricks. I finally found another way to convert it.

And the piano chords? Well, only the singing loaded so far. On to other writing and stay tuned for updates!

Thank you, Joan. Sincerely, thank you!!

Posted on in Faith, Praise, Prayer, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Surrender, Worship

Last Sunday

During the summer one of our Sunday church services is held outdoors as long as there is no rain or lightning. (Recently we wondered if it should be held indoors because of the awful heat and humidity, but we made it!) This past Sunday the weather was perfect and the worship was delightful.

Here is part of the prayer before communion:

“It is truly right, and good and joyful to give you thanks, all holy God, source of life and fountain of mercy. You have filled us and all creation with your blessing and fed us with your constant love; you have redeemed us in Jesus Christ and knit us into one body. Through your Spirit you replenish us and call us to fullness of life.”

That just about knocked my socks off. Perhaps part of the impact is I have been studying Michael Card’s book Inexpressible Hesed and the Mystery of God’s Lovingkindness. Being reminded of the Holy One having constant love at that point in the worship certainly got my attention.

One of the first pages in his book after the dedication lists the many ways hesed is translated. Here are a few. LOVE, LOVINGKINDNESS, MERCIFUL LOVE LOYAL LOVE, SURE LOVE, RELENTLESS LOVE, ENDURING LOVE, EXTRAVAGANT LOVE, AFFECTIONATE SATISFACTION, LOVE IN ACTION, DEPENDABLE LOVE, STEADY LOVE, TRUE LOVE, FUNDAMENTAL LOVE, MIRACLE LOVE, GENEROUS LOVE, DEEP LOVE, WONDERFUL LOVE, GREAT LOVE, INCREDIBLE LOVE, MARVELOUS LOVE, GRACIOUS LOVE, LOYAL IN LOVE, STEADFAST LOVE, EXPRESSION OF LOVE. This is less than a third of the list!

Card explains that hesed is a word that draws adjectives to itself. There is no easy, one way to translate it into English. In his Preface he calls it “the untranslatable defining the inexpressible.”

I am certain to have more to write about hesed as I continue to study it and read about it. May you experience the hesed of God in your life this very day!

Posted on in Aging, Challenge, Faith, Illness and Health, Obedience, Praise, Prayer, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Surrender

Our Age Group

I am entering my mid-70s. Bob is two years older. We are finding that what his mother told us once is too true. As we age more and more of our friends are falling ill and some die. She said eventually she got to the point where she knew very few people anymore. She was not one to try to make new friends as she proved when it was necessary for her to move into assisted living. She went to a few meals, but basically isolated herself.

There are two we know of who are suffering from Parkinson’s disease. Another one died of same disease in the last five years. One is undergoing cancer treatment for the second time. One died from cancer recently and one a few months ago.

The woman down the street was in a treatment center with Alzheimer’s disease. She passed after a couple years there. The other neighbor lady with Alzheimer’s and heart disease passed about the same time. Another friend died from early onset Alzheimer’s.

One man has heart issues. He also suffers from allergy or asthma? Some sort of breathing difficulty. Now they say he needs back surgery.

Suffering, diseases and death. How can we keep our faith fresh and lively in the midst of all that? One verse says, “My help comes from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth.” Another verse “even to old age and gray hairs you are with me.”

Even to your old age and gray hairs
    I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
    I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:4 NIV

There is so much turmoil here that some of us are willing to openly express that we are looking forward to graduation into the arms of God.

Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:16 NIV

Revelation says there is no more death there, or suffering or crying.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
for the first things have passed away.”

And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:4-5 NRSVUE

Yes, there is great value in accepting aging and the limitations that can arrive with that aging. We are told to keep our faith strong and ready. We are to be sober, vigilant, and aware that our enemy prowls about like a roaring lion seeking the ones he can devour. I do not want to be one caught in those evil jaws. These admonishments seem to take on more significance the older I get. As I tire more easily it would be easy to just relinquish hold of those precious promises and quit. I pray for strength to fix my eyes upon the author and FINISHER of my faith. I do want Jesus to find faith on the earth when he returns. Even if mine is the only faith to find.

Tough stuff, but we need to cling to the positives and stay as cheerful as possible.

I lift up my eyes to the hills—
    from where will my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot be moved;
    he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 He who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is your keeper;
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day
    nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;
    he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep
    your going out and your coming in
    from this time on and forevermore. Psalm 121 NRSVUE

Do you part to cling right to the very last breath!