There are some days that seem darker than others and it is difficult to imagine that every moment is holy. I know just to be alive is a holy gift.
This publication from Rabbit Room sends out a daily quote from one of the volumes that have been published. Recently it read:
Lord, may I not so much find the right words as allow the right words to find me, not so much compose as allow you to compose me.
And another day they sent out,
Lord, I confess that all these words I love and lay before you were never mine, but always yours; truth itself is never mine but always yours.
I am always blessed when another author expresses my heart so clearly and concisely. Lord, use whatever I write in whatever way you desire. Help me to have the right words. Help me express your hesed, loving kindness, for us. Show me how to collect and compose the messages. Use them as you will. As always, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
To God be the glory forever and ever amen.
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Galatians 1:3-5 NIV
As we were about to travel home from New Mexico June 10, I found new music releases to keep me on track with the Lord! Christy Nockles released The King Who Never Sleeps. Designed as lullabies, she discovered through the first recording of lullabies she made that the adults were gleaning wisdom from them, also. The new recording does not disappoint!
One song is given to you here.
At the same time I have been studying hesed, the concept of God’s unfailing love. In fact a book by Michael Card on the very topic of hesed is due to be delivered here today. I came across the concept from the teachings of Dallas Willard as told by the author Dr. Jim Wilder in the book and various recordings about Renovated: God, Dallas Willard, and the Church that Transforms.
I also received my new CD by Brandon Lake entitled, King of Hearts. I know that some of you do not like music too loud or too fast. This is truly worshipful. Hope you enjoy it! Here is The Half Has Not Been Told from the same CD.
So I am supporting my faith with this and other music this summer. I hope you are finding ways to stay close to Christ and worship throughout your every summer day.
Are you familiar with a liturgy? One online sight says, “Liturgies help provide language for hard to articulate thoughts and feelings, and ways to respond accordingly. They are a dynamic form of prayer—acting as a dialogue between you and God, and all those participating. As you read a liturgy the words form you personally and alongside others.”
Douglas Kaine McKelvey has written and collected volumes of liturgies for every occasion imaginable. I first read this portion through the daily quote you can get through the Every Moment Holy app at https://www.everymomentholy.com/
Lord, I confess that all these words I love and lay before you were never mine, but always yours; truth itself is never mine but always yours.
Your truth is in every word and yet always beyond words, and so I ask, when I have finished writing that all I have said or tried to say, may gesture at last beyond itself towards you, that you will bring me and my readers to the brink of language itself, and beyond that brink into the wordless mystery of your true and loving presence. from Liturgy of Labor and Vocation, a Liturgy before Writing, by Malcolm Guite
Malcolm Guite is a living poet, author, professor and Anglican Priest. He has YouTube videos and has written at least seven books. How had I never heard of him before this? He sums up my heart beautifully.
I keep devotionals and liturgy books to help me focus upon my Lord and my King. There are innumerable things in life to distract us from the Kingdom. Any aide that works towards keeping my focus is valuable in the long run.
The EMH books are published through Rabbit Room Press. My first volume of Every Moment Holy was a gift from my friends Dan and Betty Cooksey. I do not own every volume but the selections in this volume drew my heart. This version of Every Moment Holy uses the work of over sixty authors, poets and songwriters and seven artists worked the accompanying prints. The Foreword alone is inspiring!
Rabbit Room Press publishes works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry that embody the mission of the Rabbit Room—cultivating stories that nourish Christ-centered communities for the life of the world. We believe in creating books that are beautiful both inside and out, books not limited to any specific genre or market but which adhere to a basic belief in the value of creative writing and storytelling. A well-written and well-made book can help to shape the world around it, and Rabbit Room Press is dedicated to creating such books and putting them into readers’ hands. When author, singer, and songwriter, Andrew Peterson, visited the Oxford home of C. S. Lewis in 2006, he returned to Nashville with a conviction that community nourishes good and lasting artistic work—and that creative work nourishes community. Soon afterward, the Rabbit Room was born with the mission to create and curate stories, music, and works of art to nourish the life of Christ-centered communities for the life of the world.
If you are looking for fresh and even ancient inspiration in everything from changing diapers, to making coffee, preparing for death or welcoming a new child these collections have you covered. You can even find them used at some book sellers.
Those who have served in countries less privileged and less developed than America always seem amazed at how joyful the people are. I have wondered if the Americans think those people should be sad they do not enjoy the ease of our wealth? The truth is more likely the quote below.
Perhaps the most radical act of resistance in the face of adversity is to live joyfully. Ari Honarvar
The poorer people of other countries seem to have grasped something the others have missed. IF your hands are full of things, it is more difficult to lift them in praise. If you think you possess all you need, it is hard to give thanks for the lesser things that are out of your control but can still bring you joy.
When we are in situations that demand that we empty our hands and look up to the heavens we can begin to understand that even in the face of adversity, we can live joyfully.
In New Mexico I bought a new t-shirt. It shows a Native American Indian and simply says DISOBEY. The site, myartbroker.com comments about the popular OBEY piece saying,
Shepard Fairey’s OBEY campaign, launched in 1989, has become one of the most iconic and influential symbols in contemporary street art. Originating from a simple sticker, OBEY evolved into a bold critique of authority and social conformity. Fairey combines graffiti, pop art, and political commentary to create a visual movement that transcends art and challenges viewers to question established structures of power.
So to me the Native American Indian with the word Disobey says even in this political society of distrust and division, if we choose to live joyfully we have won a contest. While disobeying the fear tactics and often repressive decisions, we can participate in the radical act of resistance.
In the World War II concentration camp psychologist Victor Frankl discovered that those who survived the longest had a capacity to not let others have control over their minds. “They kept a place of living within themselves that was not available for repression.”
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” Viktor Frankl
What decisions are you making for how you live in today’s political climate? Is there a place within you that is not available for control by others? Are you in a mindset of obey or disobey? Paul, the three Hebrew boys, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and Daniel all resisted and disobeyed those in authority over them. Jesus refused to stop working miracles on the Sabbath. The disciples continued preaching even though the Sanhedrin told them to stop.
“In short, civil disobedience is allowed — and possibly required — any time the commands of men contradict the will of God,” writes The Daily Declaration from Australia. So when we are told to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8) that will likely require that we disobey things like the tearing down of the structure to make our lives more aware of diversity, equity and inclusion within American society. (DEI)
but my righteous one will live by faith. My soul takes no pleasure in anyone who shrinks back.” But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost but among those who have faith and so preserve our souls. Hebrews 10:38-39 NRSVUE
We need God’s help to persevere and not shrink back. Holy Spirit strengthen our faith to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with you.
For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with excellence, and excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. 8 For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:5-8 NRSVUE
We have much work to do! We are made in the image of God. He does not rate one person as more valuable than another in his Kingdom. He sees us with diversity, equity and inclusion. Can we see each other in the same way? God does not show favoritism or partiality. Romans 2:11
I have been reading Joan Chittister’s book Wisdom Distilled From the Daily, Living the Rule of St. Benedict Today. In the chapter on humility she writes about both Benedict and Augustine.
Some place between these poles of extreme suppression and extreme selfishness, monastic humility provides a basis for human community and a basis for union with God. To Benedict the process is clearly the work of a lifetime. He calls it “a ladder of humility,” a climb with basic parts, a progression – not a leap- that involves the integration of both body and soul. “Our body and our soul are two sides of the ladder” he teaches. No dualism here just the simple, honest admission that each of us is grounded in something but reaching for God and each of us is attempting to bring the demands of the body and the hope of the soul into parallel, into harmony, into center. Against gravity and despite all the imbalances of our lives. Pulling body and soul together is the problem. It is also the project of life.
The tower and the ladder symbols were favorites with the ancients, but it was left to Augustine to give us that marvelous line: “Do you seek God? Seek within yourself and ascend through yourself.” If we are really seeking God, we have to start in the very core of our own hearts and motives and expectations. We can’t blame the schedule or the finances or the work or the people in our lives for blocking our progress. We have to learn to seek from within ourselves. We have to stop waiting for the world around us to be perfect in order to be happy.”
That is a load to think about! Body and soul. Spirit and seeking. Working with the ladder of humility. I pray this Sunday will start you on a journey of finding more humility in your walk. I hope you can descend within your own heart and discover the power of Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27) Christ is able to lead and guide us in all of our searching.
All glass. That photo above is made of glass and spaces. I find that difficult to comprehend. The Imagine Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida did not give us an explanation of how they created this.
Looking at the same piece, here you can see the glass fibers. Also notice the tunnel that goes through it. There were eight pieces, block-like that were placed side by side. From the end you could look through the tunnel.
The blue and brown rectangle to the left is another display. I do believe this is art. I just cannot fathom how they created it!
We saw a similar creation at the Cincinnati Art Museum once.
These are Native American symbols. There was a fan gently moving air over the display. The piece was as large as a wall! When the air moved there was a soft tinkling sound. Images with shadows, tube with light and space, all intriguing and beyond my understanding.
How my perspective on life has changed in almost 75 years of living! This I once thought I knew and understood when taken in different perspectives and experiences over time have changed dramatically.
What I do know for certain is that love and compassion are needed every place on earth. We are given the power to live in love through the Holy Spirit who inhabits those who embrace the death and resurrection of Christ. Others have learned love and compassion from other sources and I cannot comment on that. I just know we all need grace, love and compassion, a willingness for others to understand and accept us. God, give us eyes to see like You see, a heart to love like You love us! Unreservedly, grace-filled, unconditional love.
Look again at the images in this post. What do you see this time that you missed at the last glance? Perhaps it time to also look at others in the same way. We think we know people, but many times we miss their essence with our preconceived ideas of who they are. Those same people might be someone lovely we have missed altogether!
We are known intimately by God and loved.
"Not because of who I am, but because of what You've done,
Not because of what I've done, But because of who You are!"
Such wisdom in those words. God help us to live in such a way to bring honor to You.
When I was mourning my mother recently, nothing seemed to comfort me. Then I heard this song rolling through my soul. The first version I heard was done by Willie Nelson. He almost nailed it. It amazes me where comfort can come from!
Then I found what was likely their version from December 1951.
With someone like you, a pal good and true I'd like to leave it all behind and go and find Some place that's known to God alone Just a spot to call our own We'll Find perfect peace, where joys never cease Out there beneath a kindly sky We'll build a sweet little nest somewhere in the west And let the rest of the world go by
As I listened repeatedly to the song, I realized that my sister has a sweet little nest, somewhere out in the west. She spends June into September there! And we have been privileged to stay there a time or two!
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4 NRSVUE
This quote stirred in me as I marked year fifty of my mother’s death. The photo above shows my mom with her white gloves at our wedding.
Every sorrow I bear will be supplanted by a greater heavenly joy, when you, O Christ, make all things right and new – even this thing. From Every Moment Holy – For Navigating Difficult Moments
Fifty years ago on Flag Day, I awoke nine months pregnant. My mother was visiting us in Kentucky. She had driven herself down from Ohio. I assured her the baby would not be born this weekend, but she was so excited she could hardly contain herself. She was sleeping on the sofa bed in the living room.
She had brought a Styrofoam cooler filled with food for us. We had put the cooler on the porch the night before to dry. That Saturday morning it was getting ready to rain and a wind had come up. I was afraid the cooler would blow away, so I walked through the living room to go get it off the porch. As I walked by I noticed she was not breathing. I got the cooler, closed the porch door and stopped again. No, her chest was not rising and falling.
That began a time of anguish and grief like none I had ever known before.
This is fifty years later. I know, because our daughter turns fifty in a week or two. Mom never knew any of our children. She has remained Grandma Ann, mostly known for recipes I was able to recreate after her passing.
I still miss my mother. Even though I am now 74 years old, there are still times I long to hear her voice. I wonder what she would say about the book about to be published with Kindle Direct Publishing using my writings from this blog and other writings? I had sort of hoped the final approval for printing would come on June 14th, the date of her passing. Approval did not come on that date though. Page 11 I wrote about her influence upon me by songs she taught us while driving in the car.
The tile of my book will be Treasures in Plain Sight: Growing Closer to Jesus in Prayer. I has 107 pages and is 5 x 7 inches. It will cost $12.00. I will earn only a small fraction of that. I did not print it to earn money though. I worked on this to get the writing out there where hopefully people can use it to draw closer to Jesus. Below is photo of the proof copy.
I am working on Volume 2 which will be about relationship with God.
Please pray for these materials to fall into the hands of folks who are yearning for God. I pray this is all done to God’s glory. I am now wondering if I should submit the poetry for publication through Kindle Direct? So many decisions about so many things!
Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:6-7
Ha! It just came through! Here is the link to purchase the book !! https://a.co/d/1dcvaGf
I cannot remember the date we actually met the Cookseys. It had to be at least thirty years ago.
We went to church together. They taught us so much about prayer. Dan lead classes that instructed us deeply in how to shepherd the Lord’s people. We also led marriage workshop weekends together. Dan used to joke that God chose four introverts to lead those groups.
There was a time when we traveled with Dan and Betty Cooksey. We have a photo on our office wall of a lovely owl I spotted in a tree during a drive around Reel-foot lake. I told Dan, “Back up! Back up!” He slowly backed the car up until I could point out the owl to everyone. Bob and Dan are both great photographers. I will never forgot practically lying down in the car seat so Bob could get the right angle! Sweet memories, indeed.
When they moved to New Mexico we were stunned and saddened. After we visited the first time Bob asked if I wanted to move there, too. I decided I could not leave my maple trees. Then we discovered that if we visited New Mexico we had a place to stay, always! We have visited several times over the ensuing years. From American Indian pow-wows to visiting birding sites. The Taos pueblo and other ancient settings. The adventure and delight of watching the farm market roast green chilis! Ah that fragrance 🙂 And then Dan and Bob peeling the chilis together.
Two men who remain such good friends though miles separate them
As couples we are not clones. There are some things we do not agree upon, but it is always possible through love and Christian fellowship to have warm discussions about any topic. The Psalm below always reminds me of the four of us.
Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! 3 It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore. Psalm 133
Now we are all aging and slowing down. We have not been to ABQ for 2-1/2 years. We are visiting there as you read this. I trust we will have a wonderful time as usual. I am fervently praying this is not the last time we get all four of us together. They are older than we are (only by a few years). With my heart scan looming in August and the prospect of open heart surgery I take nothing for granted anymore.
I do not like waking up in the night and being unable to get right back to sleep. It seems the older I get the more often this happens. The internet lists a multitude of reasons this happens, from medications to temperature in the room, to body discomfort, and on and on.
Recently one night it was allergy discomfort. I know the neighbor has honeysuckle vines that are blooming. Though they smell sweet during the day, I know from our last house they can really trigger my allergy symptoms. So I went to close the open window and noticed how strong the mold smell was from the wet grass. Yep, I am allergic to mold, also! I took my acetaminophen and allergy medication. I returned to bed and after 20 minutes I was aware that I was still wide awake. Lately my mind runs along the lines of “What will I write about on the blog?” or “Did I remember to ask the editor this?”
So I made notes about what to write, editorial questions and then opened the book on my iPad to read until I was drowsy. Of course, that sent me off exploring why does reading help me get to sleep?
The short answer says my eyes get fatigued going back and forth on the lines and my brain then gets triggered that it is time to go to sleep. Even if the plot has just thickened and the clue to the mystery of the story is almost there on the page!! I am not concerned about that. Just hoping I set a bookmark on the page before I nod off.
So yes, I got back to sleep but this waking and staying awake is getting old. Oh! I am getting old, too. Guess it beats the alternative.
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
