I am reading in Acts again...slowly, watching for the things I'm supposed to consider at this time in my life. For instance...today's reading:
It was about all of the people coming to faith in Jesus through the teachings and miracles the apostles shared through the power of the Holy Spirit. So many people came and brought sick and demon-possessed people, it was hard to reach Peter and the others. So they laid their sick friends along the road where Peter was walking so that his shadow would fall on them. Evidently even his shadow powerfully changed lives because of the Holy Spirit moving in Peter.
And of course it started me thinking about the shadows we all possess, and how they fall across the paths of the people around us. Sometimes shadows scare us and are cause for panic and flight. But Peter's shadow was a healing, loving, affirming presence...alive with the Spirit of God.
So I'm heading for work, and I just want my shadow to be filled with God's love, acceptance, power, and presence for the people who cross my path. What's your shadow like? May it be a wonderful, grace-filled, sweet breath of fresh air for those who walk by you today.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Sunday, November 18, 2012
GETTING UNSTUCK
I was leading the Anger Workshop yesterday, and we were taking a little "quiz," which I prepared. I sat down at the table and took it with the rest of the group. At the end, the thought came to me that many of us in the room were stuck. Stuck at the "anger" stage of the grief process. I knew that, but sitting in a room with many who are still raw in their losses and pain, was like seeing a photograph of grief.
Many folks have lost loved ones either by death, disease, or broken relationships. The grief process has begun, but we had little help to understand it, and to know how to move through the stages to acceptance.
The prayer time at the end, and the visual of needing help from someone else, was powerful. We cannot go it alone and be healthy. All the books say what Ruben Welch wrote a long time ago: We Really Do Need Each Other.
Coming from a family of isolators, it is always a challenge for me to reach out for help...always. But to reach emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual health, I need an accepting community of friends and family who love me unconditionally.
Do you have that community as you grieve your losses?
Many folks have lost loved ones either by death, disease, or broken relationships. The grief process has begun, but we had little help to understand it, and to know how to move through the stages to acceptance.
The prayer time at the end, and the visual of needing help from someone else, was powerful. We cannot go it alone and be healthy. All the books say what Ruben Welch wrote a long time ago: We Really Do Need Each Other.
Coming from a family of isolators, it is always a challenge for me to reach out for help...always. But to reach emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual health, I need an accepting community of friends and family who love me unconditionally.
Do you have that community as you grieve your losses?
Saturday, November 17, 2012
OPPOSITES
Last night I had to go to the store for some snacks for the Anger Workshop today. I was in line behind a family of 4 who were upset because they did not carefully read the ad that said the turkey was really cheap if you bought $150.00 worth of other groceries.
This family was scruffy, dazed-looking, and frustrated. The father kept going outside and coming back in, perhaps his way of blowing off steam so he wouldn't explode at the clerk. The clerk finally referred them to customer service as the line was growing longer.
I had time to study this family and even this morning, their faces appear in my mind. What comes to me is that probably they don't know they are loved by their Creator! What if they did? What would happen in their spirits?
By comparison, I watched a YouTube video today of The Savior's Serenades, who go around to people's homes who are suffering and bring Jesus' love to them. (In another state.)
100 people, friends and family members, gathered to sing, read scriptures, pray, and encourage a man who is battling cancer. Children and youth made signs with scriptures and messages of love and care. He didn't know they were coming, and he wept tears of joy and gratitude.
As I watched the video, I thought about the stark contrast between the two scenes. What a difference we can make if we let people know they are God's creation, loved and cared for by Him.
I doubt that we can start by showing up at people's homes with placards and guitars. But individually, day-by-day, we can show people who their Heavenly Father is and what He thinks of them. Let's start today!
This family was scruffy, dazed-looking, and frustrated. The father kept going outside and coming back in, perhaps his way of blowing off steam so he wouldn't explode at the clerk. The clerk finally referred them to customer service as the line was growing longer.
I had time to study this family and even this morning, their faces appear in my mind. What comes to me is that probably they don't know they are loved by their Creator! What if they did? What would happen in their spirits?
By comparison, I watched a YouTube video today of The Savior's Serenades, who go around to people's homes who are suffering and bring Jesus' love to them. (In another state.)
100 people, friends and family members, gathered to sing, read scriptures, pray, and encourage a man who is battling cancer. Children and youth made signs with scriptures and messages of love and care. He didn't know they were coming, and he wept tears of joy and gratitude.
As I watched the video, I thought about the stark contrast between the two scenes. What a difference we can make if we let people know they are God's creation, loved and cared for by Him.
I doubt that we can start by showing up at people's homes with placards and guitars. But individually, day-by-day, we can show people who their Heavenly Father is and what He thinks of them. Let's start today!
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Reflections the Day After Elections
For believers today, we have a particularly important challenge: to reflect the glory and image of our Creator. When we have experienced such a long, expensive, contentious election season, our reactions are critically important.
Yesterday I was listening to a friend bemoan the future: this would soon be a communist nation; there will be a one-world order, and we will become prisoners in our own land - on and on.
I do not like all the results of the election and Washington state referendums. But there are some things I choose to remember: Paul reminded people in his day to pray for people in power. Jesus lived under the authority and yes, tyranny of Roman oppressors, but he did not make it a priority to overthrow them.
Sometimes we want government to legislate love; provide protection from people who believe very differently than we do; and make people do what we think they should do or prevent them from what we think they should not do.
We have an amazing opportunity to be people of radical grace and persistent prayer. An election isn't the END of something --- but the beginning of opportunities to love, care, pray, and live like Jesus in crazy cultural times.
Yesterday I was listening to a friend bemoan the future: this would soon be a communist nation; there will be a one-world order, and we will become prisoners in our own land - on and on.
I do not like all the results of the election and Washington state referendums. But there are some things I choose to remember: Paul reminded people in his day to pray for people in power. Jesus lived under the authority and yes, tyranny of Roman oppressors, but he did not make it a priority to overthrow them.
Sometimes we want government to legislate love; provide protection from people who believe very differently than we do; and make people do what we think they should do or prevent them from what we think they should not do.
We have an amazing opportunity to be people of radical grace and persistent prayer. An election isn't the END of something --- but the beginning of opportunities to love, care, pray, and live like Jesus in crazy cultural times.
Friday, November 2, 2012
New Every Morning
The scripture says that "the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercy never comes to an end. It is new every morning. Great is His faithfulness."
I had a conversation with someone last night that included a nugget of criticism. When I hung up, I was not feeling terrible, but was definitely smarting from the sting.
This morning after reading the Word, I continued in a book I have been studying about attachments by Dr. Tim Clinton. The last chapter is about freedom from the painful things we have done in response to losses in our lives.
I did the "homework" in my journal, and paid attention to Clinton's assertion that it's possible many of our self-destructive behaviors are to somehow try to keep us connected - even with the people who did not bond with us as little ones. Our acting out may be the only way we know to stay in some relationship, albeit, dysfunctional, with the important attachment figure.
I wrote, wept, prayed, and then I realized I wanted to change something, and I did. I've only begun to study this concept today. I just know that the scripture is true --- GOD'S MERCY IS NEW EVERY MORNING...GREAT IS HIS FAITHFULNESS.
I had a conversation with someone last night that included a nugget of criticism. When I hung up, I was not feeling terrible, but was definitely smarting from the sting.
This morning after reading the Word, I continued in a book I have been studying about attachments by Dr. Tim Clinton. The last chapter is about freedom from the painful things we have done in response to losses in our lives.
I did the "homework" in my journal, and paid attention to Clinton's assertion that it's possible many of our self-destructive behaviors are to somehow try to keep us connected - even with the people who did not bond with us as little ones. Our acting out may be the only way we know to stay in some relationship, albeit, dysfunctional, with the important attachment figure.
I wrote, wept, prayed, and then I realized I wanted to change something, and I did. I've only begun to study this concept today. I just know that the scripture is true --- GOD'S MERCY IS NEW EVERY MORNING...GREAT IS HIS FAITHFULNESS.
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