solitude

out of the ashes

“To be grateful for an unanswered prayer, to give thanks in a state of utter desolation, to trust in the love of God in the face of marvels, cruel circumstances, obscenities and commonplaces of life is to whisper a doxology in the darkness.”

Brennan Manning

I think parenting is the source of some of our sweetest moments and some of our deepest pains as human beings, especially as moms. I can remember vividly the two days I gave birth. The moment that tiny person was placed in my arms I had an entirely new definition of love. I knew that I would stand against anything that would threaten my child. I resolved to be the absolute best mom I could be. I wanted to love deeply, love in a way that allowed my child to know that, if the world seemed against them, I would be their safe place to fall. I wanted to teach them that Jesus loved them even more than I did. I wanted to tell them a life outside of Jesus would be empty and futile. I had hopes and plans and would daydream about what the future would look like.

For the most part, those dreams have come true for me. But….there were some scary times…times when I thought they might drift away. Sleepless nights, anxiety-filled days. Times when all I could think about was how they were doing. Would they be safe? Would they choose a life honoring to God? Would they want me to continue to be part of their lives?

I have a close friend who is living the nightmare. She has watched two of her children make very destructive choices…choices that will impact them for the rest of their lives. I have sat with her for hours watching her heart break. I ache for her. I have compassion for her. I have prayed for her.

Recently, although her children’s circumstances haven’t changed, her heart has. She still has deep pain but she is resting in God’s sovereignty. She has moved from asking “Why?” to saying, “Show me where to find You in this pain.” God has begun to answer that prayer. Her children are experiencing the consequences of their choices. But, she is trusting that God is in control although everything looks as if it has spun terribly out of control. She is…… whispering a doxology in the darkness.

Peace to you, my dear friend.

Love,
Deb

spa for the soul - disciplines

I cannot tell you how much my life has changed since practicing spiritual disciplines. For years I tried and tried to have a consistent ‘quiet’ time, without success. I knew it was important but it just was so difficult for me. Once I began practicing the disciplines, things began to fall in to place.

Now…the disciplines do not change me. The Holy Spirit changes me. But, the disciplines help prepare me for the work the Holy Spirit wishes to do within me. I like to think of it like this...my time in the disciplines – journaling, silence and solitude, lectio divina, spiritual direction, being part of a spiritual friends group…all of these things help me continue to be surrendered to the work of Jesus in my life. They also help me recognize it. These disciplines keep me attentive so I am more aware of what God is doing and how He is speaking to me.

Consider learning more about the disciplines. Consider reading Ruth Haley Barton’s book, Sacred Rhythms. Practice, practice, practice. Or…consider giving yourself a ‘spa’ weekend. A 'sacred~encounter’ weekend will provide a get-away from all your daily responsibilities. There will be teaching and practice of the disciplines and wonderful, much needed time alone…to journal, to walk, to read, to sleep….whatever you feel your body needs. You will come home not only refreshed but with some tools to help you have a more intimate relationship with God.

My renewed relationship with God is rich. I no longer struggle with spending time with Him. It is a special, close time with God that I love. May you experience, today, the extravagant love of Jesus. May He increase in you a longing to be with Him….and may you desire to learn more about how to abandon yourself to Him and hear Him speak softly into Your life.


Grace and Peace,
Deb

masks

Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.

James Arthur Baldwin

Masks….I have worn them all my life. I’ve worn them to protect myself. I’ve worn them to pretend I am someone I am not. I’ve worn them because I think without them I won’t be accepted. I’ve worn them to gain approval.

I’ve worn them with other people and sadly, I’ve worn them with God. Not that it fooled Him, but it certainly kept me from being real and honest before Him. Because of His incredible love, the masks have been falling off. I am understanding that He loves me just as I am….no matter how messed up that may be. I believe that He grieves when I try to be someone I’m not…when I try to hide what is really inside of me.

I still occasionally wear a mask but it seems it’s less and less of the time. The more I rest in His love, the easier it is to be real with other people. And the more real I am with others, the more real they can be with me.

I am thankful to God that I don’t need to be anyone other than who He made me to be.

Are you wearing masks today? Are they there to protect you? To make you feel important? To help you hide from God? I invite you to allow God to gently lift those masks and allow you to be real…with Him and with others.

Grace and Peace,
Deb

impatience

One thing God has definitely been working on in my life is patience. It is something that does not come to me naturally, but I do feel that my ability to wait has improved. I have been able to allow myself to rest in God’s arms and be ok with his timing. Whenever I have been anxious about timing, I remember that God is holding it all and I relax. That is until the past week or so.

Impatience has reared its’ ugly head in my life. I find myself looking at the clock over and over. I find myself checking my cell phone for messages over and over. I must restrain myself from making phone calls several times a days.

Let me explain. I am waiting…and waiting…and waiting for someone. He was supposed to be here yesterday…or so I thought. There was a chance that he would arrive early but he didn’t. I’ve been ready for him for several weeks. He is the last thing I think of when I lay down at night and the first thing when I wake up in the morning. No…I’m not talking about Jesus (please don’t hold that against me or think less of me!) The ‘he’ I am speaking of is my new grandson. I haven’t met him yet because he hasn’t arrived yet! Hence the reason for my insane impatience. Where did my practice of patience go? What happened to it? It’s gone…zip, zippo, zippy jack gone!

I am a woman obsessed. I want to call my daughter once an hour to see how she’s feeling. Any contractions? Yes. :0) Are they any stronger…no. :0( I have my bag packed and in the car. I know…you are thinking…”why does she need a bag?” Because…I have been invited into the labor and delivery room, along with Sam’s mom and I want to be prepared in case it’s a long one.

I think one of the reasons I am so excited is that I was not present for the birth of my twin granddaughters. My daughter-in-law gave birth nearly three months early…when I was in Argentina! I missed the entire event. So to be here, in the states, in Pennsylvania, in York, ready to be in the hospital…and in the delivery room is like a child waiting for Christmas morning.

So…I wait. I wait with great anticipation…for God’s perfect timing.

Impatiently yours,
Deb

sabbath

no post today ~ enjoy your sabbath

God moments

Today, I had to go on an errand. I was looking for something specific. I went to the first store that I thought might have what I was looking for. They didn’t. They were kind enough to direct me to another store. I had never been to this new store before. I found my way to the shop and when I went in, I was greeted very warmly. The woman who greeted me was behind the counter and another person was between us so I didn’t know who it was. Then she came out from behind the other person and it was someone I hadn’t seen for a long time. What a nice surprise.

We began a conversation and she shared that she had just thought of me earlier as she had been reading material from a women’s retreat we had both attended years ago.

Now you may wonder why I am even telling this story. There is a point. I promise…. We discussed some tough times she had experienced in the last several years that God had carried her through.

I was there on a matter regarding something I needed for sacred~encounters and she asked what the business was about. We talked about how my passion is helping women go deeper with God through looking for Him in their everyday, ordinary lives…just like seeing the connection between her thoughts of the retreat and me earlier and then, there I am in her store…the unique way God makes these cool connections. I think we were both encouraged by the fact that Jesus is so involved in our lives.

But…there is more. What she didn’t know, was that I was impacted by my time with her…I left that shop with tears in my eyes, thanking God. That meeting was also a special time for me. He used it to reinforce something He is speaking to me about so it was very meaningful (that particular thing I will keep to myself…at least today).

I love when I see these ‘connections’…these ‘God moments’, when He allows us to see the threads of His presence in our lives and what He is doing in and through us.

May you have a 'God moment' today. May you see His presence very clearly and be encouraged.

Peace and Grace,
Deb

crazy busy

Recently, God has been speaking to me about busyness; about going from one thing to another. I’ve had to take a look at why I feel a need to be busy and I think it comes from insecurity. I think I feel as if I have something to prove…wanting others to see that I am worthy. Believing the lie that the busier I am, the more important I am.

I am thinking God wants me to look at why I need this affirmation…why isn’t what He thinks of me enough? I need to spend some time reflecting on this and discerning how He wants me to respond.

Sometimes, this is the result of sitting in silence with God. I hear things, if I am willing, that may not be what I want to hear but what I need to hear. My only desire is to be as close to Jesus as I can be and that means I need to look at the shadow side of my heart. God speaks to me about these things in a very gentle way. When I hear harsh messages I know they are either my own voice or the voice of the enemy. God only speaks to me with love.

I invite you to be willing to listen to God’s voice…no matter what He wants to say because He only wants what is best and He loves you more than you can imagine.

Blessings,
Deb

spider webs

“God is everywhere. He is always with us – it’s just that we don’t always choose to participate in the relationship.’

Gary Moon

How much have I missed? I feel like a woman who has been in a coma for years and has just woke up. I seem so much more aware of God than I did a few years ago. Back then I knew a lot about God but I wasn’t aware of His presence. I knew that He was everywhere all of the time but I didn’t think to look for Him.

And, even though I am more aware of Him, I still have to remind myself to be looking for Him. I want to see Him in the design of the spider web covered with dew outside my window. I want to see Him in the conversation I have with my neighbor. I want to see Him in midst of the struggle I am having. He is everywhere and I don’t want to miss Him.

To be this aware, I need to be intentional. I need to sit quietly with Him, I need to remind myself that He is all around me, waiting to be seen, to get myself out of the way…it is a choice to be open to this reality.

Today, I invite you to take some time to ponder the truth that God is everywhere. I want to encourage you…encourage you to choose to participate in the relationship.

Grace and peace,
Deb

spa for the soul - solitude

“If we are serious about hearing God, we will stay close to him. We will have frequent times when we allow the discipline of silence to deepen into solitude. In solitude - which is more a state of mind than a place – we purposely withdraw from interaction with others for the purpose of being with God.”

Gary Moon


I can remember a time when being alone for any period of time was very hard. I would fill my day with people, if possible. Because it wasn’t always an option to be with someone, I would have on the tv, radio, cds…anything to fill the silence. It was just plain uncomfortable.

For sometime now I have been practicing silence and solitude. I look forward to it. I carve out time in my morning. I love it now, because it’s still dark when I get up. I get my cup of coffee, go into my sunroom, light a candle and sit quietly in the dark. My reason for doing this? To be with God. No agenda, no requests…only sitting with him.

The simplicity of it is beautiful. I simply want to be with Jesus. But as simple as it sounds it is difficult to just ‘be’. Usually, my mind doesn’t want to turn off. Some days it’s easier, some harder. But I keep doing it. And you know what? I love that time.

I used to try so hard to have some type of regular quiet time. I did it because if I didn’t I felt guilty. I did it because other people said I should do it. But now, I can honestly say I do it because I desire it. I love it. I don’t know exactly what happens during that time. I usually don’t feel anything. I cannot say that I come out of it enlightened…at least in a way that I am aware of. What happens during that time is a mystery. But just the fact that I now desire to spend time with God tells me it’s a good mystery.

Today, I invite you to plan a spa for your soul. Plan to set some time aside, light a candle and just ‘be’ with God. Allow the mystery of those moments to transform your spirit.

Peace and Grace,
Deb

quest

touching the unseen

you seem so far away from me today.
just out of reach.
or maybe i’m the one who’s out of reach.
out of touch.
what is it in men that makes you so hard to see?
i need new eyes. spiritual eyeballs that look past
the bills that need paying
and the car that needs fixing
and the emails that keep coming
to see what lies beyond.
eyes that can see in the dark.
and through the dark
to you.

i’ve been looking
in all the wrong places all this time-
in myself rather than you,
within this world rather than
beyond it where the kingdom
of God resides, where you live,
and secretly smile at my shortsightedness-
and wait.
i’m glad you’re so patient.

quest.

steven james

apples

I had a conversation this past weekend with a dear friend. She spoke of struggling with guilt from a choice she had made in the past. As she thought back to the time of the incident, she noticed that she made a choice that was not what God would have wanted. It was difficult to see her continue to struggle with this past choice and not be able to receive God’s grace and forgiveness. In her head, she knows that God forgives, but in her heart she still carries the burden. I think she believes if she would decide to choose to receive fully God’s grace, that she will surely make a similar choice in the future. It's like she needs to keep the pain of that choice front and center so she remembers that pain and hopes that the frequent reminder will prevent her from doing it again.

But, while she continues to carry that burden she avoids spending time with God because of the shame. Can you see that she’s caught? We briefly talked about how, if she stays in that place, she most certainly won’t move closer to the heart of God.

God loved her as much after she made her choice as before she made it and He loves her fully now even though she keeps Him at arms’ length. I think He grieves that she won’t allow Him closer to comfort her. Isn’t that what sin does so well? Create separation from God? Remember the garden? Adam and Eve in perfect communion with God. Then the choice they made to pick the proverbial "apple"…to have autonomy. Then their shame and hiding from God. And what did God do? He pursued them. Yes...there were consequences to their sin but God also provided for them and continued to care for them.

We all live under the fall…we’ve all picked and will continue to pick ‘apples’ and make choices that are not pleasing to God. But He is always waiting for us to come back into right relationship with Him.

God loves you. He wants you to be with Him. Whatever you done, He still desires your company. He loves you deeply and wants to have a restored relationship. Do what needs to be done to work towards restoration…with Him…with others and then let it go. I am convinced we don’t change our behavior by sheer will to do it differently. I’ve tried that over the years and the results have been sketchy. What I do believe changes me and my actions is being as close to the heart of God as I can be…by pursuing an intimate relationship with Him. Recognizing His love for me and resting in that love can change me like nothing else.

So…to my dear friend…and to those of you who are struggling with the same thing, I invite you to set aside some time today to sit in God’s presence and pour your heart out to Him. Don’t allow the shame or the guilt to keep you away. Sit with Him and tell Him exactly how you feel. And allow Him to pour His love over you.

Grace and Peace,
Deb

sabbath

no post today ~ enjoy your Sabbath

forgiveness

East to West

Here I am Lord and I'm drowning
In Your sea of forgetfulness
The chains of yesterday surround me
I yearn for peace and rest
I don’t want to end up where You found me
And it echoes in my mind
Keeps me awake tonight

I know You’ve cast my sin as far
As the East is from the West
And I stand before You now
As though I’ve never sinned
But today I feel like I’m just one mistake away
From You leaving me this way

Jesus, can You show me just how far the East is from the West?
Cause I can’t bear to see the man I’ve been
Rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
You know just how far the East is from the West
From one scarred hand to the other

I start the day, the war begins
Endless reminding of my sin
And time and time again
Your truth is drowned out by the storm I’m in
Today I feel like I’m just one mistake away
From You leaving me this way

Jesus, can You show me just how far the East is from the West?
Cause I can’t bear to see the man I’ve been
Come rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
Cause You know just how far the East is from the West
From one scarred hand to the other

I know You’ve washed me white
Turned my darkness into light
I need Your peace to get me through
To get me through this night
I can’t live by what I feel
About the truth Your word reveals
And I’m not holding onto You
But You’re holding onto me
You’re holding onto me

Jesus, You know just how far the East is from the West
I don't have to see the man I’ve been
Come rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest (mercy I find rest)
You know just how far the East is from the West
From one scarred hand to the other

(Just how far, the East is from the West, Just how far)
From one scarred hand to the other
(You know just how far, the East is from the West, Just how far)
From one scarred hand to the other

Casting Crowns

awareness

Being aware of the 'nearness' of God can change the way you look at the world. That, in turn can change everything. Take some time today to bring your full awareness to God and where He is moving in your life.

Peace,
Deb

ponder

”But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

Luke 2:19


Ponder. Not a word we hear a lot these days. What does it mean? Here’s a dictionary definition:

Ponder:
~to consider something deeply and thoroughly; meditate

~ to weigh carefully in the mind; consider thoughtfully

Mary knew that what had been told to her was very, very precious. I think she knew that there would be times in her life when it would be important for her to remember those words, those moments when she first said yes to God. There would be wonderful times as she watched him grow from an infant into a little boy. Then there would be terrifying times as she heard the news of his arrest, and witnessed the events that followed.

I wonder what I treasure in my heart...what do I ponder? What do I take so seriously, feel so deeply, experience as God moving me in my spirit? I know that I do not ‘ponder’ enough. I don’t take the time to think deeply, often enough. And because of that I miss things that God has for me. I miss experiencing a more intimate relationship with Him.

I want this to change. I want to be captured by words or thoughts so much that I won’t let go of them. I want to hold them close and mediate on them.

I encourage you today to think about what you hold in your heart…what do you ponder? Is it thoughts about Jesus? I invite you to enter into Scripture slowly today. Take a verse and allow it to sink deep. Treasure what God shares with you, in your heart and ponder it for as longs as God leads….it will change who you are.

Grace and Peace,
Deb

mr potato head

Did you have a Mr. Potato Head as a kid? I did. I loved that toy. I could spend hours changing his features to make him into an entirely new person…ummm..potato….you know…well….as much as you can possibly change the look of a potato.

I spent much of my adult life as a Mr…wait…a Mrs. Potato Head. My insides remained pretty much the same but my outsides might change depending on who I was with. Not flagrant inconsistencies but more than I would have liked.

I am getting older (although they are saying that 50 is the new 30!) and I want to live my life with integrity. I want to be the same inside and out. I want to be the same no matter what circumstance I’m in or who I am with. I don’t want to put on airs or downplay my strengths. I don’t want to hide behind feelings of inadequacies nor do I want to be quiet about what I think or feel strongly about. I just want to be me…the me who is changing and growing and becoming more comfortable with who I am and who I am becoming. I believe this is what God calls me to….a life of integrity.

If you find yourself being like Mr. Potato Head, I invite you to spend some time today thinking about the ways you may not be living in integrity and consider what you might want to change.

Grace and Peace,
Deb

spa for the soul ~ awareness

“We exist in the loving ocean of God’s being. We cannot attain the company of God. What may be missing, however, is our awareness of his transforming presence…”

Gary Moon

“We exist in the loving ocean of God’s being.”

Sit with this thought and try to comprehend it. Notice that it isn’t a state you need to work towards… you already exist in it.

“We cannot attain the company of God.”

Again, you nor I can’t do anything to work ourselves into the company of God.

“What may be missing however is our awareness of his transforming presence.”

Think about this for a while. The missing piece is our awareness of God and his presence. It is all around us. This is a relatively new thought for me. I’ve been taught over the years that God is everywhere. And, I feel as if I spent most of those years trying to move closer to him….. only to discover that He has been closer to me than my own breath but I didn’t know how to see Him, to notice Him. I was caught up in ‘doing’, in service, in reading, in thinking, in talking, in debating, in growing…in my efforts to work my way there. Now, I find that when I sit, quietly, without talking, just wanting nothing more than to be in His presence, my spiritual eyes are opened and I see Him everywhere.

I see Him in nature, in the book I’m reading, the movie I’m watching, in my husband building something, in the beautiful faces of my grand-daughters, in the athletic ability of my grandson, in the growing belly of my daughter as she approaches her due date.

God is everywhere. Earth and heaven are saturated with Him and His presence. If I only take the time to look…take the time to see….take the time to learn how to be still.

I invite you to slow down today…maybe right now, take five minutes, to just sit quietly with Him. Tell Him all you want to do is be in His presence…to sense His love for you.

Peace,
Deb

shine

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Marianne Williamson


I heard this powerful quote yesterday in a message at church and it occurred to me that I walk between two realities. I am made in the image and likeness of God. I also know that I live east of Eden. I no longer live in the garden. I am broken and flawed. I struggle, many times, to do the right thing.

Often I tend to think of myself as average. Average intelligence, somewhat gifted, passable in looks. Every once a while I have a ‘brilliant’ moment or two. I can tend to focus on what I am not.

But this quote takes me back to the ‘real’ reality. I am a child of God. His spirit resides within me. That is what people see when I get out of the way. Because of Him I am who I am. My playing small does not serve the world….and neither does yours.

I invite you to give this some thought today. How do you ‘play small? How do you diminish the glory of God that is within you? Spend some time pondering these questions and considering what response God wants to invite in you. May you let your light shine.

Blessings,
Deb

sabbath

no post today ~ enjoy the sabbath

expectations

“The anguish in the world can be traced to expectations.”

Anthony deMello


Did you ever notice how true this is for you? It certainly is true for me. It happens on vacations, in new jobs, during the holidays. I always have an idea in my head how it will work and it never seems to meet my expectations.

Honestly, I felt like that when I went to Israel earlier this year. I expected to see THE tomb. They don’t know where THE tomb is. There are several possibilities. I expected to see the THE stable where Jesus was born. Now, in retrospect I realize how silly it was to think that the stable would still be there over 2000 years later. As you have guessed, there is no stable. In fact, the picture above is of a hole in the floor of a church in Bethlehem. You place your hand in the hole and feel the stone underneath. This is possibly the stone that was under the stable. Talk about unmet expectations.

It can happen with people too. We have expectations, they aren’t met and we become discouraged.

Consider holding your expectations lightly. I invite you to give them to God and allow him to attend to the outcome.

Blessings,
Deb

chosen

Last year, within the space of three days, I heard or read the story of the wedding feast, the place of Jesus’ first miracle…He turned water into wine. I have read this story countless times but when I encountered it for the third time, in such a short span of time, I asked God what He wanted me to take from this story…how He was speaking to me through it. As I sat, in silence, I felt the desire to write a poem. I do not, at all, consider myself a poet. In fact, I don’t think I’ve written a poem since high school. But, the words that follow flowed out onto the paper. I doubt it would win any awards but it expresses what God laid on my heart that afternoon.

My prayer is that He would speak to you through these words.



chosen

simple ordinary container
willing to hold fresh water
to refresh, to quench
sturdy, dependable
loyal, practical
content to be a holder of this sustaining liquid

but wait…
a wedding day
beautiful jars filled with wine
to be seen by all the guests
an extraordinary vessel
to carry the fruit’s offering

then…it’s gone
it has run it’s course
and is no more
guests shall be disappointed
bride and groom disgraced
a wedding feast marred

simple ordinary container willing to hold water
now being filed as usual
but…it is not usual
water? no…wine!
not just wine
but the sweetest wine known.

wine from the vine
sweet and warming
not just to the body
but to the heart

simple ordinary container
sturdy dependable
loyal, practical

chosen

deb

iron.....

"The person you would most not want to be with in community will always be there."

Henri Nouwen


I first heard this quote last January when I was at a residency program. It rang true for me. For whatever reason, there is almost always someone, somewhere that I am, that I would rather not be there. Did you follow that?

I know this is most “unchristian’ of me to admit but it is true. I am not so evolved that I love everyone equally. In fact, there are some that I really struggle with. And for some reason, God makes sure that I usually have one of those people in my path.

Something else I have discovered is that these people have something in common….they usually have some quality I have! Did that ever happen to you? You find yourself rubbed the wrong way by someone. You take some time to think about what it is that bothers you and realize it is a quality you also have. But…you give yourself a pass because that quality is a positive in you and just plain annoying in this other person.

God gently reveals these lies to me. He places other people who are either too much like me or not like me at all to help work out His purposes in my life.

Iron sharpens irons…..that’s how the psalmist puts it. We need each other, and the forging quality of relationships, to work off the rough edges and craft us into individuals who reflect God.

I am trying to be thankful for those people who mirror to me things I need to surrender to God. I also need to humble myself and realize I am THAT person for someone else. I am the one that is someone else’s ‘person they would not want to be in community with’.

It goes back to the basics. It goes back to love. It goes back to looking for the beauty in each other. It goes back to allowing God to do the work in our lives any way He chooses. And if He chooses to use me to work in you or you to work in me….may it be so.

Who are those people in your life? Consider spending some time today thinking about them, what God might want to be showing you through your interaction with them. Maybe we can both get to the place where we can actually thank God for their presence in our lives.

Grace and Peace,
Deb

shape

It is not you that shapes God.
It is God that shapes you.
If then you are the work of God
Await the hand of the artist who does
All things in due season.

Offer Him your heart,
Soft and tractable,
And keep the form in which the artist
Has fashioned you.
Let the clay be moist
Lest you go hard
And lose the imprint of your fingers

.
Prayer from St Irenaeus

This prayer speaks about part of the journey I have been on in the past couple of years. I have become increasingly aware of the fact that God initiates everything in me. Some times I become anxious about what may be in the future but I want to continue to trust Him and His timing. I want to be pliable and moldable in His hand.

Consider taking some time today and sit with this prayer. See what God may want to say to you. Journal about what you are hearing and consider how you might want to respond.

Peace,
Deb

spa for the soul

As women, we like to do certain things for ourselves. We get our hair cut, colored and highlighted. We purchase special shampoos, good conditioners, glazes and paste. We buy bath gels, body crèmes, hand lotions. We use moisturizer, masks, potions and lotions. We love makeup. We do our nails…we get manicures and pedicures. Occasionally we will treat ourselves to a massage. So many times, our fantasy is a day at the spa; a day to be pampered and nurtured. We long for that time of rest and relaxation…to renew and rejuvenate.

But, as frequently as we may think of caring for our physical bodies, we neglect our spiritual selves. We seem to think that a prayer shot up, here and there, a minute or two in Scripture, a Sunday morning message, and singing a couple of worship songs takes care of meeting the needs of our spirit.

Think for a few minutes about this. Our physical bodies are in a constant state of deterioration. I know this is not a happy thought, but it is true. All of our attempts to stave off the inevitable may make the inevitable a little easier to accept but it is still happening. Our physical bodies are moving towards death every day. But, our spirit is eternal. Any effort we put into opening our spirit to God, takes us deeper into His presence. When we spend time practicing those disciplines that create intimacy with Him, we are building into something that will last forever.

Now I am not saying that we shouldn’t spend time on our physical bodies. They are gifts from God and we need to care for them. But…what would our spirits look like if we nurtured them as much as we do our bodies?

This is the idea behind ‘spa for the soul’; a place where you can come and rest, be refreshed and renewed in your relationship with God.

My passion is to help women nurture their spirits. This blog is one way I want to do this. My hope is that is why you come back…to hopefully feed your spirit. Sometimes, there is food for thought…for your brain and how you think about God and the world around you. Other times, it is for nurturing your spirit. So think of these times as a mini moment at the spa. I want to share the things that have helped me ‘be’ with God in a different way and that you may want use in your journey to move into a deeper relationship with Him. They will center around subjects like ‘presence', awareness, breathing, prayer, journaling, solitude and silence, sacred reading and other disciplines that will care for your spirit.

I hope, on those days when you see “Spa for the Soul”, you will anticipate…and find… an offering that will enrich your spiritual walk.

Blessings,
Deb

relationship

This past week, I was reading a book and came across a section that talked about women reflecting the character of God. This is something that I have always known. I’ve been taught it for years. I, as a woman, reflect God. But how? How exactly, do I do this as a female?

Women are designed for relationship. We love relationships. Even those of you who are introverts love to know that you are loved, that there are people who want to be with you, spend time with you.

Generally, women show love in a relational way. We give, we nurture, we comfort. The authors of Captivating, share that women, uniquely reflect the relational character of God.

God created me for relationship with Him. He longs for me to love Him, to desire relationship with Him. Jesus said, in Mark 12:30, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” See it? It’s all about relationship.

There have been times when I have mentioned, in various settings, that I would like more ‘community’ or connectedness. I am relational and although I like my time alone, I like to be with people. I work better when I can be in relationship with those I work and interact with. Others don’t always feel that need. I could interpret that as if there must be something wrong with me that I need more relationship, as if it were a weakness.

But, when I read the passage in Captivating, I was amazed. It brought back the reality that God, at His core, is relational. Relationships are extremely important to Him and they were paramount to Jesus. It is a legitimate desire and longing and God loves that it is important to me to build a closer, more intimate, relationship with him and with others.

Today, love your status as a woman in God’s eyes…you have been created for relationship. Beautifully reflect that aspect of God’s character.

Blessings,
Deb

sabbath

no posting today ~ enjoy your sabbath

impossible

A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.

~C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

Came across this quote recently. Consider spending some time today pondering all it holds………

Grace and Peace,
Deb

breath

Mornings….I love mornings. I really love early morning. I love the time before the busyness outside begins. I have a sunroom. In the morning, around 5:30, I get a cup of coffee and go into the sunroom. I light a candle. I love candles. I love them because of the significance of Christ being the light of the world. But, I must admit, I also love them because of the fragrance. I am very picky about my candle fragrance. I also love the mood a candle provides. Ok...I'm rambling about candles. Moving on....

Sometimes I turn on some very soft classical music. Then I just sit. I close my eyes and just breath. I cannot think of any other time I just breath. I can feel my shoulders dropping, and my breathing getting deeper and slower. I relax into it. I can hear the birds, my wind chimes, and occasionally, my cats playing outside the door. Sometimes thoughts come into my mind…about an email I didn’t answer or what we will have for dinner. When I notice that I am ‘thinking’, I try to let go of the thought and go back to awareness of my breathing.

Why so I do this? It seems like it is one of the only times I can truly be present…present with God. My ultimate thought is always about Him. I just want to sit and be still with Him. No agenda, nothing to “do”. Just being. It’s not easy to just ‘be’. Doesn’t that sound strange…that it would be easier to actually ‘do’ something than to just ‘be’? This ‘being’ business is not easy. But it so worth the effort.

When I move into spending time in scripture and journaling about what I hear God saying, I feel so much more focused. I feel much more receptive to hearing Him. It truly has become the most favorite time of my day.

I invite you to try just sitting with Him…eyes closed, and paying attention to your breathing. Relax….and listen to what God may be saying to you. May it be a sweet time with Him.

Grace and peace,
Deb

girls

“Dear God,
Are boys better than girls? I know you are one but please try to be fair.”

From: Children’s Letters to God



I wonder how many women feel this way. Does God really think boys are better than girls? Personally, I don’t think so. But I do know how easy it is for us to get this impression. I know many women who excel in their field. Unfortunately there are times in the corporate world or even in the church that women can feel as if their gender speaks louder than their gifts.

We, as women, are image bearers of God. Although that encompasses our gender, it is not limited to it. He also deeply values our gifts and the condition of our heart. I think it brings Him joy to see us exercise our gifts….. the gifts He gave us….. to the fullest.

Please value yourself as a woman. God does.

Peace,
Deb

love letter

“The Word of Scripture should never stop sounding in your ears and working in you all day long, just like the words of someone you love, but accept them as they are said to you, accept the Word of Scripture and ponder it in your heart, as Mary did. That is all. That is meditation…Do not ask “How shall I pass this on?” but “What does it say to me?” Then ponder this Word long in your heart until it has gone right into you and taken possession of you.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I cannot tell you how many times I have read a certain piece of Scripture and thought, “Oh…so and so needs to hear that” or “I wonder if so and so has ever heard this?” Or my most recent one, “Wow…I could use that on the blog!” Notice the problem here? What I am reading is for the benefit of someone else. Is that wanting to help others or, maybe, avoiding what God wants to say to me? Maybe both, maybe neither. It may just mean that I am going through the motions of reading it and not slowing down long enough to see how God wants to speak to me, directly to me, through it. What He may want to say to me may just be for me…not information to pass along or material for a later teaching but words that may be life-giving, life-changing to me. I don’t want to miss His words for me.

Consider reading the Word today as if it is a love letter from God to you. How is He expressing His love for you, today, through the Scripture? Read slowly and listen.

Peace,
Deb