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Open a blank blog post and "right click paste" in the body of the post...what was pasted? Explain it.Philippians 4:4-7
The Message (MSG)
4-5 Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!
6-7 Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
This was my Bible reading when I woke up this morning. I had copied it from Bible Gateway to share the text on Facebook.Last weekend I went on a directed silent retreat through Dovehouse Ministries. The spiritual director guides people in the Ignatian Practices, a method of praying scripture and meditation developed by St. Ignatius in the 16th century and followed by the Jesuits.So now each morning I wake up earlier than I previously had and gather my Bible, notebook, pen, and practice book. I set my timer and I read scripture, pray, and listen for God's words for me. Some days are wonderful -- like today -- where the scripture goes straight to my being addressing issues I am aware of in my life. Other days it is harder to stay focused, but I see those days as training in a discipline of worship -- exercise for my spiritual self, it you will.Right click and see what comes up for you this morning :)linking up with Writer's Workshop
I was sitting in a friend's kitchen on Easter Sunday. It was late spring and the kids were playing outside while we got lunch ready to eat on the front lawn. We had invited a family from church to join all of us because they were new to our congregation and she was a single mom with 2 kids and no family in town.
Her little girl, maybe 7, wandered into the kitchen and sat down at the table beside me. The mother looked at her daughter and said, "You and this lady have something in common."
And I froze.
Our commonality was we had both been abused. I knew this was what the mom was referencing. What I couldn't figure out was what she thought I was supposed to do with that opening.
There is a space in time that freezes, or at least slows down significantly. I got caught in that time/space. Really it was only for a few seconds, but I clearly remember looking with desperation to the other women in that kitchen. Women who knew my story and were waiting for me to offer this little girl a gift of healing.
I opened my mouth and said, "What's your favorite color?"
That was all I could process, except to know this was neither the time nor the place, nor was I the person to delve into this child's trauma.
She looked at me timidly and said, "Purple."
I smiled and said, "Me too!" And from there we went into a conversation on the benefits of different shades of purple and what other colors we liked using when we drew pictures.
Her mother wandered from the kitchen. I don't know what she had expected. I don't know what I could have done differently.
Their family didn't stay around at church long. I don't think I drove them away, but I'm not sure I offered them something they needed. So if that little girl is reading this now, or her mother is, this is what I want you to know.
Purple is my favorite color. And I do love to draw and color pictures. I am infinitely sorry for the trauma you experienced, and I wish I had the wisdom to help you heal. But maybe I gave you something. I hope so.
Blessings.
linking up with Writer's Workshop
I would love to tell you that I have a detailed, flawless morning routine. But I can't.
I would love to tell you that my mornings run so much more smoothly because of this routine. But I can't.
I would also love to tell you that a morning routine will solve all of your problems. But it won't.
What I can tell you is that I have a general morning routine that works pretty well most of the time, and on the days it works the rest of my day tends to flow a little better.
So what does morning look like for me these days? I'll tell you.
5:30 am -- hubby gets up, usually quietly, after giving me a kiss, hug, or pat. This morning he knocked a picture off the wall.
6:00 am -- deranged birds begin chirping outside my window, and all I can think of is the line from Hook -- "firefly from hell".
7:00 am -- my alarm goes off. I hit the snooze.
7:10 am -- my alarm goes off as static-y news from NPR. I realize that I must get out of bed even though my eyes feel like someone glued them with sandpaper.
7:25 am -- I sit up in bed and take my pill, throw off the covers, pull on the yoga pants from last night, go to the bathroom and head to the kitchen.
7:30 am -- wake up my computer, turn on the teapot, let the dogs out, feed dogs, set up tea, and check to see if dear daughter is up (she is)
7:45 am -- call hubby to check in. He apologizes for knocking picture down. He couldn't find the bedroom door. We chat about sleep deprivation and plans for the day.
7:55 am -- get tea and sit down at computer to check email, Facebook, blog stats, Google Reader, and the weather.
8:35 am -- tea is gone, emails checked, Facebook updated, blog stats, new blog posted, Google Reader read, weather looks okay for a swim.
Now it's on to breakfast and Bible study using Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals. Once that's done and this blog is finished, I'll start on my list of things to do today which currently includes:
-- a swim at the YMCA
-- changing the sheets
-- laundry
-- menus and grocery list
-- grocery shopping
-- taking the car to get washed (if the rain stays away)
-- and making some phone calls
If I get half of that done, I'm gonna be one happy camper!
How's your day shaping up?
linking up at Mama Kat
I'm 49 years old.
And I've never:
1 -- Smoked weed.
2 -- Eaten haggis.
3 -- Dove off a cliff.
4 -- Swam in the Pacific.
5 -- Ridden in a helicopter.
6 -- Climbed Mt. Everest.
7 -- Been to Argentina.
8 -- Starred in a movie.
9 -- Been buried in sand.
10 -- Seen a play on Broadway.
11 -- Been to Los Angeles.
12 -- Played football, professionally or otherwise.
13 -- Completed a knitting project.
14 -- Owned a snake.
15 -- Been hang gliding.
16 -- Gotten a tattoo.
17 -- Fired a gun.
18 -- Spoken Yiddish.
19 -- Danced naked in the moonlight.
20 -- Been to an opera.
How about you?
