Braving The Waters

picture from churchart.com Our best intentions sometimes leave us tired, worn out, and struggling to make everything “happen”. We intend to do this or do that, we make promises and then…it happens. LIFE, life happens and some of the promises and commitments we make fall further and further down on our “to do” list. We only do the essential, enough to get by and still feel like we have done something. It might not happen often but when it does it frustrates us, discourages us, and downright puts us in a mood that isn't pleasant for anyone. We live in a world of over commitment and little follow through. I (even on my best day) can attest to being very over committed to “stuff” and can sometimes do the minimum to “make it work”. If we are aware of this behavior, how is it we continue to fall prey to its vicious cycle? How do we get out of it? How to we stop over committing and therefore falling behind and still feel like we aren't lazy, worthless, or unimpo...

picture from churchart.com Ironically “food for thought” day falls on World Food Day, at least according to my church planning calendar. Did you wake up this morning with your stomach growling and think “I hope I find something to eat today.”?  Have you been preoccupied today thinking about where your next meal will come from? Are you kept awake at night praying about what your children during the summer when they aren’t in school for two meals a day? The reality is that perhaps some who read this blog can answer yes to one or all of the questions above. The other reality is that the rest of us can’t, even on our worst day, answer yes to the questions above. Food is bountiful and scant all at the same time. There are some who through food away by the plateful because they cannot fit anymore into their body and there are others who pray that they get to a restaurant dumpster before someone else. World Food Day- there is a website http://www.worldfooddayusa.org/ LOAD...

picture from churchart.com My prayer this week is not my own but is a song entitled “The Blessing” by Celtic Woman. I spent the day at a spiritual retreat center and this is the song that kept coming to my mind. I wanted to share it with you (whoever reads this blog) In the morning when you rise I bless the sun, I bless the skies I bless your lips, I bless your eyes My blessing goes with you In the night time when you sleep Oh, I bless you while a watch I keep As you lie in slumber deep My blessing goes with you   This is my prayer for you There for you, ever true Each every day for you In everything you do And when you come to me And hold me close to you I bless you And you bless me too When your weary heart is tired If the world would leave you uninspired When nothing more of love's desire My blessing goes with you   When the storms of life are strong When you're wounded, when you don't belong When...

Food for thought today is brought to you by my crazy dog Bartholomew  (that's him in the picture) He spends most  days sleeping on or under my bed. He has food and water in his bowls, treats of various kinds, and more toys than he know what to do with, you could say he lives a plush life (for the dog of a minister). His toys, I should tell you, are a mix of unstuffed squeaker animals, a big bone, and various plastic bottles, from the recycle bin . On days when lounging on the bed just isn't exciting enough, he will try to find something better to do. Explore the recycle bin (for a new bottle to chew on), move all his animals from the living room to the bedroom, or "bury" his big bone in the couch.   I can't tell you his process, because I'm rarely home when he decides to do these things. However, I know before I get through the door that he has done something he is proud of because he is waiting at the door when it opens. His excitement makes me smile ev...

picture from churchart.com Unifying God, draw us closer to your Spirit this week that we might draw closer to you. Help us to see you everywhere we look. Help us to invite others to your welcome table so they can experience the love we know through you.   Grant us your grace today and always as we face the week to come. Amen.

Picture from churchart.com Sometimes but not always we need to let our brains shut out the stresses of life. I say sometimes but not always because never letting yourself become at least a little stressed is just as bad as being overly stressed all the time (at least in my book). Sometimes we need to take a step back. Sometimes we need to turn off our phones, our computers, and our television sets and just be. Sometimes we need to walk away. Sometimes we need to not think or plan or do but we just need to be. Now “just being” can sometimes but not always be just as stressful as all the stresses of life. Our mind wonders back to the things we shut off. We want to look at the text messages and phone calls we are ignoring, the Facebook updates we have missed, and the ridiculous commercials and reality TV we miss when we shut off and disconnect. We don’t want to just look at them we also want to respond. Sometimes not always maybe the world doesn’t need to hear/read what w...

Abundant God, fill me with your joy this week. Help me to see your goodness all around me that I might share your joy with others. You alone O God are my strength and my peace. Grant me your grace that I might serve in your name. Amen Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.9