A recent post came from a favorite author, Jon Bloom. Called Seven Ways to Pray for Your Heart, each prayer begins with “whatever it takes, Lord”. The prayers are bold, and they are courageous. The prayers show God that we are engaged in what we want to happen in our life. “Whatever it takes, Lord” shows that we trust God completely on the Spiritual Journey to make us Christ-like. Whatever it takes, Lord, give me delight in You as the…
Quieting the soul and reading the following passage can help believers visualize and understand the movement that represents the Spiritual Journey. “Head up the mountain and listen, for there are many things that are to be revealed. The road is steep, but it has been traveled before. Hush and stillness fill the air during ascension. Notice the fragrance. Sit for a while and gaze upon the distant hills and valleys below. There is a haze and darkness that fills the…
There is a lot written about the quiet and the silence on the Spiritual Journey. Even though there can be long periods of silence, listening intently for what the Spirit is saying should never cease. Much can still be heard and received in the quiet. Sacred Forest poem by E.A. Wilhelm I come this way a lot, you know, It’s cool and quite so still. The sanctity of life itself can silence nature’s trill. But in the calm and…
In a dream, my dear friend offered to help me fix parts of my fence; both the broken and missing pickets, as well as, some of the vertical posts and the horizontal cross bars. After making our list, we ventured to the local lumber yard to get supplies. With my truck backed up to the lumber pile, my friend began sorting through piles of boards for what we needed. He found some that were twisted, some looked petrified or splintered,…
With years of living and working on a farm, one becomes accustomed to the flocks of migrating birds in search of food that is easily found by the flocks following the machines that turn over the ground at harvest time. One particular day, however, an enormous flock of gulls circled the field, but never landed. Their formation was lyrical and graceful as the flight pattern continued overhead. The final circling changed the appearance of the flock, as each individual gull followed…
In a dream, I was flying in a little plane and was in the back seat. I took this flight daily and was comfortable with the pilot who only flew high and straight, level and cautious. On one particular day, I noticed the pilot of my plane was different. We took off and immediately he began to fly along power lines, close to the road, up and over telephone lines, and back down close to the ground. He looped and…
Feeling lost, alone and helpless, and subsequent crying and upset, can be part of the Spiritual Journey. Many feelings will surface but they are not the guide: The eternal Spirit is. Crossing over is difficult, dry, alone and confusing, but you are being prepared to leave what is and enter what will be. While there is movement forward, no place is going to be fitting for a long time. Home isn’t where you want to be, work isn’t where you…
“Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done.” – C.S. Lewis
Overcoming is not meant to conquer and destroy every obstacle that hinders movement. To overcome is to eliminate the power of a situation and the ideas that stem from it. The response to the obstacle or oppression determines whether it continues or ceases activity. Obviously, the situation would not exist if it were possible to merely walk away from oppression or ignore it altogether. Overcoming difficulties in life does not require physical strength or mental brilliance. To triumph over whatever…
When the carnival comes to town each year, it is always a fun time for all. We can especially enjoy the roller coaster, the tilt-a-whirl, the Ferris wheel and the carousel, all going around and around. Games like whack-a-mole, the bean bag toss and throwing darts hoping to pop a balloon all offer fun and entertainment. Night after night, friends can enjoy the rides, the games of chance, the music, the colors and all the amusements and delights. However, after…