Tag: presence

Sneak Peek at my 31 Days Topic

photo-005

To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul…(Psalm 25:1 NIV)

To see all 31 posts in the series, click here.

Where has September flown?

My good friend, Dawn Paoletta, rousted me from slumber today, when I read that the 31 Days of Challenge is around the corner. Last year, I did 31 Days of Quiet. And the year before, I just posted whatever seemed nourishing that day.

Here I am, six days from October, and the topic on my mind is GOD+ART.

How to love Him more? How to think of Him constantly? How to practice His presence in all my ways? How to express my devotion to Him through ART and creativity?

So, my loose plan for the challenge includes meditating on Scriptures related to the soul, studying the life of Brother Lawrence through his booklet: The Practice of the Presence of God and communing with God through art journaling.

And then, I will share my fruit with you. For 31 days. For fun. For inspiration. For the challenge!

I have read the story of Brother Lawrence before, but I did not recall his conversion experience. That it involved a tree, seemed an invitation to spend time studying his life.

Here is the encounter with God that changed his life forever:

“That in the winter, seeing a tree stripped of its leaves, and considering that within a little time the leaves would be renewed and after that the flowers and fruit appear, he received a high view of the Providence and Power of GOD, which had never since been effaced from his soul. That this view had perfectly set him loose from the world, and kindled in him such a love for GOD …” (Brother Lawrence)

photo-006

Posted on by kelrohlf 3

un(settled): not comfortable

 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. (Hebrews 11:13-14)

Whether you are leaving or arriving, seeking out or settling in, let the practice of prayer remind you of God’s faithful presence. (Rachel Hackenberg)

IMG_1688

 

Why are you unsettled, O my soul?
Not knowing whether you come or you go.
Feeling tossed and tumbled
tugged and pulled–
a tug of war
internally;
eternally wondering
wandering
waiting
wanting
longing for
home.

 

 

Posted on by kelrohlf 0

Christmas is Over?

Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”

(Matthew 28:18-20 The Message)

Image

This is one of my favorite photos from Christmas 2012. The wrapping paper announces the abundance of thought, love and expense that went into creating this special moment.

Yesterday, we were talking to my sister and her family in New Jersey, and she posed this question: “What I want to know is how we can do all the shopping and all the wrapping and then in 30 minutes it’s over?”

And we all laughed. And I tried to come up with some wisdom about the magic being in the wrapping and unwrapping of the presents.

And today the trimmings of Christmas still adorn our home, but the anticipation is gone. The gifts are tucked away for now. But Christmas is not over; it’s just beginning.

According to the liturgical calendar, Advent was ushered out with our festive feasting on Christmas day. And now we are in the season of Christmas, a time to reflect on the joy of His salvation.

In the past, I often fell into a funk on the second day of Christmas. But now I look forward to finding ways to keep the celebration alive. To devote time to thinking about the Christ Child and what the new year may bring.

I can give in to the despair of the winter doldrums or I can look for the potential and promise of new birth. I can receive the joy and happiness that God offers each day, if only I would attend to and anticipate it, like I do on Christmas morning.

In The Liturgical Year, Joan Chittister wrote a chapter about joy, subtitled “The Essence of It All.” The essence of the Christmas season is the joy found in relationship with God. I can contemplate who the newborn baby is and what His birth means in history and now.

Joan Chittister equates happiness with this “journey to the joy” that marks the entire liturgical year.

“Happiness does not require choice some of the time. Happiness requires choice all of the time. It requires learning to choose between what is real and what is fleeting, what is worthless and what is worthwhile. But that does not make the effort either impossible or unacceptable. It simply requires discrimination.”

When the winter blues come knocking on my door, and they will, I have choices. I can choose to invite them in and have a good old-fashioned pity party. Or I can send them on their way, and instead invite the Spirit of Christmas to infuse my life with the abundance of hope, peace, love and joy that He offers everyday! The presents may be long forgotten, but His Presence abides. And don’t dismiss the presents, they can be tangible reminders of His grace, as well as the relationships that exist between the giver and the receiver.

Merry Second Day of Christmas!

Posted on by kelrohlf 4