Faith. Life. Family. Cats. And Chocolate. Always Chocolate!
One of the greatest gifts my parents gave me was the gift of music lessons. I started piano when I was about 6 years old. I’m still not a great concert pianist, but I find a lot of solace in sitting down to play (usually I wait for an empty house… I’m a little rusty!)
My parents gave this piano to me… I consider it a part of their blessing and my inheritance.
It never fails. Each sunset on the beach is beautiful, wildly different, and painted with a Master’s Hand. I find great delight in the beauty of nature…
I stopped to pick up gift cards for the women’s shelter today. (And a few other items… Yarn was on sale…)
Flashed across the screen was the word “ACCEPTED”.
Yes. I am. Completely.
And it occurred to me as I finished my errands that this was a message that needed speaking to the world around me. There’s a lot of rhetoric right now that demeans and divides.
That is not the way of Christ…
They gave diapers. Wipes. Baby toys. Crib sheets. Bottles. Cups. Pacifiers. Beautiful home-made quilts.
Four moms-to-be at a local shelter will receive these gifts of Love PLUS a $200 gift card! All from our small and struggling congregation.
As we lit the second candle for Advent, we were asked to consider what the flame of Love would look like as it burned in us…
“I could give all that I have to feed the poor, I could surrender my body to be burned as a martyr, but if I do not live in love, I gain nothing by my selfless acts.” I Cor 13:3
I think we’re well on our way…
TBTG
Riding home from on-call this morning, I had a fleeting realization (which may or may not make sense to you…) It’s simply this: Depending on where you sit, you can have a different impression of how fast you are going. And if you are going anywhere at all…
Water of God, I see you
Tides and wind
Sand and sea
At the edge of every beginning, and every end,
I watch the waves
And trace the pelicans’ wingbeats in the air.
And I know, I see it
God is there.
I walk the dunes
And feel the wind
And listen to the Spirit’s words
Blow through all the
I can’t
I won’t
I haven’t
I didn’t
that I say to stop progress.
I want to throw caution to the wind.
Water of God
Splash over my heart
Renew my mind
Bring courage to my words
(Even the ones I am afraid to say).
Water of God
Wash me clean
Of my stubborn perfectionism
And my fears and tears
And my questions
And my listening to the naysayers
You are enough
You are
Water.
Summer and winter and seedtime and harvest
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Great is Thy faithfulness…
