Christ is Risen - Matt Maher + Lyrics

A great Easter Song for this beautiful Saturday ~ Enjoy!

A Great Day to Start Again

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
   his mercies never come to an end;
     they are new every morning;
   great is your faithfulness.    Lamentations 3:22-23

As my daughter was excited to tape and watch the Royal Wedding this morning, my mind went back some 30 years to another Royal Wedding.  I recall how that seemed like such a fairy tale at the time.  Then through the years as we learned more of the pain and difficulties in the marriage, that fairy tale faded. Then came the divorce.  I remember watching with tears as later we heard of the tragic and seemingly senseless death of Diana. 

Today as the world watched with interest and excitement the wedding of William and Katherine, future King and Queen of England I see the same sense of magic and fairy tale that I saw back when I was my daughter's age.  It is as though today is a fresh start.  With that thought in mind this morning, I read a friend's FB post quoting a Billy Idol song from the 80's.  Now the song is pretty tough, and not your usual theme for a wedding... but I like the thought in the refrain "It's a great day to start again".

So, it got me thinking...yes, by now you are learning that all sorts of things get me thinking, but just go with me here :-) ... some of us have come through that same cycle of hope and fairy tales in our own life.  We were healthy, once, and the whole world was in front of us...the possibilities endless.  Then some more difficult realities came to light. It was not as we had hoped or planned and the fairy tale faded. Some tragic and painful things may have occurred, and the fairy tale ended.

Our hopes and expectations in life don't always come true. Brokenness, pain, and the difficulties of living this life often break in. It can break our hearts, our spirits and our bodies.  The good news is that our broken dreams and expectations are not the end.

God sees and understands more than we ever can...including more possibilities than we can ever imagine. And the mercy...the undeserved goodness and tender care of God encompasses more of our lives than we would dare to expect...or hope.  The mercy of God, we are told by the writer of Lamentations, is new every morning.  Interestingly, Lamentations is a book full of cries to God about the pain, brokenness and tattered hopes of life. Out of that darkness, we see the spark of faith shine through...

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

No matter what we have faced, no matter what we are facing, the words of scripture ring out today to declare that God's mercy and hope are more powerful than any fairy tale, and God's truth is stranger and more wonderful than any dreams.  The Risen Lord comes to us this day from across time and millenia to remind us that indeed a new day has dawned, and no matter what the past has held, today is a new start.
We get to put away old, broken, battered dreams, and begin to see with new eyes, the possibilites that God sees within us, and within this world. 

Today may our hearts and minds be opened to new hope, new possibilities, and a new start....every morning.

Lord, We thank you for your mercies even as we know well the brokenness and pain of this life. In the midst of broken dreams and real hurt, help us to keep our eyes on you so that the darkness doesn't blind us to the work you are already doing. Give us the eyes of faith to see that you give a frest start each day, and fill us with your hope.  Amen.

Companion on the journey

 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles^* from Jerusalem, ¹⁴and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. ¹⁵While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, ¹⁶but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. ¹⁷And he said to them, ‘What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?’ They stood still, looking sad.^{* 18}Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, ‘Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?’ ¹⁹He asked them, ‘What things?’ They replied, ‘The things about Jesus of Nazareth,^* who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, ²⁰and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. ²¹But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.^* Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. ²²Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, ²³and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. ²⁴Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.’ ²⁵Then he said to them, ‘Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! ²⁶Was it not necessary that the Messiah^* should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?’ ²⁷Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.   Luke 24:13-27


I mentioned earlier this week that I'd been to the doctor. It was the POTS specialist that I'd been wanting to see for months, and the visit was helpful.  The visit was also overwhelming in some ways. It took time and energy to travel, it was a blessedly long appointment, and I came away with a new game plan.  We also came away with new info, and more tests that needed to take place, and a lot that we need to process.  I suspect all of this sounds familiar to many of you.

I also came away with a lot of emotion to process.  So much information to consider in a short time, as well as my own 'inner stuff' about this chronic illness journey, and you have the perfect recipe for overwhelm.

As we see the disciples on the way to Emmaeus, we see that they are in complete overwhelm. The information they had received about the anticipated Messiah through the past several days went in a completely different direction than they ever expected.  They never, ever imagined that the Messiah would die a criminal's death.  On top of this we are told that they are sad. There's more going on here than just trying to understand the information...they are sad. They are dealing with the loss of someone who was important to them, and with it the loss of an expected way of future life.

We are told that Jesus opened up the scriptures to them and helped them understand why the Messiah must be crucified and die.  And in the breaking of the bread with Jesus, their eyes were opened. They saw who was with them. 

In my sharing some of the medical information with a trusted friend, he understandably responded "I am certain I cannot fully comprehend the emotional and spiritual toll this information must be taking upon you."  Now, this friend and mentor is one of the best pastoral counselors I know, and a wonderful shepherd of the Lord's flock.  I appreciated his honest answer.  I also let him know that I didn't expect him to comprehend that which I couldn't understand.  I just needed him to walk with me, so I could process some of it. 

There are times when we need answers, from doctors, from counselors, from family.  There are times when we need people who can help us sort out the facts. But very often there also is a need for someone to just listen and walk with us.  That is a huge gift.  There are folks who have been there for us in the past who for whatever reason, whether their own life events, or their own overwhelm at what we're facing who cannot be open to all the data and emotion that we're processing. That's just the way it is. 

But for those who are willing and able  to walk along this journey with us, through all the wilderness that it is, and help by listening and simply being there accept us where we are, and hear what it is like for us-- THAT is a beautiful gift~ 

I invite us all to seek out and cultivate those relationships in our lives. Pray for those who walk with us. Be honest and appreciative of what they offer, and let them know how they can best help you at that time. Those people may be in your house, or a friend or other family member.  Or those people might be right here on this blog.  My hope is that everyone who comes here will have the gift of at least one person who is walking this journey with them.  I also invite you, if you are a person who has found Holy Communion to be an important part of your spiritual life to consider how long it has been since you've communed.  If you've been unable to get out and about, I strongly suggest that you contact your pastor or church office and ask to receive home communion if they offer it. 

And in that walking together, we will most likely experience Jesus walking with us, to help us understand, and who will feed us for this journey with his very own life. 

Living Lord, comfort us by your presence. Nurture relationships in our life that are supportive and life-giving, and help us to know you are always with us on this journey.  Amen.

Locked

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear... Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’  John 20:19



When I used to preach on this text, I had compassion for the disciples-- locked away out of fear, but I never really identified with them. This year as I read this verse, I recognize that more often than I'd want to admit, I AM the disciples. Recently, I have found myself doing exactly what the disciples did...oh, not physically locking myself in a room...but certainly locking myself away by neglecting emails, not posting as much on facebook, letting the answering machine get any calls...locking myself away.  Perhaps you know this place of locking away too?

When living with long term illness gets too much, when I get sick and tired of fighting every day with things that used to be simple and second nature, when I get sick of taking yet another test, or making another doctor visit, when I get frustrated, lonely, angry, upset...one of the things that I must admit that I do is cut myself off from others.  Normally, in the past, when I've hit those times of overwhelm, I have been sure to contact part of my support system.  After a while, though, it seems that I've contacted them with the same stuff for too long, and I lock myself away. Not an effective coping technique, but honestly, there are times when I don't care if I'm doing things the 'right' or 'effective' way.  Sometimes I've had enough of this territory, and I'm angry and feeling lost and just don't know who would understand.  You ever feel like this, or is this an "Andrea-oddity"?  (I'll accept that too, as I know I'm quite weird in many ways ;-)

This verse from John speaks peace and hope to my heart, that even when I'm adding to my own difficulty by hiding, even when I'm not reaching out for help and I get angry when I'm feeling alone, even when I'm too overwhelmed to think straight and too tired to keep fighting...like the disciples locked away in confusion, defeat and fear...the Risen Lord still comes to me.  Deep in the locked places, Jesus still seeks me out.  Although I may feel lost, I am never lost to the Lord. He has kept his loving eye on me and knows exactly where I am, and what I need.  In those times, a word of scripture, the verse of a song,  the words of a friend, or a sense of peace and calm breaks through the locked doors of my heart to remind me that I am never alone.  We are never alone, for Jesus seeks us out to bring peace and his own life-giving self, no matter where we are.

Lord Jesus, when we are in the place of overwhelm, anger and fear, come to us. Help us see that you gently pass through even our toughest walls to bring your peace, and to be with us.  Today please bless everyone who has felt the real need to put up walls or lock the doors of their heart. Go to them, and help them know they are not alone.  Amen.

How He Loves Us- David Crowder Band

Greetings everyone,

Today's post is a short one, as I'm recovering from a day long trip to the doc yesterday. It went well and was informative, but I'm wiped out for the day. So, posting a video today. Will post further reflections again tomorrow.
Peace,
Andrea

Rock, hard place and a third option

Isaiah 43:1-5 The Message

But now, God's Message, the God who made you in the first place, Jacob, the One who got you started, Israel: "Don't be afraid, I've redeemed you. I've called your name. You're mine. When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you. When you're in rough waters, you will not go down. When you're between a rock and a hard place, it won't be a dead end— Because I am God, your personal God, The Holy of Israel, your Savior. I paid a huge price for you: all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in! That's how much you mean to me! That's how much I love you! I'd sell off the whole world to get you back, trade the creation just for you.
"So don't be afraid: I'm with you."

Looking on Facebook this morning I saw a note from a friend going through serious illness. They made comment about how difficult it was after being with family all day to have them go. I believe this is part of chronic illness territory. Gatherings of family and friends are great and life-giving. We may even be relieved in some way when people leave because our exhaustion levels, yet the loneliness of illness can also be acutely noticable. It doesn't mean we are necessarily 'doing' anything wrong, but it is an indicator that this is just plain difficult territory when even the good things in our life can leave us feeling the loneliness or difficulty of illness. As the scripture says, it's like being between a rock and a hard place.

But the God who raised Jesus from the dead looks at the rock and hard place and says-- there's another option! No 'dead ends' with this God! We are told that even in the midst of the roughest waters, when we're in over our head, when we feel most alone God has chosen to be with us. God has paid a huge price for us because we are so deeply, amazingly loved. When we feel most alone God says "don't be afraid. I'm with you."

My friend Sarah, reminded me of this song and video~ and so I share it with you. May it help you remember, you are loved and you are not alone~



Dearest God, when we feel in over our heads, when loneliness presses in from all sides, when pain and an uncertain future are our companions, light up the sky...light up our lives so that we can be assured you are with us, even as you have promised. Thank you~ Amen.

Christ The Lord is Risen Today - Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Alleluia!  Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

On this Resurrection Sunday the posts are music and scripture verses so that those who may not be able to attend worship today may also hear the Good News, and hear the music of Easter. Please note there are a series of 5 posts for today.

Blessed Easter to you all~

Wondrous Love (piano) - VIRTUAL CHURCH

"Jesus said..." ‘I am the resurrection and the life.Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live,and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die."  John 11: 25,26

Celtic Woman - Amazing Grace

The Resurrection of Jesus

28After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. ²And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. ⁴For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. ⁵But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. ⁶He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he^* lay. ⁷Then go quickly and tell his disciples, “He has been raised from the dead,^* and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.” This is my message for you.’ ⁸So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹Suddenly Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!’ And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshipped him. ¹⁰Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.’
 (Matthew 28:1-10  NRSV)

Andrea Bocelli - The Lord's Prayer.

Hallelujah - Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Holy Week Reflection - Part 8

Scripture: John 3:16-17

"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again.”

Reflection: Love is the last word

In the end, what this all comes down to is love. Love of a God who is so in love with his people that God is willing to risk it all, give what is precious to him, so that his people may live and know the depths of God’s life-changing love.  As the light of Christ went out- love didn’t die-  it took on new life as it was shared with the world.  And in 3 days that love would be known in a new and mind-boggling way.  Today let us  carry the love that God has given from the beginning. May this Holy Saturday help us to share that love as we see today not as an end, but a new beginning… all because of God’s love.

Holy Week Reflection- Part 7

Scripture reading: Luke 23:44-49

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land^* until three in the afternoon, ⁴⁵while the sun’s light failed;^* and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. ⁴⁶Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.’ Having said this, he breathed his last. ⁴⁷When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, ‘Certainly this man was innocent.’^{* 48}And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. ⁴⁹But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

Reflection: Love to the end

Darkness was taking over—so much so, that the sun’s light failed.   Jesus, the light of the world, was extinguished.   “Having loved his own who were in the world, Jesus loved them to the end.”  And with his final words of trust and love for God the Father, Jesus breathed his last.

In the mystery of the cross, when things were most desperate, and dark,  when all hope seemed lost, God’s love shone most intensely and fully.  God’s love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. God’s love never ends. 

What Wondrous Love Is This (vs. 1, 3,4)By: American Folk Hymn

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this
That caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul!
 
To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb,
Who is the great I AM,
While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing,
While millions join the theme, I will sing.
 
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on.
And when from death I’m free
I’ll sing His love for me,
And through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
And through eternity I’ll sing on.

Holy Week Reflection- Part 6

Scripture reading: John 19:25b-27

²⁷While the soldiers were looking after themselves, Jesus' mother, his aunt, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene stood at the foot of the cross. Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her. He said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son." Then to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that moment the disciple accepted her as his own mother. (The Message)

Reflection: Love for those who are beloved

 ‘And a spear will pierce your own soul too.’  Mary was watching the unthinkable happen to her son.  Here was her dear boy-  all grown up-- but her dear boy nonetheless,  and he was suffering and dying before her eyes. 

Yet, even in the midst of suffering and dying, he continued to reach out in love to those who were dear to him. 

Jesus didn’t want his mother to be alone, without care or provisions for her future.  In love and friendship, he entrusted his friend to his mother as well, that they both may benefit from the sweetness of the relationship that had nurtured him through his life.  Out of love, he gave up being Mary’s son, and entrusted her and the beloved disciple to each other. 

Music:

Were You There?

Were you there when they crucified my Lord? 

Were you there when they crucified my Lord? 

Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble

Were you there when they crucified my Lord? 

Were you there when they pierced him in the side?

Were you there when they pierced him in the side?

Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble

Were you there when they pierced him in the side?

Were you there when the sun refused to shine? 

Were you there when the sun refused to shine? 

Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble

Were you there when the sun refused to shine?

Holy Week Reflections- Part 5

Scripture reading:  Luke 23:39-43

³⁹One of the criminals hanging alongside cursed him: "Some Messiah you are! Save yourself! Save us!"

   ^{40 -41}But the other one made him shut up: "Have you no fear of God? You're getting the same as him. We deserve this, but not him—he did nothing to deserve this."

   ⁴²Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom."

   ⁴³He said, "Don't worry, I will. Today you will join me in paradise."  (The Message)

Reflection:

 As we watch the crucifixion from a distance of 2,000 years, it is easy for us to rebuke the thief who is mocking Jesus.  Surely we would have known who he was if we were there with him.  But in our hearts of hearts, we know that it takes much less than being nailed to a cross for us to turn away from Jesus.  When life gets confusing, agonizing, or dangerous, we too can turn on Jesus and like the criminal on the cross we cry out- “why aren’t you saving us from this?”  In the end, we can see ourselves in the thief- for there is no distinction, St. Paul says-  since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

The other thief saw through the blood, the pain, and the utter absurdity of a crucified messiah, and asked Jesus to remember him when he came into his kingdom.  Did he truly see the King of Kings, or was he just hedging bets in case Jesus was the real thing?  We do not know, but Jesus promise of love to the thief was real. “Today you will be with me in paradise”. 

 Our response to Jesus doesn’t change Jesus’ love and faithfulness, any more than the thief’s ridicule made Jesus betray his mission of love.

God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.  In Jesus we see love in action, even in the face of ingratitude, fear and hatred.



Oh Sacred Head Now Wounded

Text: Anonymous; trans. by Paul Gerhardt and James W. Alexander
Music: Hans L. Hassler, 1564-1612; harm. by J.S. Bach, 1685-1750

1. O sacred Head, now wounded, 
 with grief and shame weighed down, 
 now scornfully surrounded 
 with thorns, thine only crown: 
 how pale thou art with anguish, 
 with sore abuse and scorn! 
 How does that visage languish 
 which once was bright as morn! 

2. What thou, my Lord, has suffered 
 was all for sinners' gain; 
 mine, mine was the transgression, 
 but thine the deadly pain. 
 Lo, here I fall, my Savior! 
 'Tis I deserve thy place; 
 look on me with thy favor, 
 vouchsafe to me thy grace. 

3. What language shall I borrow 
 to thank thee, dearest friend, 
 for this thy dying sorrow, 
 thy pity without end? 
 O make me thine forever; 
 and should I fainting be, 
 Lord, let me never, never 
 outlive my love for thee. 

---

Holy Week Reflections- Part 4

Scripture reading:Luke 23:32-38

 ³²Two others, both criminals, were taken along with him for execution.

   ³³When they got to the place called Skull Hill, they crucified him, along with the criminals, one on his right, the other on his left.

   ^{34 -35}Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them; they don't know what they're doing."

   Dividing up his clothes, they threw dice for them. The people stood there staring at Jesus, and the ringleaders made faces, taunting, "He saved others. Let's see him save himself! The Messiah of God—ha! The Chosen—ha!"

   ^{36 -37}The soldiers also came up and poked fun at him, making a game of it. They toasted him with sour wine: "So you're King of the Jews! Save yourself!"

   ³⁸Printed over him was a sign: this is the king of the Jews.    The Message

Reflection: Love in Forgiveness

They crucified him. They nailed him to pieces of wood with big metal spikes.  They lifted the cross upright so that the pain and the angle of his body would kill him…would asphyxiate him…would leave him with no breath. 

What does love look like in the middle of this?  In the middle of intentional pain and torture, with people throwing dice for the clothes he had been wearing, and others making faces and taunting him-  wanting him to prove his power… Jesus forgave them. They didn’t ask him to forgive.  He just did it.  His forgiveness of them wasn’t up to them at all…  it was his alone to give.  Acting out of love in a way we can scarcely comprehend,  Jesus forgave them—and us. 

Chief of Sinners Though I Be (vs. 1-3)By: William McComb

Chief of sinners though I be,
Jesus shed his blood for me,
Died that I might live on high,
Lives that I might never die.
As the branch is to the vine,
I am his, and he is mine.
 
Oh, the height of Jesus’ love,
Higher than the heavens above,
Deeper than the depths of sea,
Lasting as eternity!
Love that found me wondrous thought
Found me when I sought him not.
 
Only Jesus can impart
Balm to heal the wounded heart,
Peace that flows from sin forgiven,
Joy that lifts the soul to heaven,
Faith and hope to walk with God
In the way that Enoch trod.

Holy Week Reflections- Part 3

Scripture reading: Mark 14:43-50

Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; and with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. ⁴⁴Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, ‘The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.’ ⁴⁵So when he came, he went up to him at once and said, ‘Rabbi!’ and kissed him. ⁴⁶Then they laid hands on him and arrested him. ⁴⁷But one of those who stood near drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. ⁴⁸Then Jesus said to them, ‘Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? ⁴⁹Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled.’ ⁵⁰All of them deserted him and fled. (NRSV)

Reflection:  Love for the friends that desert and betray

Just hours before, Jesus and the disciples had eaten a very special meal together. Jesus washed their feet and taught them how to love each other. He called them his friends.  He also knew that they would betray and desert him. These men who were closer to him than family, these ones  he trusted with his message and teachings, no matter how much they swore they would be at his side and defend him, he knew they would leave.  And they did. Every. Last. one. One of his own even sold him over to death.  Jesus loved them beyond the betrayal, beyond the desertion.  He loved them to the end of this life and beyond.

Jesus calls us friends, not because we have a better track record than the disciples—not because we’re more faithful than they were, for we too betray and desert Jesus for the things in our life that seem more important, or a better use of our time.  Jesus calls us friends and loves us to the end because that’s what love does.  Jesus loved the disciples not for who they were, but for who he was.  Jesus loves us not because of who we are or what we do…he loves us because of who he is.  He is the Son of God. He is love.  This is what Holy love does.

Hymn reflection: Ah, Holy Jesus

Ah, holy Jesus, how hast Thou offended,
That man to judge Thee hath in hate pretended?
By foes derided, by Thine own rejected,
O most afflicted.

Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon Thee?
Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone Thee.
’Twas I, Lord, Jesus, I it was denied Thee!
I crucified Thee.

Lo, the Good Shepherd for the sheep is offered;
The slave hath sinned, and the Son hath suffered;
For man’s atonement, while he nothing heedeth,
God intercedeth.

For me, kind Jesus, was Thy incarnation,
Thy mortal sorrow, and Thy life’s oblation;
Thy death of anguish and Thy bitter passion,
For my salvation.

Therefore, kind Jesus, since I cannot pay Thee,
I do adore Thee, and will ever pray Thee,
Think on Thy pity and Thy love unswerving,
Not my deserving.

Passion Sunday : Holy Week Reflections part 2

This  week in the Western Church is Holy Week.  Each day through Good Friday I will be posting reflections on the cross. Each is part of a Good Friday tenebrae service I helped write for Hope Lutheran Church in Toledo. I am sharing these here, as some folks who are reading this blog will not be able to attend Holy Week services.  It is my hope that God may work through these daily reflections to touch your heart and life.  Each day will have a scripture reading, a reflection and the words of a song.  May you have a blessed Holy Week~
Andrea
Scripture reading: Matthew 26:36-46

^{36 -38}Then Jesus went with them to a garden called Gethsemane and told his disciples, "Stay here while I go over there and pray." Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he plunged into an agonizing sorrow. Then he said, "This sorrow is crushing my life out. Stay here and keep vigil with me."

   ³⁹Going a little ahead, he fell on his face, praying, "My Father, if there is any way, get me out of this. But please, not what I want. You, what do you want?"

   ^{40 -41}When he came back to his disciples, he found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, "Can't you stick it out with me a single hour? Stay alert; be in prayer so you don't wander into temptation without even knowing you're in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there's another part that's as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire."

   ⁴²He then left them a second time. Again he prayed, "My Father, if there is no other way than this, drinking this cup to the dregs, I'm ready. Do it your way."

   ^{43 -44}When he came back, he again found them sound asleep. They simply couldn't keep their eyes open. This time he let them sleep on, and went back a third time to pray, going over the same ground one last time.

   ^{45 -46}When he came back the next time, he said, "Are you going to sleep on and make a night of it? My time is up, the Son of Man is about to be handed over to the hands of sinners. Get up! Let's get going! My betrayer is here." (The Message)

Reflection:  Love in obedience

Faced with a decision that was crushing the life out of him, we see Jesus agonizing in the Garden of Gethsemane.  In a few short lines of scripture we hear Jesus move from fear to trust, but we know it wasn’t that easy.  Those few short lines speak of a time that must have felt like an eternity.  Jesus’ decision would make a difference for all eternity. 

St. Paul tells us in the Letter to the Philippians “(Jesus)  had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.”   

Love and obedience mingled as Jesus trusted God with whatever came next.  He trusted his friends, his mission, his reputation and his very life to God.  Not my will, but yours, Father.  Jesus trusted the love that embraced him…and would soon embrace the entire world.

1. Go to dark Gethsemane,
Ye that feel the tempter's power;
Your Redeemer's conflict see,
Watch with Him one bitter hour:
Turn not from His griefs away
Learn from Jesus Christ to pray.

2. Follow to the judgment hall,
View the Lord of life arraigned;
O the wormwood and the gall!
O the pangs His soul sustained!
Shun not suffering, shame or loss
Learn from Him to bear the cross.

Lyrics: James Montgomery

Music: Richard Redhead

Holy and amazing God, turn our hearts to you this week. As we watch Jesus act in love and obedience, help us to trust you with our lives...our all. Amen.

Entering Holy Week- Intro and part 1

This coming week in the Western Church (not the Eastern Orthodox) is Holy Week.  Starting today and going through Good Friday I will be posting reflections on the cross. Each is part of a Good Friday tenebrae service I helped write for Hope Lutheran Church in Toledo. I am sharing these here, as some folks who are reading this blog will not be able to attend Holy Week services.  It is my hope that God may work through these daily reflections to touch your heart and life.  Each day will have a scripture reading, a reflection and the words of a song.  May you have a blessed Holy Week~
Andrea

Scripture reading:  John 1:1-5

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was in the beginning with God. ³All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being ⁴in him was life,^* and the life was the light of all people. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.  (NRSV)

Reflection:  Love brought us here

In the beginning -  light, life…love.  God’s own word about reality,  the One whose life speaks to us about who God is… Jesus, The Word of God… hung on a cross. It was love that brought him here.  It is here that we see Holy love in its fullest-  love that is patient and kind, does not insist on its own way;  is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. On the cross we see love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 

Let us still our hearts and minds this week as we take time to look at the events of Good Friday through the eyes of love…God’s love.

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross       Issac Watts 1707

When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my God! All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood. See from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down! Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown? Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Praise You In This Storm

"I lift my eyes to the hills. From where will my help come?" Psalm 121:1

 We've recently had two of the sunniest and warmest days of the year and I find it ironic that I'm posting about storms and rain on these days :-) However, I am compelled strongly to share this video and song with you today~ I have a strong hunch that someone who reads this blog today is meant to hear this song~ May God speak to your hearts in this~
peace, Andrea

The Story Behind "Blessings" - Laura Story at WGTS Gateway

  Thank you to friend Beth for sharing the back story behind the song Blessings. The song was posted yesterday if you want to hear it. Laura Story's explanation behind the song is a powerful one, and I think speaks much to what those fighting chronic illness, and those fighting alongside those with chronic illness face.  May her words explanation also bless you~

Blessings

"We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 Thank you to my daughter Rebecca, and my good friend Beth for sharing this song with me...worth sharing on the main page and not just in comments~ even if you've heard it before, I think it is so very good, that it's worth a second (or third) listen. may it bless you and may God speak to your heart today~

Not just a river in Egypt

“But the magicians of Pharaoh did the same by their secret arts; so Pharaoh’s heart remained hardened, and he did not listen to them, as the Lord had said. Pharaoh turned and went into his house, and he did not take even this to heart.”  Exodus 7:22-23  NRSV

When I first read this story of the Exodus and Pharaoh’s response, I wonder if he was stupid.  How could he not see what he was facing?  How could his denial be this great?

If I’m honest with myself (and Lent is an important time to be honest with oneself)  I realize that I can be just as stubborn and caught in denial as Pharaoh.  No, I’m not up against Moses and Aaron trying to free the people Israel, but I’m up against my own Exodus of sorts…finding freedom (even small amounts of it) from illness. 

I realized some of my own denial this morning when I was taking my series of vitamins.  It had been a while since I’d taken all of my vitamins. It doesn’t sound like a huge issue, but as many of you know, our systems can be pretty sensitive to changes and to deficiencies, so sticking to regular vitamins is important for me. Why hadn’t I taken them?  I didn’t use to have to take so many pills, and part of my denial is that I’m not “that sick”.  (I know, it is absurd, just like Pharaoh turning his back on the river of blood thinking that nothing important is going on.)

Denial is a part of grieving.  Folks with chronic illness can lose much: their livelihood, their familiar way of life, their understanding of who they are, and much more.  A coping mechanism, albeit a defective coping mechanism, is denial.  If we just deny that something has happened; if we just act like we always did; if we just don’t talk about it, it can’t be real.  Wow, do I resemble this sometimes!  Just get me near a delivery pizza when I’m hungry and don’t have gluten free options and I go into denial big time!!  “Gluten?  What gluten intolerance?  Nah! I can eat this pizza and it won’t have ANY effect on me!”  WRONG! 

Denial is a way of trying to live like nothing has changed. Does any of this sound familiar to you? 

I don’t like it, but I do live in the land of denial more than I want to regarding this illness.  The time I spend in denial, and in the aftermath of effects of that denial could be better used but facing the truth and coming up with a new game plan to live within the new limits.  It is not easy to do, but the first step is to be honest with ourselves. 

Is there something in your life that you need to stop denying?  Is there something that you need to face, and then find a game plan for coping with?

The first step is to be honest about our denial. The second step is to forgive ourselves and realize that denial is normal, but not productive.  Beating ourselves up will just waste energy and it is another twisted form of denial—it denies that we can actually do something to change the situation, and turns that energy sideways to blame it on self. 

A productive step is to make a game plan.  It doesn’t need to be perfect, but taking steps to start is a huge step away from denial.  It’s like Pharaoh turning around and saying, “Ok, I see there’s something going on. What do I need to do to face it?”

Today (and I’m telling you this publicly, so that I don’t keep denying that I need to do it J)  I am going to type up a check list of vitamins and meds. Then I can daily remind myself the timing and dosage of each pill, and keep myself accountable for taking it.  Will I do it perfectly?  Yeah…no.  My track record is that I will deny it again, but each step we take toward breaking the denial cycle helps us get stronger and better and moving forward.  And next time I need to break this particular vitamin denial, it will go a bit quicker, and will help me onto the track of caring for myself better.

How about you?  Have you been doing any swimming in denial lately?  If you have, please do what you need to do to take good care of yourself.  And please, always feel free to post or email me your thoughts and comments about your journey.

Peace,

Andrea

Dear Lord, it is amazing how we can deny things that are as plain as the nose on our face. Help us to see through the protective device of denial, and help us to be productive in becoming healthier, mentally, physically and spiritually. Lead us lord out of the land of denial.  Amen.

Dry Bones

"The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. ²He led me all round them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. ³He said to me, ‘Mortal, can these bones live?’ I answered, ‘O Lord God, you know.’ ⁴Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. ⁵Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath^* to enter you, and you shall live. ⁶I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath^* in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord.’
7 So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. ⁸I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. ⁹Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath:^* Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath,^* and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.’ ¹⁰I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.
11 Then he said to me, ‘Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, “Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.” ¹²Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. ¹³And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. ¹⁴I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord.’ "  Ezekiel 37:1-14


A bit of fun for this Monday morning.  This is a recording of the Delta Boys singing "Dem Bones".  Their sound is smooth as butter~ enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYb8Wm6-QfA&feature=related

 Lord God, we know that you are the one who breathes life into us. There are days that we may feel dried up without energy and life. May your Spirit continue to breathe life into us, so we may live and serve you.  Amen.

The last word

“…he cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus come out!’ “  Matthew 11:43b

The whole Gospel reading for this Sunday is Matthew 11:1-45.  It is an extremely rich and powerful text, and I encourage you to read the entire reading if you are able.  As I looked at this text, dozens of sermon ideas came to mind, and I have preached many sermons on this text, both within the church year, and at funerals. Today let’s focus on this part near to the end.

Lazarus was very ill, and his sisters called for Jesus to come. They had, no doubt, seen Jesus heal the sick, and trusted that they could help them with their brother.  They had certain expectations for how this could go. Jesus, we read, delayed his travel intentionally because he had a different  understanding of what was to happen with Lazarus.  By the time Jesus gets there, Lazarus has been dead for several days. In that time and place, people were known to wake from comas, etc. even a couple of days after they were thought to have died.  Three days dead was considered really dead. Lazarus was beyond that. He was really, truly dead at four days, and besides, the stench of death was already there. Lazarus was beyond the healing Mary and Martha had seen from Jesus.  They were distraught, angry and yet still trusted Jesus when he asked what they believed. 

How many of us and our loved ones have had certain expectations of how our illness should go?  How many of us have prayed or perhaps heard people tell us that they are praying for us to be healed? What would that really look like in our lives now? 

The truth for many with chronic illness is that we don’t know what healing looks like or what form it might take.  We may hear Jesus call us by name to “come out!” and find that our bodies are healed, or we may find we are given new purpose, new hope and a new way to live our life with bodies that are still broken. Our expectation of what may happen to us are based upon the past…upon what we used to know.  Jesus’ expectations of us are based upon the future…what he knows and sees is possible for us, for us to live as children of God and for the glory of God.

Death took Lazarus. That is clear.  Jesus, however, saw that death wasn’t the final word. 

For some of us here, we will not see the physical healing of our bodies on this side of life. And for all of us, at some time death will take us. That is clear.  But it is not the final word. With Jesus, death is never the ultimate word.  It is the penultimate word—the next to the last word. The final word, the ultimate word belongs to Jesus who brought Lazarus back to life and who conquered death by his own death on the cross. 

After death, on that ‘great-getting-up-day-in-the-morning” , as my friend Brother Rudolph says, the final word for you and me will be “come out!”  Death will no longer hold us.  The final word is Life. 

Lord Jesus, Risen Lord, as you called Lazarus to come out of the grave, call us to come out of the things that bind us now so we may live our lives to your glory each day. And when we do face death, be with us, and remind us, that death is not the final word—not by a long shot—but that we will again hear you call us by name—finally to live with you eternally.  Amen.

Messages

" He said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’" 1 Kings 19:11-13

Yesterday I was surprised by a note…on our bathroom mirror. Being that the mirror hasn’t been cleaned in a while *ahem*, I’ve looked at this mirror a lot and never seen this note. Until I got out of the shower yesterday, that is.

The bathroom had steamed up, and suddenly, there it was as plain as day. No, it wasn’t like a note on a dirty car that says “wash me”…although it would have been fair.  This note said “I love U mom”. 

How moving, that one of my kids thought  ahead enough to write that on the mirror, and knew that I wouldn’t see it until the steam revealed it.  It got me to thinking… of course, on how God is also so determined to communicate with us, that God reaches us in extraordinary ways.

Elijah had been running for his life. He was in a cave and waiting to communicate with God. He listened through the earthquake and wind , but only afterward, when Elijah was really listening, did he hear God in the still small voice.

Before I became sick, I became aware, while working with congregations that were facing difficult transitions, that the times I was best at being a pastor were the times that circumstances literally forced me to my knees.  I was so sure of my skills many times, that I didn’t listen. But when situations would come up that confounded me, I would go to God in prayer.  Those times of kneeling at the altar in each congregation are some of the most precious faith times in my ministry. 

Only when things ‘steamed’ up, could I see the message clearly. Only in the ‘fog’, when I was listening and paying more attention, did I hear the God who had been communicating with me all along.

Illness has been a ‘fog’ for me in many ways.  And it certainly has brought me to the place where I sometimes have no clue what to do next. It’s there, on my knees (or more truthfully as a POTS patient…flat on my back) that I listen to God more attentively. I see the signs and hear the directions and encouragement much more clearly.  Only in the fog do I really find the answers clearly.

Whether you are in a fog today, or experiencing a sunny, bright health day, I encourage you to listen and look. One who loves you very much has sent you a message.

As for our bathroom mirror?  I’m waiting to see which one of our kids sees the message I sent back J

Dear Lord, still our hearts today so we can hear what you are saying.  Amen

A Lenten season

"Well and good if all things change, O Lord God, provided I am rooted in You." - St. John of the Cross

Every spring for about 6 weeks, the church engages in a time of intentional reflection on spiritual growth and purpose..it is called Lent.  It is a time in many congregation for more communal worship services, but also more solitary spiritual searching. As an introvert, I must admit that Lent and Advent have always been my two favorite seasons. Don't get me wrong, Christmas and Easter are by far my favorite festivals, but only in the years that I've taken Advent and Lenten contemplation seriously.

There is something so powerful about stripping away the busyness and making time to ponder. It can really shape who we are and how we approach life.  Just recently I've had several people refer to my illness as a "lenten" time.  The word "lent" means "spring".  At first, that image might sound odd, as we think of spring as a time of flowers and brighter sun and new life.  It is, indeed that, but at least for those of us in the northern mid-west, that doesn't really happen until May.  Early spring, March and April, are filled with days like today--dark, wet, gloomy at times, with hopes of a warmer and sunnier weekend.  Early spring is filled with uncertainty.  New shoots of flowers are sprouting, but the days and nights can still get very cold.  We live in a town where flooding occurs all too frequently, so planted crops are also in a tenuous situation. There are no guarantees in early spring.

Lent takes seriously God's presence even in those places where there are no easy optimistic answers. Lent takes seriously that Easter wasn't a forgone conclusion that first Holy Week.  St. John of the Cross' words bring the hope of a God who comes to be with us even in the darkness and uncertain times.  St. John's life is one that experienced several intense 'lenten' times, particularly after he was kidnapped and hidden away by those who hated his message. They kept him in a dark basement cell for 9 months, and beat him religiously 3 times a week.  And in that uncertain, dark, dank period of his life, St. John's faith bloomed and took deep root.

Many who seek out this blog are facing uncertain times. We do not know when or how this 'lenten' time in our lives may end.  We have gloomy, rainy days of pain, depression, nightmares, anxiety, loss and loneliness. We also have sunny, warm days even in the midst of all of this.  St. John's words remind us that these lenten times in our life are a powerful opportunity to set deep roots in the soil of God's grace.

When we can depend upon no one else, depend upon God.  When we can speak with no one else, we can speak with God.  When we do not know where to turn, turn to God.  The joy and peace of strengthening our relationship with God will sustain us. God will sustain us in these lenten times. No matter how long the season lasts.

Dear Lord, as we face Lent in the Church, many also face lenten times in their lives. A time where we can't really see or understand the growth happening to us.  Hold and sustain us precious Lord. Remind us of your closeness and your tender love in this lenten time.  Grow our faith, and strengthen our trust in you.  Amen.

In the arms of Christ

"for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves in Christ."  Galatians 3:26-27

Much of our focus here in the Chronic Hope Blog is on the health aspect of long-term illness. It is a necessary and important part of the conversation, as this is a place where we can discuss things that we may not hear in other places. Long-term illness has some unique qualities, and the "chronic" part of the title points to that.  Today I'd like to shift the focus more to the spiritual side and to the "hope" side. 

Whether we are physically or mentally facing long term struggles, or whether we are mostly whole and well, there is a common bond that we share as spiritually we all have the need for forgiveness and hope that comes from beyond ourselves.  I woke this morning a phrase from Sanctus Real's song "Forgiven" going through my head, and it seems like a great day to share this delightful song with you all.  And besides that, who can resist a little banjo music in the morning :-)  Enjoy~




Lord Jesus, there are many times where it may seem to us that we may not measure up to much in this life. In those times, no matter what we are facing, remind us that we are a treasure in your arms.  Thank you for clothing us with your grace and righteousness by the gift of baptism. Because of your mercy, we are forgiven, and we are yours.  We are grateful~  Amen.

Real Rest

"Come to me, all you who are weary and carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 NRSV

At 6:45 this morning, driving back from an overnight sleep study, all I could think of was this passage and the promise of rest.  If you've ever had a sleep study taken before, you know that the word 'sleep' in the title is misleading.  The staff at the sleep center was amazing, kind and patient, and I have absolutely no complaints about how I was treated, and the room and accomodations couldn't have been better.  I am certain if I hadn't been hooked up to dozens of wires, electrodes and sensors, I would have had a wonderful sleep.  In any case, it was important for them to check out some things, and it seems thay got some important information out of it all. Needless to say, I am very tired this morning.

The idea of rest sounds beautiful to my ears today, but then Jesus invitation to come to him for rest sounds beautiful all the time.  This gentle beckoning to rest means more than 8 full hours on my sleep-number bed.  His invitation is to hand over our burdens to him.  Do we have concerns and worries that are weighing us down?  Do we have financial burdens that are heavy?  Are our physical ailments making us weary?  Jesus calls us to him to find rest. 

My favorite poet, David Whyte, indicates that the solution for burnout is not simply rest, but purposefulness. Being involved with something that has meaning, that has purpose is renewing and refreshing.  In our society, the trend is to just keep pushing through whatever is ailing us, to keep working even when we're too sick to be around others; to keep plodding on and keep on moving;  to forge ahead without evaluating whether what we are doing is good for us. 

Jesus, in contrast, welcomes us to come and sit by him for a while. "Come," he says. "Come and lay the worries about your family down.  Hand them over to me.  Come and give me the concerns about your health...I will treat them with care. Come and rest by my side, and I will keep watch.  Come and sit with me a while and we'll talk about what is meaningful for you, and what your purpose is here." 

Whatever rest you need today, whether a nap, or frreedom from fear and frustration, or direction...I invite us all to hear Jesus' calling to "Come".  We will find rest in him.

God of the Sabbath, you have made rest a part of creation and time, and yet we have not paid attention for ourselves or others. Help us today to find that delicious rest that Jesus alone can give. Help us to come to him, and receive what he has to give to us. Amen.

The Power of Gratitude

"I thank my God every time I remember you" Philippians 1:3  NRSV

In yesterday's blog I wrote about some of the things that restore my spirit, and I mentioned writing thank-you notes. It surprised me when those came to mind, because anyone who has known me for even a short amout of time has discovered that I'm really pretty inconsistent and often down-right terrible about writing thank yous.  It's not that I'm not grateful for what folks have done--honestly, I'm just a terrible procrastinator.  I put them off to the side and think, I need to write a nice note. And then time goes by and it seems too late to thank people.

Even with much time on my hands now that I'm unable to work, I haven't gotten better at thank-yous. So, why did they end up on my list of things that restore me?  Because, whether I'm good at expressing gratitude in cards or not, acknowledging someone else's generosity is something that encourages me, and helps me feel connected to others.  That connection to others is important...especially now.

One of the realities about long-term illness that we haven't talked much about yet here is that facing chronic illness can be very isolating and often lonely. Because of various limitations, it can be hard to interact with others as we have in the past, or as most other people interact.  For example, because I cannot stand or even sit for long periods on some days, I have had to excuse myself from events that I would have participated in.  And even then, when I go to some feeling poorly, I do not interact and joke and talk as I normally would have...I just am not able to.  After a while, having to exclude oneself from group events can make it harder to make connections with folks.  Also, I find that individual contact can be difficult as well, for there are some days I find it hard to concentrate or have the energy to even speak on the phone.  The effect of this can be cumulative.  I don't want to lose connection with others, but it is an understandable result. It takes more effort to stay connected intentionally with people.

Over the past months, I have had many folks send cards wishing me well. It has meant a great deal, but I've not had the ability to respond to all of them. (also flash-back to my poor track record with thank-yous here...)   As a way of taking positive action and intentionally connecting with people, I am setting up a writing center near the places I normally sit.  It is my intention, even on my worst days, to try and send a thank-you note to someone who has touched my life. 

I think doing this will help in several ways:  first, it will help to attend to those friendships and keep connections, so that people know I'm moved by their care, and they are reminded that they are indeed important to me.  The second thing this will do will be to focus my attention on gratitude. When I'm feeling most poorly, it is easy (and perhaps understandable) that I can focus on how lousy I feel. Writing a thank you helps me focus on those in my life who have blessed me.  It helps me to thank God every time I think of those who have made a diference in my life.  It is a positive action that I can take, that requires a workable amount of energy (who said I had to do it all at once, or write the card quickly?) and allows me to fight back against the effects of the illness.

Gratitude, especially now in my life, is an important force for healing and for connection.  Is there someone you can thank today?  Try it.  The power of gratitude just might make a difference for you today.

Dear God, thank you for the ability to be grateful. Help me today to look around me and see how you have touched my life through the actions of others.  Help me to acknowledge that gift gratefully, and find a way to let the other person know how grateful I am.  Amen.

Restoration

“ he restores my soul.” Psalm 23:3a

What restores you?  What is it that makes you feel alive, and refreshed and restored?  Think about it for one minute and write down whatever comes to mind.

(Did you really do it, or did you read on and say to yourself ‘oh, I’ll do it later’  like I usually do? J)  It will be helpful if you actually write things down.

Here’s the list I came up with of things that refresh and restore me:

A back massage, a good book, time by the lake, sitting under the stars on a warm night, a walk during a gentle snowfall, a warm cup of coffee with French Vanilla creamer on a cold morning, watching Lord Of the Rings, writing a thank you note, a phone call with a dear friend, playing with our big puppies, the sound of rain and wind, a warm scented bath or shower, cleaning a closet, sending a note or email of encouragement to someone else, and sushi.

Some of these things are seasonal, but as I just randomly answered this question myself, I am surprised by how simple most of these are. (I know, by now, you’re not surprised that I’m simple ~ LOL) 

I’m also surprised by how often I neglect doing these things that restore me. It seems that in long-term illness, I can get so stuck in a survival mode; in a manner of just getting through each day, that I neglect to enjoy the truly restoring things in my life.  God has given us many things around us that speak to our hearts and souls and can support us with gentle strength and restoration. Our lists will be as different as our personalities.  God is amazing in that the Lord can touch our hearts in so many different ways and through so many different mediums.

This week, I want to challenge us all to try and plan to do one restoring thing for ourselves, as we are able. If your energy is low, try for something that doesn’t take a lot of work, or if you have high energy, go for something that requires a bit more and can challenge you.  Listen to your heart and your body as to what will restore you, and then go for it.

Please also post some things that are on your list, so we can all learn and perhaps pick up some new ideas for being restored.

Amazing, restoring God, you surround us with your Love in so many ways. Help us to not be so caught in the mundane survival tasks, that we miss seeing the gifts you give to restore us.  Help us to utilize these gifts every day as you restore our soul.  Amen.