e-Soundings

We are a hopeful people.

Even as we face the worst economic disaster since the Great Depression, we as a nation still hope and work together for the better.

In the midst of “hard times” news, there are stories of individuals, neighborhoods and communities filtering out to show the deeper heart of our nation and of our citizens.

I believe that hope and the willingness to work together comes from the fact that we are a nation deeply influenced by a dynamic form of Christianity.

Within four hundred years of it’s birth, Christianity was recognized as a powerful force in Roman society and made the “official” religion.  As such it not only held sway, but was corrupted

“Where is Heaven?”

Almost every child asks this question.  (I did, did you?)  We were told:  “It’s all around you, and it’s in your heart.”

In our unprecedented time of economic Tsunami and storm, such words do little to console us.

We’re anxious and fearful, unsure if our jobs have stability and our families will be fed.  Finding “heaven in our hearts” is hard.

Yet this is what Jesus proclaimed over and over again, even in the midst of the brutal occupation by Roman Troops.  (Mark 1:14-15)

As we look around us, and as we struggle to rebuild our businesses and our lives, lives, we weep for the devastated families and individuals.

What can we say to those who have no hope?   …who have seen their jobs and homes crumble beneath them?  What can we do to reassure them that God has not forgotten them?

 

"Give Christ a Chance..." by Mother Teresa

“We need

to give Christ a chance

 to make use of us

to be his word and his work. 

 

If we do not

radiate the light of Christ

around us,

 

the sense of darkness

that prevails in the world

will increase. 

 

The people around us

should be able

to recognize him

by our union with God.”

—Mother Teresa 

                            in "Heart of Gold" daily readings

                                    copyright © 1994 by Garborg's Heart ‘n Home

Prayer is having a conversation with God

Prayer is defined as having a conversation with God.

 

However, most of us make it a “one way” thing.

 

We tell God what we think we need, or what we think needs to be done, and then we wait to see if it happens.

 

That’s like going to the doctor and telling him or her all your ailments, never listening to what the Doctor might say, and then expecting to be cured.

 

Prayer has to be more than a “we speak / God listens” activity.

 

Prayer is one of the greatest gifts God has given us. 

 

Yet we rarely explore the fullness and power of that gift. 

 

If our marriages and relationships were like that, one person would be constantly asking for things, and the other would be expected to deliver.  No relationship would

Have you found your “hidden” place yet?

Not your “hiding” place…  That’s the place you go when life gets too hard to bear.

No, your “hidden” place is the place that you keep the parts of you that you don’t want others to see.

It’s the place that hides your fear with you are trying to be strong.  It’s the place that hides your mistakes when you want to be smart.

It’s the place that hides your hurts when you want to seem invincible.  It’s the place that hides your failures when you want to look successful.

It’s the place you hide your prideful self, or your angry self, or your gloating self that resides in all of us.

It’s that “hidden” place that holds the parts of you that needs work, or healing, …or both.

It’s that place that is hidden from everyone but God and you.

Yes, God sees into all the places of your heart, the hidden ones as well as

Be faithful in everything...

 

We've talked about taking up some things for Lent instead of "giving something up for Lent."  (See previous post.) 

 

So it's a paradox to realize that when we say: "Don't Give up!"  we are talking about faithfulness. 

So if you do give something up for Lent, you don't give up on God!

 

Don’t give up on our heavenly Father!  Don’t give up on Jesus!  Don’t give up on the Holy Spirit!

 

However you best understand God, to be faithful is simply “not giving up.”

 

This means that you trust that God is there, listening and acting in your best interest.

 

This means that you are willing to be “in the dark” about where it’s all going. 

 

This means that you are able to patiently wait for the outcome even when you are in pain, anxiety and/or confusion.

Don’t give up on God!

 

For at it’s core, faith is trust. 

 

And when we say that we trust Christ for our salvation, we are simply saying that we trust that

Instead of "Giving up" for Lent - how about "Taking up?"

On Sunday, the first Sunday of Lent, we talked about how Lent (the 5 weeks we use to prepare spiritually for Easter) is often associated with "Giving something up."

Many times that exercise revolves around giving up Sodas or Chocolate (oh no!).  Sometimes we might fast for one meal a week, giving money saved to a charitable cause.

All too often the discipline lasts only the 5 weeks of Lent, and no inner spiritual growth has taken place.

Instead, what if we saw Lent as a time to "TAKE UP" things instead of "Giving up"? 

For example, what would happen if we TAKE UP:

• LIVING SIMPLY:  Setting aside some of the "stuff" of life?  Asking ourselves "How much do we really need?"  GIVE UP the things that complicate your life.

 

• GIVING GENEROUSLY OUT OF YOUR BLESSINGS: GIVE UP worry about losing things, and start giving them away.  Becoming stewards of what God has