God’s Strength Lectio Divina

"Go in the strength you have..." (Judges 6:14)

So often, Lord I have no strength left. The world crushes my hopes and zaps my energy. I don’t think I can go on.

Yet you tell me to “go in the strength” I have. 

Lord, when all seems hopeless, I still go on.

Lord, when everything takes an effort, I still try.

Lord with your help, your strength, I can take one more step, live one more day.

I used to think this verse referred to my strength, but now realize I possess access to Your limitless strength.

Your strength makes all the difference.

I arise today

Through the strength of Christ's birth and His baptism,

Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial,

Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension,

Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.

 I arise today

Through God's strength to pilot me;

God's might to uphold me,

God's wisdom to guide me,

God's eye to look before me,

God's ear to hear me,

God's word to speak for me,

God's hand to guard me,

God's way to lie before me,

God's shield to protect me,

God's hosts to save me

From snares of the devil,

From temptations of vices,

From every one who desires me ill,

Afar and anear,

Alone or in a multitude.  St. Patrick

God Bless You!

Ah-Choo!  And we all say "God bless you" or if you grew up in a household with a German background like I did, we immediately respond, “Gesundheit!”

Ever wonder why we do this?

Ancient writings as old as 77 AD mention this practice. People believed your heart stopped when you sneezed or your soul was temporarily expelled from your body. If one was quickly blessed, the devil would not have time to snatch your soul before it returned. 

The custom grew more in the sixth century when plague broke out. They thought if you sneezed in the morning you would be dead by night.

“Gesundheit" comes from Germany, and it literally means "health." The idea is that a sneeze typically precedes illness.

In Holland if you sneeze three times, tomorrow will be sunny. Others believe that a sneeze before breakfast is a sign that you will hear exciting news before the end of the day.

Another belief is that people used to see sneezing as a sign that God would answer your prayers or an omen of good fortune or good luck. In this case, "Bless you" would be in recognition of that luck.

Tibetan Buddhists believe a sneeze (like meditation, falling asleep, preparing to die) can provide a moment of "clear consciousness," when people are opened to greater understanding.

Interesting trivia about sneezing is that sneezes travel about 100 miles per hour and plucking your eyebrows may make you sneeze as it may set off a nerve in your face that supplies your nasal passages. 

Ronnie Shake wrote, “ I fear one day I’ll meet God, he’ll sneeze and I won’t know what to say.”

Funny custom, isn’t it?  When someone sneezes, we stop what we are doing and look at that person as we say God Bless You. The blessing becomes a way of honoring, recognizing, accepting that person. For one brief moment in time, you bring them into God’s light. You ask God’s blessing for health, healing, and protection on that person, a way to communicate kindness and caring.

God is present all the time - even in an ordinary occurrence on an ordinary day when someone sneezes.

Maybe the next time I sneeze, I will also remember to thank God for all His blessings – a new twist to an old tradition.

God bless you!!

Gibb’s Rules – God’s Rules – Spiritual Rules for Life

I enjoy watching NCIS.  On this television show the main character Jethro Gibbs has rules for his

team, such as always wear gloves at a crime scene and never mess with a marine’s coffee.

God gives us rules to follow.

Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV)

When you think about it, most of us live by unspoken and unwritten rules. For example, always call your mother on Mother’s Day, don’t forget to say thank you, and look both ways before crossing a street. Some families have specific rules like don’t put the ketchup bottle on the Thanksgiving table (yes, we do follow that silly one at my home)

Writing down your spiritual rules can be a powerful practice. A Rule for Life is a collection of guidelines for living. It can also be called a Way of Life. Its purpose is to help us keep our sense of balance by intentionally addressing all aspects of life: physical, emotional, socially, spiritually, etc. 

Writing and living within a Rule for Life is a spiritual practice that can help lead to healthy spirituality.

Rule for living grew out of the monastic movement to help monks continue to grow spiritually while in community. Pachomius, who lived in Egypt between 292 and 346 AD, wrote the first known rules. Daily prayers were a foundation for his guidelines.

Perhaps the best known Rule for Life is the Rule of St. Benedict from the 6^th century.

We can fill up an entire page with statements or we can write a simple statement of beliefs. The foundation is to consider: how can I intentionally be open to the Holy Spirit and grow closer to God?

In October 2003 I wrote my own Rule for Life for the first time. I reread it several times a year noting areas I am making progress and areas I neglect. I recently revised it as it continues to evolve and nourish my spirituality. I have a friend who wrote a longer rule for herself one year, then condensed it to four sentences as she applied it to her daily living. 

My human heart fails many, many times to follow these rules, but I found they give me guidance, call me back to my core beliefs, and refocus my desires on God when the world and sin distract me.

A few examples from my Rule are:

·      Seek, know, serve and love God with all my heart, mind and energies.

·      Be obedient to God’s Word, be discerning of His will and being open to the work God is doing within me. My prayer is: Do what You need to do in order that I become what You best chose for me.

·      Be gentle with myself and love and accept the person God created me to be.

·      Trust God no matter what happens.

A Rule of Life is a living, dynamic spiritual practice.

May my rule for life draw me closer to the Ruler of all Life.

Do you have a Rule for Life? 

“Listen carefully, my son, to the master’s instruction, and attend to them with the ear of your heart”  St Benedict’s Rule

My Thoughts or God’s Thoughts – Lectio Divina

 “For as a man thinks within himself, so he is.”  Proverbs 23:7 (KJV)

“Thinks within.”

How do I “think within” Lord?  

What do my thoughts reveal about my heart? About my relationship with You?

Lord, my thoughts scatter.

My thoughts worry.

My thoughts wonder off onto desolate unmarked paths.

My thoughts wrapped themselves with ego, fears, and anxiety.

I give power to my thoughts instead of You

I allow them to control me with their negative nature that draw me away from You.

Reminds me of a verse from my favorite Psalm:

You perceive my thoughts from afar... How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! – Psalm 139: 2b, 17

As I “think within” Lord – let Your thoughts saturate my thoughts.

Your thoughts lead my thinking.

Your thoughts direct my attention.

Your thoughts shine light on my reflections.

Your thoughts fuel my imagination.

Your thoughts guide my opinions.

Your thoughts infuse wisdom into my foolishness.

May I always reflect your presence as I “think within.” 

The Fire of Pentecost – Quotes

Pentecost is the celebration of the coming of the Holy Spirit to the early Christians. It marks the birth of the Christian church and means "fiftieth day" as it is celebrated fifty days after Easter, this coming Sunday.

I have been reading about Pentecost for my own meditations and collecting some quotes about this event.

Red is the liturgical color for this day.  Red recalls the tongues of flame in which the Holy Spirit descended on the first Pentecost.

A tradition of some churches in ancient times was to baptize adult converts to the faith on Pentecost. The newly baptized catechumens would wear white robes on that day, so Pentecost was often called "Whitsunday" or "White Sunday" after these white baptismal garments.

On the 50th day after the Sabbath of Passover week, the Jews celebrated a festival of thanksgiving for the harvest. It was known by a number of different names:

Feast of Weeks (Ex. 34:22; Deut. 16:10)

Feast of Harvest (Ex. 23:16)

Day of First fruits (Num. 28:26)

The "Feast of Weeks" was the second-most important festival for the Jews. (The most important was Passover.) This explains why so many people from all over the Roman Empire were in Jerusalem on the day when the Holy Spirit was sent (see Acts 2)

“When the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, it wasn't dynamite, it was a dynamo! Dynamite makes a loud noise, kicks up a lot of dust, and it's over. A dynamo is a continual source of power. It builds and builds and builds, and the power never stops flowing.” Ken Hutcherson

“The word "Comforter" as applied to the Holy Spirit needs to be translated by some vigorous term. Literally, it means "with strength." Jesus promised His followers that "The Strengthener" would be with them forever. This promise is no lullaby for the faint-hearted. It is a blood transfusion for courageous living.”  E. Paul Hovey

“O Holy Spirit, descend plentifully into my heart. Enlighten the dark corners of this neglected dwelling and scatter there Thy cheerful beams.” St Augustine

“I myself do nothing. The Holy Spirit accomplishes all through me.” William Blake

"I believe that by my own reason or strength I cannot believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him, but the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, and sanctified and preserved me in the true faith." Martin Luther

May your heart be set afire by the Spirit of the Lord. Come Holy Spirit.

A Mother’s Tears

December 1983

I remember when you were two days old. The depths of post partum depression shredded up any morsel of confidence I had as a mother - even as a mom with her third baby.

I spent that day crying, overwhelmed by fears.

I spent the day rocking you.

I spent the day with my arms gently holding you, while I rocked in God’s arms, gently holding me.

I spent that day crying.

I should know what I am doing by now.

What’s wrong with me?

I can’t raise this child.

I am not cut out for this role.

Lord, what have I gotten myself into? 

Lord, what have YOU gotten me into?

I remember Hannah and her tears as a mother. She cried out for a child and the Lord gave her Samuel. Later she brought him to the temple and dedicated him to God.

“As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” I Samuel  .1 26-28

I am sure Hannah cried that day as she gave the Lord back her most precious gift - her son.

I joined Hannah that day in December with my tears - a mother’s tears. A mother’s prayer.

I held you and dedicated you to God.

I prayed, “Now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord."

Sometimes our only prayer is our tears and our surrender of our most precious gift into God’s hands.

May 2010

I spent another day with mother’s tears.

On Sunday, you graduated from seminary on your way to being a pastor in the Lord’s service.  Once again I released you to the Lord. I lifted up my child into the Lord’s service.

This time my mother tears were not from depression or fear.

My eyes flowed with tears of thankfulness and praise.

Our tears, released to God.

"Relax and rest. God has showered you with blessings. Soul, you've been rescued from death; Eye, you've been rescued from tears;” Psalm 116:7 (The Message)

Mother’s tears

Mother’s prayers.

Tears splashed into blessing.

Listen, Watch, Wait - Lectio Divina

Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. Proverbs 8:34 (NIV)

Listen

Watch

Wait

All passive words, Lord.  

I want to tell you what I want and need. I think I know the answers. I strut around believing my opinion is the most important.

“Blessed are those who listen to me.”

I don’t want to stand on the sidelines and watch. I want to work, play, and take part.  My ego shouts that my ‘doing’ is essential.

 “Blessed are those who watch daily at my doors.”

I rush into my day, my to-do list, my goals and dreams without You.  Wait? That is so hard, I whine. Wait for Your timing? 

“Blessed are those who wait at my doorway.”

Lord, help me let go of my babbling, my doing, and my busyness to follow You for the blessings of listening, watching and waiting.

Living in a Post Trust Society

What does it mean as a Christian to live in a world where more faith is placed in skepticism and the loudest volume given to sarcasm?

I recently read a blog, Living Spirituality, where the phrase “post trust society” was used.  

Dr. Gregory J. Laughery writes, “One of the salient features of the twenty-first century is that we are living in a post-trust culture. As I have recently mentioned, this means that our ability to trust institutions, governments, politicians, economics, and churches is coming to an end.”

We no longer trust. We blame, make fun, or spew angry accusations on our political and church relationships. Twitter makes it easy to launch rumors that build unease and how simple it is to forward that sarcastic email than to send it to the trash.

The thought of a post trust society raises fear in my heart. Will this lead to more violence, anarchy, and threats to security?  The whole situation makes me once again aware of how little I really do control in life.

I am guilty of all of this type of thinking. No excuses, but the phrase “post trust society” made me realize just how hard it is to trust these days. The word haunts me. The ability of the world and of evil to pull me into negative and nasty thinking, behaviors, and actions before I realize what is happening is mindboggling. This is NOT the way I want to live this precious God given life.

God call us to more.

Psalm 13:5
  But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.

Proverbs 3:5
  Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

John 14:1  Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.

Romans 12:2
  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

So how do we live in a post trust culture?

I don’t have all the answers and I thought at first I could present five tips on trusting God or some type of sound byte.  But I feel God is saying, “Come to Me with your questions and let’s linger over them for awhile.”

Rainer Maria Rilke wrote, “Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions.”

What does this all mean, Lord?

Can I really trust you, Lord?

How can I know for sure?

How will my life look differently living daily in Your trust?

How can I fully surrender, let go and rest in Your arms?

What stops me?           

If I am a Christian, a beloved child of God, how am I called to live and serve in this type of world?

No easy answers. No quick remedies. No sudden opening of the skies and I immediately hold the wisdom of the how’s and when’s.

I think God invites me to sit with Him and linger over the questions. My lesson is in the process, not the final product. 

Maybe that is the first step in trust anyway.

What do you think?

Dancing with The Star

“Who do you think will win?

“My wife is addicted to that show.”

“My daughter is pulling for that guy who plays for the Bengals.”

Snippets of conversation I overheard this weekend, all concerning the television show Dancing with the Stars.

Then I read this quote: 

“God is the lead dancer and the soul is the partner completely attuned to the rhythm and patterns set by the partner. She does not lead, but neither does she hang limp like a sack of potatoes.”  Thomas Merton, quoted in Listening to the Music of the Spirit: The Art of Discernment, by David Lonsdale.

Now that is the Star I want to dance with every moment of my life. My deepest desire of my heart is for God to be my lead dancer.

Reminded me of the story I bet many of you are familiar with:

“When I meditated on the word Guidance, I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word. I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky. When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing Lightly in one direction or another. It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other. My eyes drew back to the word Guidance. When I saw "G": I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i". God, you, and I dance ("God," + "u" and "i," + "dance."). As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once again, I became willing to let God lead.”   Jean Rhodes

At a workshop this past weekend I felt God gently ask, “Where are your eyes focused?”

I am not a good dance partner if I am distracted by my surroundings whirling around me and not paying attention to my Partner.  Like Jean Rhodes wrote above: The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.

Quotes to ponder this week:

I would believe only in a God that knows how to dance.  ~Friedrich Nietzsche

We're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance.  ~Japanese Proverb

You can dance anywhere, even if only in your heart.  ~Author Unknown

I see dance being used as communication between body and soul, to express what it too deep to find for words.  ~Ruth St. Denis

To watch us dance is to hear our hearts speak.  ~Hopi Indian Saying

You lead, Lord.  My work is to surrender daily, giving You my willing heart and all my focus.  Fixing my attentiveness on my lead Partner this week and hopefully much longer.

What helps you focus on God?  

Winner: Present Perfect Book Giveaway

We have a winner!  A number was drawn randomly from the commenters ( of course not my responses!)

The winner is...... KAREN!!

I have your address and will put a copy of your book in the mail this week. I hope it blesses your spiritual journey.

Jeanie

God - The Master Builder - Psalm 127:1 - Lectio Divina

            
                                                The Carpenter by Nathan Greene

Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. Psalm 127: 1

Lord, You are the Master Builder.  

I am a mere apprentice.

You are in charge.

You hand me the supplies I need for the day’s work.

You give me the tools and teach me how to use them.

You guide my hands in learning the craftsmanship of my trade.

You hold the final blueprints - I just follow your daily assignment.

You see the the whole picture - I only see the nail and board in front of me.

Oswald  Chambers wrote: “Jesus, the Master Builder, takes us over so that He may direct and control us completely for His enterprises and His building plans; and no one has any right to demand where he will be put to work.”

 Reporting for duty!  Where to, Boss?

Living within the Presence of God – Every Moment, Every Day

“Each moment is a revelation of God.” Jean-Pierre de Caussade

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus". - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

The phrase pray continually beckons my heart. Living each moment in the presence of God is a deep hunger within me.  Surveying my shelves this week, I discovered quite a few books discussing this spiritual practice and realized once again just how God is inviting me to dwell with him in every moment – even the ordinary ones throughout my day. 

Wow – isn’t that just amazing? God – in all His glory, majesty, power, wisdom – desires to spend time with little ol’ me. With all of us! And not just an occasionally fleeting visit or an hour on Sunday, but every minute, second, and nanosecond.  

Gregory Boyd wrote a book I read this week: Present Perfect – Finding God in the Now – that relit this desire within my heart. (See review below and be sure to leave a comment because I will be giving away a copy of this book)

How can we live each moment in God’s presence?

I began by praying and journaling my desire to be open to God’s presence more often throughout the day.

As I am on the computer frequently, I downloaded a screen saver “alarm clock” that gently reminds me every 15 minutes to pause, take a deep breath and spend a moment with God.

I took from my bookshelves and am rereading what others have written about this practice. Suggested readings include the book I review below plus Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence and Sacrament of the Present Moment by Jean Pierre de Caussade

 I am trying several suggestions from the Present Perfect book: such as strategically placed reminders and asking God more often, “what should we do?”

What have I discovered in my brief experiment?

·      My image of God has changed slightly – or should I say God’s position (Or mine? – that is another whole thought…) Where before God was in front of me as I spoke and occasionally tried to listen – now he is beside me.  He looks over my to do list next to me as a companion, not someone in authority I am presenting my agenda to.

·      I smile more often.  This simple practice reflects joy.

·      When I ask: What should we do?  My heart gently beats “peace” as I sense my priorities are in order

·      I don’t feel alone. The world can be tough even when we have friends and loved ones supporting us. 

·      I don’t necessarily “feel” something every time, yet know He is with me

·      This morning I felt challenged. The quiet still voice of God simply reminded me there will be times I will have to let go of my ego and let Him shine – much easier said than done.

Quotes to ponder:

If you should forget Him for minutes or even days, do not groan or repent, but begin anew with a smile. Every minute can be a fresh beginning. Frank Laubach

So begin…make that resolution, now!  Be daring. None of us have a long time to live…what years we have, let us live them with God. Brother Lawrence.

All he wishes is to be the sole object and only enchantment of our hearts – de Caussade

As I continue to grow in this practice I will update you on the lessons I am learning.  I invite you to read about this spiritual discipline and let me know how it deepens your walk with God.

What helps you to be aware of God’s presence?

Book Review: Present Perfect: Finding God in the Now by Gregory A. Boyd

Are you awake? Present Perfect invites the reader live in the present moment with God. He begins with a quote from Frank Laubach, “ Can I bring the Lord back into my mind flow every few seconds so that God shall always be in my mind? I choose to make the rest of my life an experiment in answering this question.”

Boyd writes clearly and when I finished the book I was inspired to dive into this experience. His chapters are filled with motivating quotes, personal examples, and every few pages there is the appearance of a sticky note asking, “Are you awake?” to remind the reader to be fully aware of the present moment.  Clever idea.

Every chapter ends with ideas or exercises to try. Examples include waking up to God and strategically placed reminders. One exercise I particularly like is thinking in the terms of “we”. Frank Laubach suggests instead of talking to ourselves, talk to Christ. Make all of thoughts a conversation with Him. Instead of thinking “What should I do? “ Use the phrase, “What should WE do?”

 Interesting to note is his addition of a chapter at the end of the book about practicing the present and the new age movement.  Good food for thought and discussion in this chapter.

Gregory A. Boyd is the founder and senior pastor of Woodland Hills Church in St. Paul, Minn., and founder and president of Christus Victor Ministries. He was a professor of theology at Bethel College (St. Paul, Minn.) for sixteen years where he continues to serve as an Adjunct Professor. Greg is a graduate of the University of Minnesota (BA), Yale Divinity School (M.Div), and Princeton Theological Seminary (PhD).

If you are seeking a closer relationship with God, I highly recommend this book. One of the best I have read lately and one I could take nuggets from and apply right away to my spiritual walk.

Disclaimer: I received this book as part of a blog tour.

Contest:  I have a copy to Present Perfect to give away. I will draw a name from random from the comments made on this post on Sunday May 9, 2010 at 5:00 P, M. eastern time.  You must live in the United States or Canada to be eligible for this prize. 

PLAN B – Spiritual Lessons when Life is Not Fair

What can we learn from life’s Plan B’s?  Plan B is a new direction we take or are forced to take when what we originally planned/hoped/dreamed for fell apart.  Often we are not happy when we first enter this new place – we are angry, disappointed, and hurt.

I recently read new book by Pete Wilson, called Plan B (see review below of the book that I received as part of Booksneeze book reviews). This book inspired me to think about the Plan B’s in my life and the lessons I learned.

Every life overflows with Plan B’s (and probably C’s. D’s and XYZ’s too). The honest truth is that we are not really in control no matter what we chose to think.

I planned to have my dad walk me down the aisle – he died when I was 16.

I envisioned my mom holding my babies – she died ten months before I conceived.

I thought I would earn my Masters degree before the age of 30 – I did achieve that dream, but not until my 40s.

Bill and I thought we would live our entire lives in a midsize college town  - yet God planted us in a village of 900 people in rural northwest Ohio.

The list goes on and on and I am sure you have a record of shattered dreams and u-turns from your life too. Many of us have held crying children who hearts are broken. I have lost count of the numerous times I secretly sought revenge for a hurt or someone deliberately ruining my best plans. My husband’s favorite saying (we think we will inscribe it on his tombstone as his last words) and my kids know it quite well: LIFE IS NOT FAIR!

So what have I learned as I navigate all the twists and turns of life?

·      God is always with me no matter the circumstances. He never leaves.

·      God will make something out of the mess I am in.  If I wait and watch, I will see His hands at work eventually.  My job is to let go of the situation from my hands into His hands.

·      God will provide the mile markers to help me navigate this new place. I usually have to wash the mud from my eyes to see His guidance.

·      God works in His own time – not on my timetable.

·      I am human and continue to struggle with the belief that I am in control. God understands that aspect of me, listens to my confession, and gently reminds me He is the one in control.

Quotes to Ponder:

"When God is going to do something wonderful, He or She always starts with a hardship; when God is going to do something amazing, He or She starts with an impossibility. "

—   Anne Lamott (Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith)

I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles”.   Christopher Reeve

"Everyone who got where he is has had to begin where he was."  – Robert Louis Stevenson

What have you learned from the Plan B’s in your life?

Book Review: Plan B by Pete Wilson

Expectations. Dreams. Hopes. Plans. What happens when we what we hoped for falls apart?

A new book by Pete Wilson, Plan B, presents a Christian overview of “what to do when God doesn’t show up the way you thought He would.”  The book is written in clear language full of personal and Biblical examples. The reader feels like he is sitting across of table with the author discussing Plan Bs.

Chapter titles include Don’t Run, Whiplash, Paralyzed, Darkness, Power and Hope and my favorite: The Illusion of Control.  In the Illusion of Control chapter he writes that "the greatest of all illusions is the illusion of control.”  I love the use of the word illusion with the concept of control as it captures the fantasy we all try to live in a short easy to remember phrase.

Quotes from the book:

“I’m wondering how different life would be for each one of us if we chose to view our circumstances and our relationships as the gifts they are.”

“When you’re in a Plan B, you need community more than ever. And yet, because of the pain that comes along with a Plan B, it’s easy to miss the God given gift of community.”

‘God does His best work in hopeless situations.”

“When life is uncertain, God is not. While our power is limited, God’s is limitless. While our hope may be fragile, God is hope himself.”

Plan B offers a wonderful list of discussion questions at the end of the book that would work great in a small group or Sunday School study.

Nice book filled with hope.  My only criticism would be while it is a wonderful overview of the topic, when I finished I wasn’t sure if I really learned anything new. The book opens up readers’ hearts to ponder about the Plan Bs in our lives – then the real work begins applying what we already know to be true to living and thriving in our Plan B’s.

Disclaimer: I received Plan B as part of Thomas Nelsons’ Booksneeze program.

Loving Others as Jesus Love Us - Lectio Divina - 5/2/10

A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:34

Love one another

Love one another?  Love the person that hurt me? Love the lady in church who thinks she is better than the rest of us?  Love the person who created so much sadness in my life?  Love that smelly, dirty person lying in the back alley?  Love another whose values seem so foreign to me?  Love others who strapped bombs to themselves and slaughter innocent people? 

Lord I am sure I can never love others as you have loved me.

My heart is not large enough, not strong enough, not wise enough.

My efforts fail to keep this command.

I come to You with my weak and empty heart: only You can strengthen me and fill me with Your love.  

My love is inadequate. My love is weak. My love fails.

Your love is plentiful.  Your love is robust. Your love thrives.

You are Love!