Small Things Matter To God

Do small things matter to God?

We live in a world where everything is supersized and maximum strength. We see airbrushed models as real. We ask what went wrong when someone gets a silver medal in the Olympics instead of gold or a student earns a B+ instead of an A. 

So often I feel I am not enough. My gifts are too small and insignificant to make any difference. My failure to live up to my expectations and the internal voices telling me what I “should” be doing block me from growing closer to God and from following His will. I focus more on what I lack instead of focusing on who God is. 

I really needed to hear the gospel lesson this week.

I listened to familiar story read on Sunday morning. Jesus gave thanks for the young boy’s small gift of five loaves and two fish and then the entire crowd had more than enough to eat.

More than enough.

It started with an unnamed, small boy, barely noticeably in the huge crowd. The scripture isn’t even clear if he voluntarily offered his lunch or if the disciples had to ask him for it. Even the disciples knew there wasn’t enough to feed everyone there.

But Jesus gave thanks anyway and there was enough. More than enough.

Do small things matter to God?  Too often I let the worry or shame of the size of my gift stop me from offering it to God. I am finally beginning to really believe God isn’t worried about its quality, the quantity, or its perfection: He will make it enough. And then more than enough.

“Always keep your eyes open for the little task, because it is the little task that is important to Jesus Christ. . . .

The great flowing rivers represent only a small part of all the water that is necessary to nourish and sustain the earth. Beside the flowing river there is the water in the earth — the subterranean water — and there are the little streams. . . . Without these other waters — the silent hidden subterranean waters and the trickling streams — the great river could no longer flow. Thus it is with the little tasks to be fulfilled by us all.”

Albert Schweitzer

“We cannot do great things. We can only do little things with great love.”

Mother Teresa

Only five loaves and two fish.

Only a small single coin in the offering.

Only a mustard seed size smidgen of faith.

Only a smile to a stranger.

Only a kind word passed on.

Only a small baby in a manger.

God accomplishes His work through the small things. He perfects our inabilities, our brokenness, and our lack of enough to make a difference. He pours His power into our littlest and our least and our inadequacies and failures.

And that is more than enough.

Where have you seen God in the little things lately?

A Prayer for Those Reading This Blog Today - Lectio Divina

 For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. 

Ephesians 3: 14-21

Lord I know this passage well. You have heard me pray these words over specific people. I add their names in place of the you’s and your’s.  I have recited its words naming my family, my friends, and reluctantly, even those who challenge me.

Today Lord I am praying for all who visit this Internet space today. I ask Your blessing on all readers who stumble upon these words today. 

I kneel before You, Father, with this humble request.

I pray that from Your infinite and overfilling storehouse of blessings You showered these readers with generous gifts that they may feel Your strength and presence. Pierce their hearts and light their inner beings with love and warmth. May they know Christ is dwelling within them. May Your explosive power be evident in their lives.

Lord, plant these readers’ roots deep in the rich sacred soil of Your unfathomable love. Open their eyes and pour into them the knowledge of how much You love them.  May they know You and rely on Your faithfulness to guide them. May their hearts expand into love for Your children throughout the world.

Give us all a glimpse of Your immense love that we may know You as God. I know even after a lifetime of seeking we won’t ever comprehend Your amazing devotion for each of us.

Lord You can do anything.  I know You can and will bless us beyond imagination.  I know You surprised with giving us more than we ask.

May our eyes only seek You; our hands lifted in praise of only You. May Your love reside in all of our hearts forever and ever. Amen.

Sing Your Song - Quote for the Week

"Use what talents you possess:

the woods would be very silent

 if no birds sang there

except those that sang best."


– Henry Van Dyke

What Matters Most - Book Review

“God does not come to us offering rules; God comes offering relationship.”

What Matters Most: How We Got the Point but Missed the Person is a new book by Leonard Sweet. The quote above is a good summary of the message of this book: We spent more time debating the “right theology” and creating the“right rules”, than building a relationship with God and with others.

I liked this book as Sweet offered new slants to the familiar story of Abraham and I appreciate his method of studying the root of words such as belief, faith, hear and obey to gain insight into their meanings. I enjoy reading a book that offers some “meat” to ponder and innovative viewpoints with stories and words that have grown familiar.

This book would be a great book for discussion in a small group. Questions are available in the back of the book and there is a web site with bonus material to add to a group’s conversation.

Sweet reminds us that God’s greatest desire in to love us so we can love God and others. God’s greatest hope is that will we join Him in a living and growing relationship. God calls us not to spend all of our energy on defining and defending a set of beliefs, but to pursue God, the Great Pursuer of us, to know God as He knows us, and build an open, honest relationship with Him.

Some interesting quotes to think about:

“Christianity is not for ‘professionals.’ Christianity is meant o be lived by amateurs. Amateur is based on the Latin word amator, which means ‘lover.’ Christianity is meant for lovers, not experts.”

“Is Christ a noun or a verb in your life? If he’s a noun, you may be capable of intellectually, comprehending that the Lord is good. But only if he is both a noun and a verb are you able ‘to taste and see that he Lord is good.’ A verb mean Jesus is alive and active in the flesh. He is an experience and an embrace.”

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

What book have you read lately that brought you a new point of view or drew you closer to God?

Celebrating 600!

Do you know how old Noah was when the flood began?

600

Do you know how many new blogs are published every minute?

600

Do you know which birthday for Joan of Arc we are celebrating this year?

600

Do you know how many years ago the University of St Andrew in Scotland began?

600

Do you have any idea how many blog posts I have written here since the beginning?

600

Fun trivia today to celebrate this 600th post.

I feel blessed:  Blessed by God to have the opportunity to write for Him and blessed by all of you who read these humble words each time. I am so very grateful. Thank you for reading this blog!!

The most popular posts the past three years based on one the number of times people looked at that page are the ones about prayer, inspirational quotes, and hymn stories.  Prayer is so essential to our growing closer to God and so many of us hunger for hope and encouragement we find in quotes and music.

Since prayer, hymns, and quotes are key themes here, I thought I would share the words of one of my favorite hymns. Often I speak the lyrics of hymns as prayers: a powerful way to hear familiar words in a new way. 

We sang this hymn in church last Sunday. I couldn’t open the hymnal since I was cuddling a sleeping one year old grandson (doesn’t get much better than that!!).  But I knew every word to this old song and just closed my eyes and worshipped with its melody and words.

Perhaps that is why we blog because we love to tell the Story:

I love to tell the story of unseen things above,

Of Jesus and his glory, of Jesus and his love.

I love to tell the story, because I know 'tis true;

It satisfies my longings as nothing else can do.

I love to tell the story, 'twill be my theme in glory,

To tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love.

I love to tell the story; more wonderful it seems

Than all the golden fancies of all our golden dreams.

I love to tell the story, it did so much for me;

And that is just the reason I tell it now to thee.

I love to tell the story, 'twill be my theme in glory,

To tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love.

I love to tell the story; 'tis pleasant to repeat

What seems, each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet.

I love to tell the story, for some have never heard

The message of salvation from God's own holy Word.

I love to tell the story, 'twill be my theme in glory,

To tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love.

I love to tell the story, for those who know it best

Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest.

And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song,

'Twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.

I love to tell the story, 'twill be my theme in glory,

To tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love.

What is one of your favorite hymns?

Come Away with Me - Lectio Divina

“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6: 31b

I read your invitation this week, Lord - Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.

Thank you for asking me but with regrets, I am rather busy right now. 

I have things to accomplish.

People seeking my help.

And I do want some time for me, you know.

Maybe I can squeeze You in a little next week...

Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.

I reread your statement. I don’t see the RSVP. You mean this isn’t an optional request?

Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.

You gently change my heart, stop my frenzied fretfulness, and refocus my energy to You.  I let go of my all important to-do list, drop my agenda, and slowly ease into Your heart.

I see Your hand open, welcoming me into Your presence. I reach for You to join You.

I come by myself - leaving behind my close associates of busyness, worries, fears, and habits. I shed my backpack of dreams, desires, and difficulties. I take off the heavy clothing of burdens and expectations and run to You, stripped of all that comes between us.

I find quiet instead of disquiet. Wordless stillness unites our hearts.

I find refreshing rest. My thirst that I so frantically tried to satisfy in the outside world is suddenly quenched.

I find You.

An invitation? A command? Doesn’t matter. You called. You beckon me every moment. May I always hear Your summons and come running.

Am I a Rock or a Dancer? - Quote - Henri Nouwen

“I once saw a stonecutter remove great pieces from a huge rock on which he was working. In my imagination I thought, That rock must be hurting terribly. Why does this man wound the rock so much? But as I looked longer, I saw the figure of a graceful dancer emerge gradually from the stone.

“I have spent a good deal of my life building a stone wall of protection around my heart. Now when I actually hear the truth about my hardness of heart, it seems as though one of the stones is being taken out of my protective wall. This wounds me and makes me frightened and angry. It’s a big struggle. But I’m trying to be more aware of and less fearful in the process...

“In spiritual formation, you may think about your life as a strong rock wall, resisting anyone and anything that tries to change it. Resentment makes us blind to God’s carving hand, but gratitude helps us recognize the process - that slowly but surely we are being formed into a beautiful work of art; that we are being prepared to be a person who can offer our own pains as a source of healing for others...

Every time we have to give up a familiar passion or favorite concept, a precious idea or definitive plan for our life, a justifiable attitude or habitual behavior and especially a treasured friendship or community, we feel an inner protest. But when we are willing to see God’s caressing hand at work, we might discover that after much carving we have an empty place where we may be filled and healed and finally transformed into a grateful dancer God intends for us to be.”

Henri Nouwen

Praying for Rain

Drought - yes it is a record year for hot, hot temps and dry, dry weather. I found this graph from the Weather Channel that summed up our desperate need for rain very well.

The National Climatic Data Center reports that the 2012 drought disaster is now the largest in over 50 years, and among the ten largest of the past century. Only the extraordinary droughts of the 1930s and 1950s have covered more land area than the current drought. 55 percent of the contiguous United States was under moderate to extreme drought in June.

  I live in northwest Ohio. When you look at this map, yes my tiny neck of the woods is maroon colored - one of the worst hit areas. We are classified as extreme drought. And I know many of you are also suffering this summer.

   This severe weather will affect us all no matter where we live with higher costs such as in food. This could be one of the top ten most expensive weather disasters in the United States.


(NOTE: I began writing this a post a few days ago and woke up Thursday morning to the delightful sound of rain and gentle thunder. Praise the Lord!  Thank you!  But I decided to continue with this today since one storm will not make up our deficient and many other places continue to suffer.)

What can we do? We can’t control the weather. We can’t force it to rain. We all feel vulnerable and threatened by this changing weather patterns.

What can we do? We can be mindful of those without air conditioning. Check on our neighbors and friends. We can offer a cool cup of refreshing water to someone working outside. We can pause and say thank you to those with outside jobs.

And we can pray.

  

O God, heavenly Father, who by thy Son Jesus Christ has promised to all those who seek your kingdom and its righteousness all things necessary to sustain their life:

Send us, we entreat you, in this time of need, such moderate rain and showers, that we may receive the fruits of the earth, to our comfort and to your honor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

- Book of Common Prayer

And I going to start carrying an umbrella.

 

Three “Timely” Tips for Savoring Summer Spirituality

Dry and hot - that is the best way to describe the weather in northwest Ohio this summer. We have had more days over 90 degrees and too many over 100 than ever before on record. THEN add to it very little rain - the ground is cracked and parched and the poor plants withering.

Sometimes summer drains our spiritual life too. We rush to kid’s ballgames, speed through vacations trying to see everything we can, and take on household projects like the Pharaoh trying to build the pyramids.  I become my soul’s slave driver - “Work! Go! Do!”

Reminds me of the story I once heard:

A group of Americans made a trip with Brazilian natives down the Amazon River. The first day they rushed. The second day they rushed. The next day they rushed. One day, anxious to continue the trek, they were surprised to find the natives seated together in a circle.

When asked the reason for the delay, a guide answered,

"They are waiting. They cannot move further until their souls have caught up with their bodies."

I have resolved to take some time this summer to allow my soul to rest. I am going to snatch time back from the frantic hands of the “must do list” and give myself permission to stop and savor some summer Sabbath. I intentionally plan to spend time with God, with others and with myself:

1. Time with God - I began June with a long retreat, one that gave me new perspective on my journey and a rich time of silence and solitude. Here is a post if you want to read about that wonderful time with God.

    I heard God deeply there and felt refreshed, but since home I hopped right back on that treadmill of busyness. 

    I hunger for more silence and to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen. That only comes through intentionally getting up early and praying. I can’t force it; I can only come with an open heart to the throne and wait in love. But I can wake a little earlier than usual while the house is quiet and begin my day with God.

   Beside contemplative prayer, I am deepening my time with His Word this summer. I am blocking off time to read and meditate on scripture and journal what I think I am hearing. 

2. Time with others - I have blogged lately how much our family and friends have surrounding my husband and I with love this summer. You can read about that surprise here. 

    I am so grateful and want to give back to others. This week we are having lunch with good friends, traveling through from New York and next week we are meeting my college roommate for a minor league baseball game.

    I plan to give time to others by listening without judgment.

    My intent is to laugh and break bread together.

    And to focus more on time with others helping as needed. I read on my friend Laura’s blog this week the line, “

“It’s (service) contagious. When someone unselfishly serves you, you find yourself wanting to pass it on.”

3. Time with myself - When I wrote this post last week about books that feed my spirit, I revisited quite a few “old neglected” friends gathering dust on my shelves. I am going to dive into some of the books I read in the past and delight in their lessons again.

   And don’t tell my husband yet, but I ordered a few new books to add to my collection. We are going to England and Scotland this October and the group we are traveling with sent a list of recommended readings to take in before our pilgrimage there. I have wanted to study more about Celtic Spirituality and have more background before our journey there.

I reread these three ways to spend time this summer and at first thought “Oh no, more tasks to add to my busyness!” But on second look this is not true. I am setting priorities - time with God, time with others, and time with myself.

How we spend our days is of course how we spend our lives.  Anne Dillard

From now on I know how I am spending my days, my life. I am savoring summer with intentional practices that will refresh my spirit and give time for my soul to catch up with my body.

What are you doing this summer to refresh your spirit?

 

Giving Thanks - Lectio Divina

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

Ephesians 1: 16 (NIV)

Lord my heart spills over with thankfulness.

My hands embraced all the blessings You have showered upon me these past two weeks.

I know not all times are good.

I know detours, potholes and even dangerous crashes could come my way anytime on this journey.

But in this rest stop, I look up to You, praising Your name and saying thank you.

Thank you for Bill, my loving husband and wonderful companion for 40 years of marriage.

Thank you for allowing us the privilege to raise three of Your miracles and see them as healthy happy, loving adults.

Thank you for enlarging our family with the gift of spouses for our kids and three surprising wonders called grandchildren.

Thank you for sweet, giving friends; I know if I needed someone in the middle of the night they would quickly come.

Thank you for walking with me, guiding me, nurturing me closer to You.

Thank you for Your son - coming to us to save us and light out way back to You.

Thank you for Your ever present Spirit, teaching, leading and opening our hearts to You.

Thank you for You - for being more than I can ever imagine and yet here within me, dwelling in my heart.

May I always say thank you for all You have given me.

Thank you.

Finding Silence within Ourselves - Quote of the Week

Silence (Photo credit: Mara ~earth light~)

There is a huge silence inside each of us 

that beckons us into itself,

and the recovery of our own silence

can begin to teach us the language of heaven."

Meister Eckhart

Ten Books That Feed my Mind and Spirit

I love books! Reading the words written by wiser, much more mature Christians nourishes my spiritual journey.

I don’t just read books; I highlight words, dog-ear the corners, and rewrite quotes in my journal. I print out soul-refreshing lines and hang them around my desk or clip them into my blank books. Their prayers, often birthed centuries before me, send their roots deep into my heart and bubble up to my lips.

I thought I would share with you today ten books that kindle my spiritual walk. Sigh, only ten? Now I could easily list more, but the Internet may crash from its weight and ten is such a nice number. So ten it is:

1. NIV Study Bible - I have other Bibles and have looked at many more, but this torn, underlined, scribbled in the margin version is my treasure. The edges unravel under the tape and it is too bulky to skip easily into my purse, but how could I part from this long companion?

2.  Something More by Catherine Marshall. I had trouble choosing which Catherine Marshall book to list. I devoured her writing as a teenager - she spoke to my heart, her words led me closer to God and she is one reason why I am a writer today. I didn’t read this book - Something More until my mid 20’s and her honest sharing of her spiritual journey - feasts and droughts, how the Holy Spirit walked with her during all times, and how to maneuver past the detours and potholes of life - lit the way for my own travel with God.

3. My Utmost for His Highest - Updated Edition - Oswald Chambers. What can I say? I am on my fifth year using this book as a daily devotional and continue to learn at the feet of this Christian man. Each day the message - though read now for years - is fresh and new.

4.  Celebration of Discipline - Richard Foster. I am going to mention two of Foster’s books. This one first released in 1978 has guided me most of my adult life. This book first taught me about the spiritual disciplines, holy habits that opened my heart so I was more aware of God’s presence. Here is where I learned the value of meditation, prayer, fasting, study, solitude, submission, service, guidance and worship. Foster also was the author that introduced me to so many Christians who went before us, our “great cloud of witnesses” and from whom I continue to learn from today.

5. Prayer - Richard Foster. There are so many great books on prayer, but this one is my favorite for its easily explained and comprehensive overview of prayer.

6. The Only Necessary Thing - Henri Nouwen. Ok, Nouwen is another author I wanted to list more than once. I love his writing and really think he was writing just for me. HA! A few years ago my hubby and I camped in the UP of Michigan. It was one of the first trips we took without kids and I was in a real transition time with my role of a mother changing, as they became adults. This was the very first book I read by Nouwen. When I hold that book I am immediately back in that camper, orange highlighter in my hand, underlining every other sentence. I identified with Nouwen’s longing for God, his deep desire to create space to communicate intimately with Him, and to be a person of prayer. “Prayer is the center of Christian life. It is the only necessary thing.” (Luke 10:42)

7. Everything Belongs - Richard Rohr. Another book marked up, turned down corners, filled with sticky notes. This book awoke my spirit, broke down my walls of resistance, and helped me learn to find my spiritual center. He explores ideas I never heard of before, like cleansing your lens and don’t push the river.

8. Dear Heart, Come Home - Joyce Rupp. I am sounding like a broken record, but here is another author that I own just about all of her books. What makes this book so dear to me as it accompanied me on my second silent retreat and held just the words I needed to read.  The subtitle of this book is “The Path of Midlife Spirituality” and Rupp by sharing her insights helps us explore this critical time in our spiritual growth. Words of wisdom about the wounds we all carry throughout life, the past regrets that we cling to, and the surprises of discovering God in the beauty of our shattered pieces.

9. Hearts on Fire - Praying with the Jesuits - Edited by Michael Harter. This is the tiny little red book you see on top of the book in the photo above. This small book of prayers - all by different Jesuits - goes with me on every retreat. One prayer will always surprise me in shining light on what I am hearing from God. “Jesus may all that is you flow into me.” “With you by my side, enough has been given.” “Teach me to listen, Lord.”

10.  The Interior Castle - Teresa of Avila - study edition, translated by Kavanaugh and Rodriguez. Through my formation program to become a spiritual director, Teresa’s words never appealed to me. But everything changed last month when I studied and began to understand her writings more. (Note to self: stay open. Something that earlier in life that made no sense, confused or bored me, or sounded too bizarre to ever be of value, may just be what I need in a future phase of life). Teresa walked with me at that retreat and I listened to her words. She gave me the vocabulary to describe what I was experience spiritually and wisdom to discern my next step. I look forward to continuing to learn from this great woman.

“Books let us into their souls and lay open to us the secret of our own.” William Hazlitt

Ok, now I want to hear from you. What book, besides the Bible, has nourished you spiritually?