It is so easy to get wrapped up in life and all it’s loudness…so easy that in one moment you slip into it and don’t even realize it.  The volume gets turned up, you adjust to it and it plays on and on…and then you forget how to turn down the volume!

Our first evening of vacation was spent in the Sacramento Mountains at the United Methodist Camp.  The director gives free restorative visits for Methodist clergy!

We left a record breaking Texas summer with highs near 110 and a drought to boot!  Texas is literally burning up, as are its residents!

As we drove into the mountain, the clouds appeared, dark and low.  The sound of thunder was thrilling, causing us to giggle together.  The very moment we drove into the camp and stepped out of our car, it began to rain.  It felt just as if God was welcoming us, restoring our dry souls!  And I believe He was.

It has been my experience with God that He has just the right way to bring about restoration.  All in perfection, as it was with every breath we took of the rain freshened air, each wild-flower seen, the lovely scent of the pines, the buzzing of the hummingbirds.

We were met by the director who showed us the way to our cabin.  It was perfect! 

We were so very tired from the long drive, having left Texas at 2 a.m., but we didn’t dare miss a moment of the peace this place had already brought us.

We immediately found a trail to hike and of all things it was named the Emmaus Trail.

For those unfamiliar with The Walk to Emmaus, it is a spiritual weekend Christians participate in to become closer to God.  Luke 24 is the scripture it is based on when the 2 were walking on the road to Emmaus and were met by Jesus who opened their eyes to all that is true and perfect in Him.  Rick and I have both participated in walks, as pilgrims (students) and workers.  With each walk we have joined, our hearts are “strangely warmed”, in every unimaginable way.  So to find this Emmaus Trail was indeed a spiritual moment for us both.

It was on this trail that we were reminded of how loud our lives had gotten.  The higher we climbed, the more apparent it became as God’s artistic expressions danced all around us.

Life demands loudness.  It is a necessary part as we go about the business demanded of us.  But it is also just as necessary to listen to the quietness that God offers us, to drink in the goodness of His graces that we are surrounded by.

As we descended from the trail and back into the camp, we joined others for supper.  It was there that we noticed it…that look upon each face…it was the Emmaus glow…The Holy Spirit was so strong that you could not help but to be overwhelmed by the sweetness, the closeness, the utter assurance that all was good.

It was that feeling that the loudness of life had captured and I needed, more than anything else, to experience it again.  It was a great gift!  This song, by Sherri Youngward,  captures perfectly, the feeling I had at that moment.   Thank you sweet Jesus for giving us your Spirit!

Restore My Soul  by Sherri Youngward

07 – Restore My Soul(1)  (click on link to hear her sing…you’ll be glad you did)

Lyrics…

Lead me beside
The water so still
Let me catch my breath
Let me drink my fill
Let me lie in fields of green
Where only gentle breezes blow
I’ll reach out my empty hands
For the cup that over flows

Restore my soul, Restore my soul,
Restore my soul, Restore my soul

I’ve stood too long here in these shadows
These valley walls are all I see
I need the skilled eyes of my Shepherd
Now my vision’s failing me

Restore my soul, Restore my soul,
Restore my soul, Restore my soul

Then I will run and not be weary
I will walk and not faint
I will soar with wings of eagles
In God alone is my strength

Restore my soul, Restore my soul,
Restore my soul, Restore my soul

Surely goodness and mercy
Will find their way
to me
And I will live with them forever
I will have no more need
The Lord is my Shepherd
He is my God
I will live with Him forever
I shall not want

May God’s blessings fill your life with quiet moments!

More vacation stories to come…thanks for reading…

Tracie

Everything is in movement.  My simple understanding of Albert Einstein’s relativity is that all things in creation are moving relative to everything else.  In other words nothing is sitting still.  If this is part of God’s basic creative design then why would the human spirit be still when all around the universe is in motion?  It reminds me of stagnant water that becomes toxic with time and loses its life giving quality.  In his book Simple Steps Dr. Caliandro quotes Oliver Wendell Holmes,

“One thing I’ve found out about this life is this.  It’s not so much where we stand, but in what direction we’re moving.”’

If the human spirit is not moving forward then it’s moving backward.

We were created with the need to keep moving.  Physicians encourage their patients to begin physical therapy soon after operations.  In the past, extended bed rest was recommended.  Now, too much lying in bed is considered harmful to the body’s recovery. The same can be said for the human soul.  God’s prescription for healing and redeeming humanity is first to mend our separation with our Creator.  This has and continues to be done in the Lord’s act in Jesus Christ.  The sacrificial love of God has opened the way for humanity to regain the relationship with our maker which our self centered living and choices has severed.  This is movement from spiritual death to life.  Yet, there is more!  Like any relationship the human and Divine must continue to grow in depth and affection.  This is often referred to as sanctification.

The continued growth of the human spirit in this life is a major part of the United Methodist belief system.   The soul who chooses not to move forward and journey with God will not change and mature into the being God desires us to become.  The goal is perfection in love towards God and others.  We can’t claim to ever reach this lofty state.  Instead we observe and enjoy the changing of our soul as we journey forth.  This is walking with God.  It is hope based faith over earthly facts.  It is faith searching to understand a confusing world.  It is love in spite of the hate and evil that surrounds us.  God has a goal for us and it is good.

The same spiritual need to move within an individual is also in operation within a religious organization.  The body withers if it cannot move. The spirit ceases to live out its potential if it stands still in self satisfaction. And the church dies when it is no longer the living, moving Body of Christ.

Sometimes we criticize the denominational divide which exists within the Body of Christ.  I know folks who consider the denominations to be some part of an evil plot against Christ’s Church.  They may condemn the dogmas (teaching) of the denominations as somehow anti-scripture and un-Christian.  The same time they insist they have the only way of understanding scripture and our Lord our God.  This is of course dogma!  Within their dogma those who do not agree with them are false teachers and heretics.  They work to use guilt and fear to undermine the devout worship of those they do not understand.  This work against fellow Christians is sadly done in the name of the God who was crucified by hate, yet forgave his enemies from the executioners cross.

It is my observation that those who cry out about the imperfections of others are most convinced they have few.  Those that they do admit to are forgiven and not nearly as offensive to God as Christians who experience or worship our Lord in a different manner.  In such a case, self-preservation can become the purpose for a church’s existence. Self-preservation is a threat to all congregations.  In such a case the energy of the people can focus on themselves instead of God or Christ’s kingdom on earth.  At this point are we working towards our own short range desires or our Creators long range goal for humanity?  We must exist for a purpose.  From John’s gospel we read:

“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” 3:17 NRSV

In the same way the church is not here to condemn the world.  Judgment belongs to God and God alone.  The church is to bring the light and love of God through Jesus Christ.  We are not to bring the darkness of hate which is the child of Evil.   Instead we have the honor to bring the healing of God in Jesus the Christ.

Sometimes we forget the purpose of the church.  The Christian people are to serve God over self.  When personal or community goals line up with that of God’s then all are blessed.  When we do God’s work the individual benefits as well as the Lords’ kingdom.  Imagine what we can do when our energy and desire join that of God’s!  The people grow and they truly live.

Like Christ our Lord, the church is to be a sanctuary of safety and healing for the world.  Imagine with words from the book of Revelation God’s desire for creation:

“…the river of the water of life, bright as crystal flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city.  On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.”  22:1-2 NRSV

As Christ is the source of rejuvenating life for the world, surly we can be the simple leaves for the healing of the nations by the power of God!

May the peace and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!

Rick

“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

So how is your prayer life?  Do you…

• Pray once a day
• Pray once every morning before starting my day
• Pray once a day or so but sometimes forget
• Pray once a week
• Don’t really know

If you were able to answer yes to any of the choices above, then your prayer life is seriously lacking.  And, yes, that includes those of you who were able to answer yes to even the top two.  Don’t even think about patting yourself on the
back for a “job well done.”

Seriously, I hope you don’t think of prayer as a “job” at all but rather as an ongoing relationship with your greatest love.  Now that’s a good question-is God your greatest love?  If the answer is yes AND you answered yes to any of the
above then I ask you again-How is your love life, really?  Is God truly first in your life?

I’ve heard various reasons for people avoiding prayer, I’ve used them all myself.

• I don’t know what to say
• I’m afraid of messing up
• I just can’t seem to make time
• I feel too guilty

Do any of those sound familiar?  Then let’s get to the heart of matter…RELATIONSHIP.

Relationships don’t just run themselves.  They must be nurtured.  One of the most important elements in nurturing that relationship is the ability to converse openly, honestly and on a continuous basis.

Let’s first tackle the issue of being open and honest in any relationship. Whether it’s with a spouse, a child, friend or relative, honesty can be withheld and when it is, it is almost always destructive in some form either to the person you are dishonest to or most certainly to the self.  Never the less, complete truths do not have to be revealed.  But when it comes to being open and honest with God, there is nothing that can be hidden.  He already knows every thought and action in your life, so then the issue turns inward.  It becomes an inability to be honest with the self, which in turn inhibits growth and causes internal strife.  So what does this suggest?  Would it not be to one’s advantage to be able to confide in someone who already knows everything about you?

But let’s not allow self growth to be the only reason for prayer.  God is to be praised and He is certainly worthy of praise!  Prayer is also used to make requests of God.  I  find myself doing a lot of that!

What about continuous prayer?  One of the definitions for continuous is, ‘connected throughout.’  This is how I like to think of continuous prayer…not that we are to be in a “prayerful position” at all times, but rather that we are connected with God in some fashion throughout.  And what does ‘throughout’ mean?…continuously, from beginning to end.

I once read an excerpt from a book where the writer was sharing a part of his journal.  His “experiment”, as he called it, was to see if he could fashion his life in order that he could stay “connected throughout” with God.  With each entry, his
time with God, rather it be in prayer, or just thoughts of God,  would increase, as this was his goal.  He began to realize that in everything he did throughout his day, it was possible to keep ‘the things of God’ on his mind.  At the finish of the experiment, he knew that it was not by his own efforts that he had attained this, but it was through the indwelling of His Holy Spirit that had enabled him to ‘think God thoughts’ with every thought and action of his daily life.  He had been ‘connected throughout.’

Are you connected throughout with His Holy Spirit?

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all you mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.”

Matthew 22:37-38

The other day I was inside my granddaughters school waiting for the bell to ring, and I noticed a small poster from an organization called Acts of Kindness, with its purpose being to promote random acts of kindness.  Next to the poster was a very large chalk board where the children wrote about their random acts.  I love this idea!

As I read through some of the articles on the website I realized the entire site was geared for educators and students with ideas for teachers to promote kindness.  There are many resources available.

An article on the site spoke about the health benefits of kindness, both physical and mental.

“Helping contributes to the maintenance of good health, and it can diminish the effect of diseases and disorders serious and minor, psychological and physical.

A rush of euphoria, followed by a longer period of calm, after performing a kind act is often referred to as a “helper’s high,” involving physical sensations and the release of the body’s natural painkillers, the endorphins. This initial rush is then followed by a longer-lasting period of improved emotional well-being.”

I recommend taking a few minutes to read the article.

I live in a small town where random acts of kindness still occur.  Just yesterday a friend stopped by just to give me some company.  (i’m presently healing from surgery)  It was 20 minutes out of her day and made us both feel good.  It’s not unusual to get a phone call ‘just because’, or a plate of cookies, even a chocolate pie!  Last year a lady brought by a handful of children’s movies thinking it might be of some help to us as we found ourselves with grandchildren for an extended period of time.  And just 2 weeks ago a friend came by with a beautiful gift that still brings me so much joy.  She took the time to find and purchase a small pillow, then sewed 2 different pillow cases for it so when one got dirty i simply had to take off the other.

I wonder if we are born with kindness or is it something to be attained and maybe learned?

Galatians 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control.

Colossians 3:12  Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

2 Peter 1:3-9   ³His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. ⁴Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

⁵For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. ⁸For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

After reading these scriptures I tend to want to believe that kindness is something to be attained and learned and given.

To be kind is to love.  To be kind is a quality; it is a fruit of the Spirit and something we are to clothe ourselves in.  So it takes effort, thought, desire to be so.  And it is something God has, is divine in nature and He is willing to give to us.

You’ve probably heard the story of the man who got out of bed in the morning, something happened to cause him to be angry and he carried that anger through out the day, spewing it upon each person he encountered who then did the same and so the anger affected many people, even ones he didn’t know.  So then all we have to do is replace the anger with kindness.

I think it is easier to spread  anger than it is to spread kindness.  Kindness takes thought and effort.

I’m going to pray for kindness; Godly kindness that involves love, affection, sacrifice.  And as I do I will thank God for the kindest act of all, giving His Son so that I may too know loving kindness.

By looking at the Christ we have our best opportunity to understand life, love, tragedy, and redemption.  RD

The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.
- Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein, one of the greatest human minds at unlocking the mysteries of creation understood the power and beauty of that which is beyond our grasp of understanding.  Maybe it was the beauty of it that kept him thinking and dreaming about the unknown and the keys that unlock the doors of understanding, one at a time.

God is the greatest of all mysteries.  This is why faith is so difficult to understand for those without its comfort.  They cannot own it, or create it with their rules, it is Grace and this is one blessing we cannot control or enforce.  It must be accepted then set free to bless all others.  The minute we tie it down, it is dead, ceases to exist within the borders of our laws.  If we deny others are worthy then we have killed it within our breast.  For Grace comes from the very breath of God, and as Jesus said “we cannot tell which way it will blow.”  Nor is it for us to decide.  Thank God, otherwise we would all be damned by someone!  Seriously, thank God and enjoy the mysterious Grace given to us by our Lord, the Christ.