“And keep us safe.” Matthew 6:13 Maundy Thursday services will be held in many churches this week. These services often include a simple meal sometimes called a “love feast” or perhaps a seder meal. These meals are designed to help recount God’s faithfulness to God’s people over many generations. How has God shown faithfulness toContinue reading “Joy: Lent Week 5 – Keep us safe”
Tag Archives: dailydevotion
Comfort: Lent Week 2 – The Holiness of God
“Reveal who you are.” -Matthew 6:9b (The Message) Trends and theories all have their day, and often the most popular are in reaction to something that has come before. For those of us living in the West, our cultural conditioning towards individualism impacts our religious expression as well. We may forget how radical Jesus wasContinue reading “Comfort: Lent Week 2 – The Holiness of God”
Pray very Simply
In times of uncertainty, overwhelm or stress, we can turn to the rhythms and rituals of our lives to ground us. Just as seasons of grief, winter or wilderness force us to wrestle with discomfort and uncertainty, so too, these are opportunities to lean into the practices that sustain us and explore new ways ofContinue reading “Pray very Simply”
Invitation to Lent
My children are mostly past the stage of birthday parties with themed invitations. But I remember receiving many colorful invites in school folders and via email when they were younger. These varied birthday invitations were exuberant calls to spend a couple hours, usually on a Saturday, helping a very loved little one celebrate another year. Continue reading “Invitation to Lent”
Counterbalance: The Comfort of Transcending Self
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.” –Phillipians 2:3 I can still see myself standing at the island in the church kitchen saying, “And what are you contributing to retreat?” or something equally awful. I was in my 20’s and working full time at anContinue reading “Counterbalance: The Comfort of Transcending Self”
Counterbalance: The Comfort of Embodiment
God formed Man and Woman* out of dirt from the ground and blew into their* nostrils the breath of life. The Man and Woman* came alive—living souls! -Genesis 2:7 (The Message) *my own addition Between the snowy winter weather that drives us indoors (if you live in some parts of North America) and our allContinue reading “Counterbalance: The Comfort of Embodiment”
Counterbalance: The Joy of Shared Sacredness
“The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering…” -Luke 3:15 Last fall, several women from my church invited me to a women’s retreat. Four of us shared a hotel room to cut down on cost. Being all in the nearly 50 something category we shared peri-menopause stories and laughed (and sometimes got a littleContinue reading “Counterbalance: The Joy of Shared Sacredness”
Comfort: Beauty is a Counterpoint to Despair
“God has made everything suitable for its time;” –Ecclesiastes 3:11 One of my morning rituals is to read through the newspaper. Of course there is no shortage of griefs. From droughts and famines, wars and rumors of war. On the days this practice proves more devastating than delightful, I remind myself it is important toContinue reading “Comfort: Beauty is a Counterpoint to Despair”
Joy: Beauty Draws Us Closer to God
Spend time today with a form of sacred beauty. Perhaps it’s a beloved scripture passage, a song that makes your heart swell, or taking a walk in a place that brings peace to your soul. Consider the places and spaces in which you feel the presence of God. In the face of limitations, whether thatContinue reading “Joy: Beauty Draws Us Closer to God”
Comfort: Childlike Wonder
“O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” – Psalm 8:1 I clearly remember taking my two-year-old son for a walk down a gravel lane. I had a time oriented goal and place in mind. While he’s now a middle schooler, it seems like a short time ago that weContinue reading ” Comfort: Childlike Wonder”
some comfort and joy 