Tag Archives: somecomfortandjoy

Counterbalance: The Joy of Transcending Self

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.” –Phillipians 2:3 Accessing our connection to things greater than ourselves can bring us comfort and joy. Whether it is through helping someone else, bearing witness to the grief and pain of another, or investing in actions that bringContinue reading “Counterbalance: The Joy of Transcending Self”

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 Joy of Embodiment

“The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” -Genesis 2:7 Honoring our bodies as a gift can be a countercultural perspective. With the barrage of messaging to be smaller, smoother, stronger, younger or healthier (andContinue reading “Counterbalance: The Joy of Embodiment”

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”

Counterbalance: The Comfort of Shared Sacredness

“The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering…” -Luke 3:15 Mary set out with haste to a Judean town in the hill country to be with Elizabeth. Their shared blessing and joy is a significant part of the story of the nativity. A shared sacredness between women experiencing something miraculous. Blessed is she.  NotContinue reading “Counterbalance: The Comfort of Shared Sacredness”

Up Next…

We are in the days of midwinter. The excitement and energy of a new year– both church year (Advent) and calendar year (January)–is now settling into the routine and ordinary. Soon we will begin our journey through Lent, the season of repentance and fasting that carries us through the ministry of Jesus.  Often, there’s notContinue reading “Up Next…”

Thank you!

Thank you to our reading community!  We are so completely humbled  and thankful to have each of you reading along. We hope you had an opportunity to reflect and embrace some ordinary yet holy moments with us during this Advent and Christmas season. We’ll have another series coming your way soon! Don’t miss our newContinue reading “Thank you!”