Speak only God's Truth

"Let us speak only that which is perfectly true, and in so doing raise our sights to Truth itself, that is, to God."

St. Teresa of Avila, "Let Nothing Disturb You"

The world can be such a difficult place, complicated and difficult. Which is why it is so important to spend time each day with Truth, itself...that is--God. What if, every time we opened our mouths to speak today, we realized God is in the audience? Whatever we are saying in the break room at work, or on our phone in traffic, or sitting around the Friday-afternoon-Happy-Hour table was said to God directly. Wow, that, huh? Today, this Friday, February First, let's be very mindful of what we say. Is it God's Truth? Can we say it directly to God? I think I will throw a roll of duct tape into my purse! Blessings on your weekend! Love, heidi

Love and the glory of God

"We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works."

Hebrews 10:24

Wow...if this doesn't sound like the purpose of Cursillo whatever does? As we prepare for the men's Cursillo this weekend and the women's next weekend, this verse should inspire us. Also, this quote from St. John Bosco, whose feast we celebrate today: "All for God and for his glory. In whatever you do, think of the glory of God as your main goal." (as quoted in "The Word Among Us") Let us remember the best way to teach is by example, so to rouse one another to love is best done by loving! Everything we do and say should proclaim the glory of God. Everything? Yes, everything! Love, heidi

Forgiven and forgotten

"This is the covenant I will establish with them after those days, says the Lord:

'I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them upon their minds,'

he also says: 'Their sins and their evildoing I will remember no more.'"

Hebrews 10:16-17

It sure seems that we remember our sins and evildoing long after God has forgotten it, doesn't it? We can wallow around in our own misdeeds long after the sin has been confessed and forgiven--forgotten even--by God. One of the first things we need to trust about God is God's forgiveness. Even though we, ourselves, may not completely understand it. We think of God in human terms. And because we tend to cling to grudges and because we like to stir into memory bitterness of the past, we assume God does too. And God has a much better memory than we do! Let's take a moment today to realize and rejoice in the fact that God forgives and forgets. Our sins are as far from us as the east is from the west. And let's remember that when we are challenged to forgive and forget too. Love, heidi

God, running toward us!

"I waited, waited for the Lord; who bent down and heard my cry...set my feet upon rock, steadied my steps, and put a new song in my mouth."

Psalm 40:2-4

I love this today because it shows our loving God bending down to hear us. It is such a misconception to think of God as illusive, aloof, disinterested in the shadow side of us. Our God loves us, shadows and all! Jesus gave us the perfect image of God, when he told the Prodigal Son story. Our God is the Father who runs down the road to welcome the wayward child. Our God meets us more-than-halfway if we but turn our face toward the Divine. St. Teresa gave us the image of the tiny child painstakingly climbing the tall, difficult stairway toward God, only to see God racing down the steps to scoop her up and carry her the rest of the way. Our God is not a cold, hard God who keeps a tally of our demerits and loves us only when we tow the line. Our God bends to hear our cry, helps us to our feet and gives us a song to sing. And isn't THAT something to celebrate on a snowy, winter Tuesday? Love, heidi

Quiet, quiet...

"Quiet, quiet, faced with silence, you and me and everything between.

Stillness, stillness, how I've misplaced your face in the midst of my worries...

You say, 'Be still,' and I will, I will. In the silence you speak; I am listening."

Sherry Muchira, "Quiet" from the album, "All Things New"

This past weekend was an amazing time with friends in a winter wonderland, but there were a couple of times I went off alone and experienced the "Quiet, quiet." I find, that lately, I have come to crave a bit of the quiet, even as I greatly enjoy the time with others. That moment or two of quiet helps me touch base with the space inside where Jesus is. Make no mistake, though, time laughing uproariously with friends is deeply spiritual, too. But there is something about the Quiet and the Stillness that lures me in. I urge you, too, to give in to the call of the Quiet, sometime, throughout your day. Love, heidi

P.S. You can find this amazing album of Sherry's (formerly of Lystra's Silence) on Amazon or iTunes. It is simply splendid!