Into the depths of the sea...

"You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins..."

Micah 7:19

 

I really liked this image today.  If you have ever gazed at the vastness of the ocean, it is a real comfort to know that God forgives and forgets our sins so completely.  Since that is the case, why do we hang onto them--our sins?  It is, sometimes, harder for us to forgive ourselves than it is for God to cast our sins into the sea.  We certainly take away from God's greatness by hanging onto something God has already cast aside, don't we?  Today, let's trust that, as soon as we are aware of them and ask God to forgive our sins, they are long gone...to the bottom of the sea.  Let's continue on about our day, knowing that our God loves us beyond our own imagination! And let's remember that God wants us to forgive others as easily and completely.  Love, heidi

"Be a good girl!"

"...and what the Lord requires of you:

Only to do the right and to love goodness,

and to walk humbly with your God."

Micah 6:8

 

I never walked out the door, the entire time I was growing up, without the command from my mother, "Be a good girl!" I can still hear the words ringing in my head.  And this is, basically, what the prophet Micah is telling us today.  It sounds so easy but we all know it isn't.  Because each component--doing the right, loving goodness and walking humbly with God becomes more complicated when we factor in our human-ness.  Our human need to feed our egos, justify ourselves, to be liked and admired, all seem to work against us.  Yesterday we heard a wonderful homily about how our judgments of others can really trip us up on our walk with God.  So many things loom ahead of us as we try to do the right, love goodness and walk humbly with God.  The most important thing we have in our favor, though, is that God loves us and is more than willing to help us do the right, love goodness and walk humbly.  All we need to do is recognize our own difficulties and short-comings and seek God's help.  God will be right there to lend a hand!  Love, heidi

We are blessed!

"We are the lucky ones...

Some people never get to do all we got to do."

Carole King, "Now and Forever"

 

I (somehow) was able to quote this song to Sam at 4:00 this morning, as she left for a trip to the east coast with her friends.  You may remember it as the theme song for the movie "A League of Their Own," which is easily on my Top Five list of movies.  Sam realizes that she has opportunities that most people never have in their whole lives.  She's one of the "lucky ones."  Aren't we all?  When we think about it our lives are so richly blessed, aren't they?  Today, as we embark on a summer weekend, let's remember how gifted and how blessed we are to be right where we are today.  We have loved ones, we have resources that others only dream about, and we have community--the Body of Christ.  And, if you want a treat, watch this video of this beautiful song:

Carole King - Now And Forever (Official Video) 

				Carole King - Now And Forever (Official Video)
				View on www.youtube.com	Preview by Yahoo

God loving us...

"For the Lord will not cast off his people, nor abandon his inheritance."

Psalm 94:14

 

This is such a comforting thought to me this morning!  Even when God's people, Israel, made God REALLY mad, God still did not abandon them.  Think about it.  God was so frustrated with the people of Israel, but still hung in there with them...pursuing them, loving them, wooing them back.  There is no sin from which we cannot be forgiven, nothing we could ever do to cause God to turn away from us.  Our God is always in our corner, loving us with a love we cannot even fathom.  Today, this summer Wednesday, let us rest assured and comforted that God will never leave us and only wants what is best for us.  Love, heidi

The sufferings of this present time...

"I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed to us."

Romans 8:18

 

This was the second reading Sunday and it just jumped off the page at me.  So many people are suffering now.  I would like to think this verse would be a comfort, but I don't know. Suffering can take on a life of its own and even words of comfort, like this, can fall short.  When in the midst of trials we just try to get hour-to-hour, day-to-day, wishing and praying for just one ordinary day. We look back, wistfully, at the days of ho-hum routine.  Boredom can look pretty good when in the middle of a crisis! Today, let's keep in our minds, hearts, and prayers those who are going through difficult times; whether they be loss of a loved one, loss of a job, injustice, a bad diagnosis, or the loss of a friend or home.  Let's consider all those who are struggling to find a better life, whether it be by crossing a border or kicking a drug habit.  Let's make a point today to pray throughout our day for all those who are suffering. And if we, ourselves, are going through a difficult time, let's turn to the One who knows suffering like no other, Jesus.  Love, heidi

Landscaping project!

"A sower went out to sow.  And as he sowed, seed fell on the path..."

Matthew 13:3-4

 

After this Gospel yesterday, I re-read the corresponding chapter in "Jesus: A Pilgrimage" for more to chew on.  Fr. James Martin poses the possibility that we may all experience all types of terrain in our own relationship with God.  I sat and pondered this for a long time and came up with some real examples of my own. To begin, what part of our lives is most fertile ground?  For me, my relationships with family and loved ones. It's easy to see the good fruit sprouting up and growing in those loving and nourishing relationships.  That said, where, in our lives, is our rocky ground?  Where we can't readily observe God's word changing us? I tend to hold onto hurts and grudges. I can easily wallow around in the past at the expense of the present. There are some big boulders, there, I'm afraid. And what about those thorny areas? I tend to jump to harsh judgments and just have a hard time with people who challenge me or need compassion from me. Those are some thorny bushes, I'd love to dig up and toss away!  God's word has immense power in our lives, but different areas of our lives may be more receptive to it.  What can we do to be more receptive in ALL areas?  I think our awareness of the areas in which we struggle is a start. We can certainly turn to Jesus for help in pulling out the thorn bushes and hauling in top soil!  The rocks may be a bit harder to move, though.  Love, heidi