Empowered, by God!

"There is a world full of suffering waiting for the healing and hope you carry in your hands."

Mary Stommes, "Give Us This Day"

I wonder if we really believe that we have what it takes to actually help. We have a tendency to doubt ourselves, don't we? We feel more bumbling and inadequate in our own abilities and, surely, there is someone else who could do it better. isn't there?  What we forget, though, is that we are empowered by God (or empowered, by God!) to do whatever God needs us to do in this world. What we bring, our seemingly meager loaves and fish, can be multiplied and magnified to meet God's need.  That is reassuring, isn't it? We need to show up, willing and ready, and let God do the rest with and in us.  Blessings on your nearly-summer weekend!  Love, heidi

The mystery of heaven...

"When they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but they are like angels in heaven."

Mark 12:25

 

I've been asked, many times, what I think heaven will be like.  As I get older, I realize I am more and more comfortable with the mystery of heaven and have no need to figure it out or know what's going to happen there.  As much as I usually like to have things planned and figured out ahead of time, heaven is one topic I can allow to just be a mystery. I am happy just believing that I will be with God.  And that is plenty for me to get excited about!  I also remember that Jesus talked about the Kingdom of God right here on earth and that intrigues me.  I don't have to die to experience the Kingdom.  God is here among us; I just need to keep my mind, heart and eyes open.  Heaven is a mystery I can live with, very happily.  But, I don't want to miss the Jesus present here and now, waiting for another opportunity to be with God later.  So, what will heaven be like?  Heaven will be like a beautiful, early June Wednesday, hanging out with Jesus.  Blessings on your heaven today!  Love, heidi

Your will, not mine

"(Jesus) said, 'Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet not what I want, but what you want.'"

Mark 14:36

 

The other day I was fervently praying for an intention.  I was making it REALLY clear to God what I want.  I was emphatic. But, at one point, quite surprisingly, I thought of Jesus praying, "Not my will, but yours be done." I wasn't convinced, really and it was too hard to say. I found it particularly hard to pray for God's will if it differs from my own.  But surely, God will want what I want...won't God? How often are we sure we have it all figured out and we pray for what we know is the right thing to bring God glory and then, no, that's not what happens.  It is very difficult to pray for God's will if it differs from our own, but that is what Jesus did and he modeled that for us.  Fr. James Martin notes in "Jesus: A Pilgrimage," that Jesus prayed three times before coming to "Yet your will, not mine." Even Jesus expressed his desire honestly to his Father, before getting to the place where he could say, "Not my will."  As I was praying that day, though I got very choked up and it was very hard, I finally came to, "Your will, O Lord, not mine." It felt rather grown up, really.  It felt like I'd crossed a threshold.  My trust is in the Lord.  Your will be done.  Love, heidi

Love in action

 "I give you a new commandment: love one another."

John 13:34

 

I spend a lot of time trying to apply scripture to modern day life.  What does this scripture look like in 21st century Idaho? Or anywhere? Sometimes, frequently if I am paying attention, I see it played out exactly as written. Like last night.  My car was making a weird, dragging-type noise and, when turning up the radio didn't cover it up, I investigated when I got to the parking lot of the store.  Sure enough, it looked like I had picked up some big thing and was dragging it along.  I tried to dislodge The Thing and, while it was loose on one side, the other side was hopelessly stuck...or was that attached?  Yikes!  A kind lady came over and asked me what the deal was and when I explained, she beckoned Husband, who was in the idling pick up truck with the kids.  He left the truck idling in the middle of the lane and, before I knew it, was laying on his back in the parking lot, under the front of my car.  He scooted around on his back in the grime and grit and discovered the issue was a plastic protective piece that had broken off on one side and was dragging along, presumably for a while.  He had just the perfect tool in his pocket, loosening the two bolts that held on the other side of it and freeing it.  I was in awe of his generosity, taking the time, getting himself filthy, and helping me on my way.  I thanked him, wished their family God's blessing and felt completely different about everyone I saw in the store afterwards.  Surely, all there were as generous and kind.  My fellow humans.  I love them.  May we all be as generous and kind to each other today.  Love, heidi

All the love in the universe

"For the Lord takes delight in his people, honors the poor with victory."

Psalm 149:4

 

One of the things that stands out in my mind from our Parish Mission last night was this: "wasting" time with the Lord is never a waste of time.  Remember a time when you were in a new relationship and all you wanted to do was spend time with the new friend? It didn't matter what you did, as long as you were together.  Even the most mundane tasks, like grocery shopping or going to the laundromat became new and fun, because you just wanted to BE with the other person.  Do we ever think of our prayer time that way?  This weekend, let's set aside some quality time just to be aware that we are with God.  Even just ten minutes--can we just sit quietly and enjoy a bit of silent time with God? We don't have to do anything formal or specific--just sitting with our hands open and being aware of each breath we take can give us an awareness of the glory of God, because it is God who gives us each breath.  And that time will never be wasted because we are spending it with the One who loves us with all the love in the universe.  Blessings on your weekend! Love, heidi

The obvious question...

"What do you want me to do for you?"

Mark 10:51

 

I have prayed often, in recent years, with this scripture.  Jesus asks the blind man, Bartimaeus, what he wants and at first it seems strange.  But the more I think and pray with it, the clearer it becomes.  Jesus asks Bartimaeus this most obvious question because Jesus wants to hear it from him.  Jesus wants relationship. Jesus wants a conversation.  Jesus could have just moved through the crowds of people and healed everyone of everything. So, why do the Gospels tell us stories of Jesus seeking people out, asking them obvious questions, touching them, engaging them and healing them one by one, person by person?  I think it is to teach us that Jesus wants that same type of interaction with us.  Jesus wants relationship, conversation, and engagement with us, too.  Jesus is thrilled to hear from us, even if it is the same old stuff we always bring to him.  We may think we sound like a broken record, but, to Jesus, who just delights in the sound of our voice, it is music.  Let's remember this question Jesus asks Bartimaeus today, as we go about our late-May Thursday.  "What do you want me to do for you?"  Oh, Jesus!  I just want you to BE with me through every minute of this day!  Love, heidi