Perfect in weakness

"Your strength made perfect in weakness, made perfect our weakness..."

Sherry Muchira, "Made Perfect in Weakness" from the Lystra Silence album, Tremble Here

 

I've shared this with a few people, so if you have heard it, please hear it again, because it's incredible!  Our fearless Spiritual Direction leader, Peg Wuelfing, who died so suddenly this past Sunday, had wanted to be an organ donor.  After her death the Social Worker talked to the family and explained that, since Peg had previously had cancer, they could not use the organs, but they could use her eyes.  The family, very surprised, told the Social Worker that Peg had macular degeneration so her eyes were not healthy.  The Social Worker explained that her corneas were very healthy and they would give two people the gift of sight.  Only God could create a scenario where Peg's eyes could help others see!  This teaches us that God can and does use the weakest part of ourselves if we just turn ourselves over to God. God can take what is weak in us and still use it for good for others.  This is so truly God-in-action, Friends.  Where we are weak, God is strong. God's strength is made perfect in our weakness, like this beautiful song says. Let's remember this as we embark on a day we may not feel up to tackling.  Love, heidi

God is there...

"Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer."

Romans 12:12

 

Well, this is exactly what I needed to hear today, how about you?  For anyone who may not already know, the director of our Spiritual Direction program, who had been in the car accident nearly three weeks ago, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday.  This has been a heartbreaking shock, because Peg was home, on the mend and doing fairly well.  And then, suddenly, she had an embolism and died. When something like this happens, one wonders, "Where in the world are you, Lord? And what are we to do?"  That's when it's wonderful to just turn to the Word and read what we are to do.  It's all spelled out for us and it makes so much more sense than what is happening around us.  There are and will be many lessons and blessings throughout all of this, but it is also okay to sit and rest with the heartache.  God is there. Love, heidi

All Souls...

"The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace...they shall be greatly blessed."

Wisdom 3: 1-3, 5

 

There is certainly nothing I can add to this reading today...it is perfectly clear and beautiful as it is.  We have all lost someone and know the deep sadness of that.  Let's spend some time, sit with this reading and allow it to comfort us.  This feast of All Souls lets us lovingly remember all we love who have slipped over the wall and are now in the hands of God.  And let's remember all those who they leave behind, for comfort and peace, in their lives.  Love, heidi

Continue on the Way

"Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day."

Luke 13:33

 

On Pray-As-You-Go this morning they ask, what would make Jesus so determined to go to Jerusalem even after the "warning" from the Pharisees? It really got me thinking about the deepest desires God places in our hearts. We may catch glimpses of these all throughout our lives.  Our deepest desires can actually become (if we are listening) our destiny.  Jesus' mission was clear to him.  God placed the mission in Jesus' heart and mind and there was nothing that would interfere...no fears, no distractions--Jesus knew what he had to do and he was determined to do it.  Jesus was so in tune with his Father that there was no human response that would interfere.  The very human Jesus asked if there may be another way as he prayed in Gethsemane, but, ultimately, his will matched the Father's. What about us?  Have we spent time exploring the deepest desires of our hearts?  Are we, thus, familiar with God's will for us in our lives? Are we determined to continue on our way today, tomorrow, and the following day?  It is so worthwhile to sit with Jesus and discover!  Love, heidi

St. Jude, pray for us...

"Saint Jude, glorious apostle, faithful servant and friend of Jesus..."

Novena to St. Jude

 

Today, being the feast of St. Jude, I picked up my novena book and it opened automatically to this novena.  Let me just say that my family has been asking St. Jude for prayers for a hundred years (that's NOT an exaggeration!) My dad credits St. Jude's prayers for many miracles in his life, such as escaping basic training during WWII.  St. Jude has been our Go-to for intercessory prayer as long as I can remember.  So, this little book of novenas...I wrote down in the margins each time I prayed this novena and for what intention.  I can easily see that St. Jude's prayers got my kids through difficult times; finals, board exams, moves, relationships.  St. Jude's prayers helped us sell houses, get summer jobs, obtain internships.  St. Jude is a rock star.  I know the mystery of asking the saints for prayers may seem foreign to some, but it can be so comforting--asking a friend of Jesus to pray with you.  Today, St. Jude, thanks, so much, for your many prayers over the years.  My dad never would have survived boot camp...love, heidi

That was Jesus?

"Dearest Lord, may I see you today and every day in the person of your sick and, while nursing them, minister unto you. Though you hide yourself behind the unattractive disguise of the irritable, the exacting, the unreasonable, may I still recognize you and say, 'Jesus, my patient (client, student, fellow traveler) how sweet it is to serve you.'"

~Blessed Teresa of Calcutta (I added the "client, student, fellow traveler" part)

 

Ok, so yesterday, I got to the office on a Monday morning and there was a scathing message on the message machine.  I mean, it was hard to hear. It was not directed at me, personally, but the person on the other end was obviously "irritable, exacting, and unreasonable."  Just the person Mother Teresa is talking about here.  And that was Jesus?  Wow, that. I sure didn't recognize him!  Let's keep our eyes open today for the most difficult person we encounter and treat that person as Jesus in disguise.  Can we treat them with kindness and compassion? Let's try!  Love, heidi