Third Order Carmelite

I never knew there could be lay-person nuns.  The iconographer that I met the other evening is a "Third Order Carmelite."  This appears to be a way to dedicate one's normal, every-day life to prayer and pursuit of God, but within an organized order.

"Lay Carmelites, filled with the spirit of the Order, seek to live their own vocation by silently listening to the Word of God (Lectio Divina). According to the constant tradition of Carmel, they will especially cultivate prayer in all its forms...
 

In the midst of their normal family lives, in the work place, in their social commitments and relationships with other people, Carmelite Third Order members seek out the hidden image of God. They try to live in the spirit of the Beatitudes, humbly and consistently exercising the virtues of honesty, justice, sincerity, courtesy and fortitude, without which no Christian or human life is possible."   (http://ocarm.org/en/content/ocarm/third-order)

TV~  (Today's Verse)
Take the... sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people.

One by One

The friar stood before his students that day to give a lecture on offering thanks to God.  He said but a few words, "Count your blessings.....one by one."  Then he turned and walked out, leaving his students there to contemplate his words and await his return.  It was two hours later that the friar returned. 

Even two hours is not enough time to count all the blessings that God has given us.  Yet, I wonder if I'd have been able to fill the full two hours with an item-by-item list of my blessings.  I must admit that, even on this day of thanks, there are tears being shed for things that seem absent or undeserved.

TV~ (Today's Verse)
Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee. [Psalm 116:7]

Visiting an Iconographer

The other evening, I visited the beautiful home of an iconographer.  Decorated creatively and furnished arts-and-crafts style, the home exuded a sense of peace and spirituality.

The woman who lives there spends much of her time "writing" icons.  Apparently one does not paint an icon, one "writes" an icon because it is a story of the gospel and is thought of as a passage into heaven.  Icons came about before the general population could read and thus were ways for the populous to seek God.  The idea of an icon is that rather than focusing on the image itself, you look "through" it to become closer to the Lord. 

Before any project is begun, the iconographer prays and often fasts for a period of time.  She uses gold leaf on some of her pieces, as that is a symbol of divinity.

TV~  (Today's Verse)
One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.
[Psalm 27:4]

The Greatest Power

Q:  What is the greatest of all God's powers?

A:  The power to forgive sins.  This brings a person from death to life.


TV~  (Todays' Verse)
"Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, and walk '? "But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins "-- then He said to the paralytic, "Get up, pick up your bed and go home." And he got up and went home.… [Matthew 9:6]

Walking in the Dark

Please give credit to the author, it you happen to know him or her...

I do not ask my cross to understand, my way to see
Better in darkness just to feel thy hand, and follow thee.

TV~  (Today's Verse)

They will bear you up in their hands, That you do not strike your foot against a stone.… 
[Psalm 91:11]

More and More Like Jesus

"I want to be more and more like Jesus.  I want to be more and more like Him."  I'm listening to a sweet, but very strong-willed five-year-old sing that right now, at the top of his lungs.  Out of the mouths of babes....

Lord, we want to be more and more like You.  May your grace be sufficient  today, your power made perfect in our ever-present weakness.

TV~  (Today's Verse)
If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. [John 13:14]

Stuff or Speak?

One way to deal with loss or grief is by "stuffing it," that is pushing those painful feelings aside and continuing on.  The problem with this method is that eventually those feelings come out in one way or another, perhaps causing unhealthy behavior.  The scriptures tell us to speak the truth in love.  That is a more healthy way to handle the situations that rock our boat.  In the end, we will be in a more stable, godly place.

TV~  (Today's Verse)
Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. [Ephesians 4:15]

Wearing Scripture

I have a pendant around my neck.  It is made of sparkly yellow yarn, golden construction paper and brightly-colored plastic jewels.  Made in a child's Sunday School class, there is a scripture printed on it:   "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear."  Feelings of fear keep plaguing me.  Every time the fear comes, I clasp the child's pendant and mentally review the verse.  It is helping.

TV~  (Today's Verse)
So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" [Hebrews 13:6]

The Heart

King David was a man after God's own heart.  God has a heart.  Perhaps that is why the word heart is found so often throughout the Bible. 

TV~  (Today's Verse)
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.  [Psalm 28:7]

Christ Everywhere

The following prayer keeps coming to mind in recent days.  It is attributed to St. Patrick and is part of a longer prayer, entitled: St. Patrick's Breastplate.

If we pray this and attribute this to ourselves, it truly is like a breastplate.  It protects us from temptation, from the evil one and from our own evil desires.

Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

TV~ (Today's Verse)
He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. [Colossians 1:17]

Part of God's Family

I spent last evening at a surprise birthday party.  There were 80 people present.  The "birthday girl" has been married for 40 years, has no children, both her parents are deceased and she has few blood relatives.   At one point in the evening, she came over to speak with me and we discussed all the people present.  The majority were from her church.  "They are my family,"  she said, with tears in her eyes. 

The scriptures call us children of God and refers to our fellow believers as brothers and sisters in Christ.

TV~ (Today's Verse)
But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

I Will, by God's Help

At one point, during the Anglican baptismal service, those in the congregation renew their baptismal vows.  The celebrant asks questions about faith, fellowship, resisting evil, witnessing and serving.  In each case, the people answer:  "I will, by God's help."

Celebrant   Wilt thou continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowhip, in the breaking of bread, and in
                     prayers?

People        I will, by God's help.

TV~  (Today's Verse)
Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all men. [Acts 2:47]

Explanation for Trials??

A good coach knows his athletes and pushes each one, individually, just short of their utmost limit.  This makes them strong and prepared for what lies ahead.  God is the same way.

"God knows our strength, and He measures it to the last inch; and a trial was never given to any man that was greater than that man's strength, through God, to bear it.  It is His trust in you that explains the trials of life, however bitter they may be." ~Streams in the Desert  

TV~   (Today's Verse)
 God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.  [I Corinthians 10:13]

Only in the Presence of Light

Following the Lamb

They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. (Revelation 14:4)

I asked a 12-year-old today what it means to follow Jesus wherever he goes.  His response,       "If the Lamb goes up a hard hill, we go up a hard hill."  This reminded me of Much-Afraid, the protagonist in the Christian classic Hinds' Feet on High Places.

          “O Shepherd. You said you would make my feet like hinds' feet and set me upon

           High Places".

          "Well", he answered "the only way to develop hinds' feet is to go by the paths which

            the hinds use."   -Hannah Hurnard, Hinds' Feet on High Places 

TV~ (Today's Verse)
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children... [Ephesians 5:2]

A Different Way of Living

I spoke with someone today who said that Bach had 32 children.  I drew the conclusion that Bach must have been promiscuous and said, "I thought he was Christian."  This person commented, "Maybe he was, but what difference does it make?"

A brief investigation showed me that Bach had 20 children, seven with his first wife and 13 with his second wife. History does not point to Bach being promiscuous.  I hope and pray that our Christian faith causes us to live markedly different lives, based on wholesome values.  (Not perfect, and struggling, we press on toward the goal for which Christ has called us heavenward.)

"When he was 48, Johann Sebastian Bach acquired a copy of Luther's three-volume translation of the Bible. He pored over it as if it were a long-lost treasure...  Near 1 Chronicles 25 (a listing of Davidic musicians) he wrote, "This chapter is the true foundation of all God-pleasing music." At 2 Chronicles 5:13 (which speaks of temple musicians praising God), he noted, "At a reverent performance of music, God is always at hand with his gracious presence."  (Christian History.net)

TV~ (Today's verse)
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
[Romans 12:2]

Two Teens and a Baby

I learned recently of a beautiful baby born to an unmarried teenage couple.  No longer together, they now share the custody of their child, each taking the baby every other week.  The dad awakes at 5:30 a.m. daily for a landscaping job.  The mom is cleaning houses. Their responsibilities limit their job and education options.

There once was a younger son who left home.  He wanted to be "free."  It was fun for a while, until his money ran out and he became a farm hand, feeding the pigs.

The best part of the story....
When the younger son decided to return home, physically and spiritually, he was welcomed with open arms.

TV~
There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. [Proverbs 14:12]

Stuck in the Muck

There are seasons in which we become stuck.  It is horrible.  We may be stuck in anger, or unforgivenss, or grief, or.....
If we are unable to climb out, we can cry out and ask God to rescue us.

TV~  (Today's Verse)
He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

The Downward Spiral of Temptation

Here are the five steps downward: 

1.  We are drawn away by our own evil desires.
2.  Our desire conceives.
3.  Our desire gives birth to sin.
4.  Sin becomes full-grown.
5.  Sin brings forth death.  (Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy.)

TV~  (Today's Verse)
But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.  Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. 

The Truth Within

In our relativistic society, truth can be a shifting term.  However, we are assured that if the Holy Spirit is within us, we have the spirit of truth.

TV~  (Today's Verse)

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. [John 8:32]

Remembering Evelyn

My pastor recently spoke of a saintly woman he once knew who had worked as a nurse to the impoverished in rural Canada.  He had the privilege of being by her bedside at the time of her passing on into glory.  She kept repeating the same scripture, over and over.  Praise the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.  (Psalm 103:1)

Oh that we all would be able to praise God even unto our dying breath.

TV~  (Today's Verse)
While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.
 [Psalm 146:2]

Little Bits of Encouragement

There's a church in my town that has a sign offering a short, encouraging word each time I drive by... 

There's an egg company that prints the gospel on all of its egg cartons...

Today I opened up a math lesson CD, and a Bible verse was the first window that popped up.  It encouraged me and is the verse for today.

TV~ (Today's Verse)
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. [Isaiah 41:10]

A Daily Purpose

Those of us, who've reached middle age and beyond, would agree that life is full of hardship. In fact, some days are so hard that the goal becomes merely getting through to the end of the day.  Day in day out, week in week out, year in year out.  The shallow goals that may satisfy us when we are young grow dim with the years.  We realize that it is living for God and creating loving relationships which matter most.

Ask God each day to show you how to bless another person who also is part of  the daily struggle that is part of the  human condition.

TV~ (Today's Verse)
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.  The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.  [Mark 12:30,31]

Saints Ignored

Someone recently gave me a book entitled, "50 People Every Christian Should Know: Learning from Spiritual Giants of the Faith," by Baptist theologian Warren W. Wiersbe.   Many of those 50 names are people I recognize and know to be worthy of respect.  Yet nobody mentioned in the book lived prior to the 19th century.  What about all those spiritual giants who lived before 1800? 

I wonder if the earlier spiritual giants are ignored because they were Catholic. (All Christians were Catholic prior to 1517.)   Protestant authors focus only on the Protestants, thus missing out on much of the rich heritage of faith that brought us from the time of Christ into the present.

TV~ (Today's Verse)
They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.… [Hebrews 11:37]