New Link to NRSV

I've been reading the daily office lectionary each day so far this advent. I've found that if I look it up online, I can read it and refer to it several times each day, whenever I come back to the computer. I think this will help me keep up with this activity more easily than if I were using a hand-held Bible. Only problem is that Bible Gateway doesn't have the translation of the Bible that our church uses. I like being able to read it in several versions, but I really wanted to be able to see the NRSV as one of them. So thanks to Father John Gibson, I have a new link to the NRSV, and I'm posting it with my links at the side of this blog. The website is called Oremus Bible Browser.

Gospel Based Discipleship

I received a booklet from our diocese with Gospel readings for each day of the church year. Yesterday was the first day of the church year - the first day of Advent. I really want to read and reflect on these this year. I know I won't be disciplined enough to read each day, but I will strive to do that. I really want to develop a discipline of reading and reflecting on scripture every day. I currently do it so haphazardly. So we'll see how it goes. Yesterday's reading was Matthew 25:1-13 and today's is Luke 20:1-8. There is nothing listed in the booklet like questions to help reflect on the passages. I'll just have to reflect on my own. I am looking forward to it.

Time to Get Religious Again

Since it's been over a month since I posted anything on this blog I shall try again now.

I am friends with people of very diverse views about religion. Some are very strong, conservative Christians. Others consider themselves liberal Christians. Many are moderates like me. Others do not consider themselves religious at all. I admit I don't have many close relationships with people who are of different religions. How can all of these viewpoints be correct? And some of them are so certain they are right. I know God is bigger than all of that and all of us, but it can really bother me that we, God's creation, can't just get along. We have a need to point blame at others as "the bad guys" - those conservatives, those liberals. This has to do with religion and politics too, I suppose. I think the bottom line is to love and serve each other no matter what, if we believe in God. And I have one friend who claims not to believe in God at all. I often find myself feeling caught in the middle. Sometimes I have to come out and say I am not a biblical literalist and I have liberal-ish social values to my conservative friends. And sometimes I have to come out and say I'm a Christian to my liberal friends, even though they might not want to talk about religion or though they may find Christians to be close-minded. In the process of being true to myself, I find myself liberal, moderate, and conservative all at once - depending on to whom or what I am comparing myself. This can make me quite dizzy and uncomfortable. But I am on a quest to be true to myself, down to the core of how God created me and of who God desires for me to be. So I'll stop and rest when I get too dizzy, I guess. I trust that I will figure out what matters to the best of my ability, and what I never come to understand is not necessary on my life's journey.

Being Still

The children's choir that I direct is singing an anthem called "Be Still and Know that I am God". Funny, how the words to that anthem have been out there in front of my face all along. Being still is really difficult for me. Not physically - I can easily stop moving and put up my feet any time. However, mentally being still is absolutely difficult. The words of the song (without the repeated parts) are: "Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted in the earth. I am always with you. I will be your strength." I don't know where that scripture is, but the words are very appropriate for my life. I guess like everything else, being still takes practice and discipline to practice. Another opportunity for spiritual growth is at hand.

Here's today's verse: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”- Psalm 19:14

Verse of the Day

“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”- Proverbs 27:1

This is Bible Gateway's verse of the day. I like going to the site and seeing what the verse of the day is. It gives me something to think about. Reading this verse makes me feel humble and grateful.

What is it?

I'm looking for what's coming. I sense there is something new coming my way that will be an opportunity for ministry to others while also being energizing for me. Maybe something that will bring in some money? How do I discern it? There have been some opportunities that I believe are not what I'm looking for. Just stay the course. Bloom where you have been planted. Keep the faith. Share God's love. Trust. Keep watch. Be patient. All in God's time. What if what's coming my way is more of the same? Just got to do the best I can.

Here's the verse of the day: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”- Philippians 2:3-4

Not sure how to take that, actually. I'll keep pondering.

God is love.

Here it is:

“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.”- 1 John 4:16

That helps. I feel a little better now.

Feeling Down

I'm not feeling myself this afternoon. I'm down about the world and my own circumstances. So I'm going to see what the Bible verse of the day is on BibleGateway.com.

A Compelling Book

Last week my friend Linda loaned me a short book to read. It's called Dinner with a Perfect Stranger: an Invitation Worth Considering. She said it would take less than 90 minutes to read and she thought I would enjoy it. I just completed it in 90 minutes exactly and she was right. It's a fictional book about a man who gets an invitation to dinner with Jesus. The man goes reluctantly, but by the end finds himself very glad he went. In the book the man asks "Jesus" (he uses quotes in the book because he isn't conviced at first of Jesus' presence) questions about Christianity and world religions that I myself have asked and haven't found good answers for. The author is David Gregory, and the answers he has Jesus give to the man are convincing. I feel somewhat in awe at the moment. Definitely more connected to the Holy Trinity than before I read it. Linda asked me to return the book to her so she can offer it to others. That's what she plans to do over and over again with this book which was a gift to her. She suggested I might buy myself a copy and loan it out to others as well. I just might do that.

It's Hard in the Morning!

Lord, you know how hard it is for me to turn on my best parenting brain in the morning. Last night MC blatantly disobeyed my instructions and I was able to implement a direct consequence. She wasn't happy about it, but she learned (at least for the time being) that such disobeying might not be so good in the long term. This morning J blatantly disobeyed my instructions, even talking back to me disrespectfully. I simply got mad and frustrated and found myself saying "please do this" to him. Ultimately I shifted the power back to him. Please help me to guide my son in these situations. In taekwando we are learning about discipline, which means "to obey what is right". The instructors make the kids say in class that the parents are right at home and the teachers are right at school. It is so good for him to learn this lesson. He already had the school part down, but the home part still needs some work. He is so much more disciplined than he used to be. At least he didn't throw anything at me or try to hit me (and he hasn't in a long time). Thank you God for the skills you have given J and the maturity he has developed. I pray once again for patience, wisdom, strength, and courage to raise him to reach his potential, and and to be fully equipped to do your work on this earth (and beyond, as the case may well be).

What I Hope to Accomplish Today

Today I hope to show my children God's love through the ways I interact with them. I hope that when I encounter strangers I will be able to look them in the eyes and seek Jesus in them. I hope that when my energy lessens or my mood sinks I will find something to give them a boost by looking around at all that God has created. I hope that I will not be wasteful in my actions. I hope that I will not be too hard on myself. I hope that I will get some things done that are on my list of things to do.

Good Friends

Good friends are a gift. One of my newest friends called me this afternoon. Danielle connects me with God's wisdom when we talk. I always leave our conversations feeling blessed and uplifted. Thank you God for putting people like Danielle in my life.

Looking Forward To It

My dad likes to thank God for "the things we look forward to" when he says a blessing. I have really internalized this, because having something to look forward to is a blessing. When I pray with the kids, I will often use his line, or say something like "thank you for the opportunities that we've been given today and help us to make the most of them, and handle them as you would see fit."
It's hard for me to get out of bed in the morning when I've not had enough sleep. Remembering that I have things to look forward to and praying for those who do not is energizing. Thank you, Lord, for this insight (again).

Explanation

I've started a new blog because sometimes I want to write about my faith more deeply than in my regular blog. In this blog I may write about my faith, and how it is challenged and strengthened. I may include things I pray about or even actual prayers. My goal is to have an outlet for these thoughts without having to worry about offending anyone. I have a hard time sharing my "religious" side, especially (ironically enough) with those closest to me. I worry about how they will take it and how they might judge me or worse - how they think I may be judging them. I want to be able to speak of my faith more freely without care as to others' possible reactions. I just want to share my stories. So here is my new blog, mainly for me, but for anyone who might wish to learn more about how I think as a Christian. If you're not interested in these thoughts for whatever reason, you don't have to read them. Comments are welcome, but I may decide not to publish them. As always, thanks for your interest in me.