spa for the soul - meditating

“Through meditating we explore in order to know more and more of Abba. Before we find this reality, we only BELIEVE; through experiencing a relationship, we come to KNOW.”

Morton Kelsey

To know someone, I need to spend time with them. I need to talk to them and I need to listen. The more I know them, the less I need to depend on words. I have a couple of people in my life who can just look at me and know what I am feeling. There is no need to explain myself in great detail. I am known by them.

It is that way with God. In the beginning of my relationship with him I talked…a lot. Now I talk less and listen more. There is more of a comfort level there…more of a ‘knowing’. I am learning to rest in the fact that He loves me.

Considering meditating, reflecting, pondering on who He is. Meditate on His love and His presence. Ask for nothing more than to know Him and be known by Him.

Grace and peace,
Deb

grateful

“Gratefulness is born of a prayerfulness that helps us notice “Magnalia Dei”….the marvels of God.”Brennen Manning

I hope that your Thanksgiving was filled with family, fellowship and gratitude. Each of us has so much…even if we find ourselves in a dark part of the journey. Life, even when it is difficult, holds many things to be thankful for.

No matter where you find yourself today…in feast or in famine….look for those things that can fill your heart with gratitude for the blessings God has given you.

Grace and peace,
Deb

gratitude

Every breath we draw is a gift of God’s love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him. Gratitude, therefore, takes nothing for granted.

Thomas Merton

Today is a day we set aside to remember what we have to be thankful for. Today I want to share my list.

I have a beautiful family complete with a loving husband, a daughter and son-in-law, a son and daughter-in-law,between them, five beautiful and healthy grandchildren. I have incredible friendships,a vocation I love and an intimate relationship with my savior.

Today….think deeply about your blessings. Allow yourself to offer up a prayer of gratitude to the One who makes it all possible.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving……….

Grace and peace,
Deb

solitude

"Solitude: the creation of an open, empty space in our lives by purposely abstaining from interaction with other human beings so that, freed from competing loyalties, we can be found by God."

The Life With God Bible

Spend some time with this quote today and notice how God may want to speak to you through it.

grace and peace,
Deb

transformation

"Most transformation takes place in hidden ways, in slow, incremental ways, nurtured by a cultivated reverence."

Eugene Peterson

Do you get discouraged with the lack of transformation in your life? Do you find yourself trying to memorize more scripture, pray harder and serve more?

What if transformation is really more God's work than yours? What if your part of to be present, to pay attention, to notice what God may be doing? What if transformation is already taking place under the surface and what you need to do is prepare a space within yourself for God to work?

Remember...it takes place in hidden ways, in slow, incremental way....nurture it.
grace and peace,
Deb

community

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You too? I thought I was the only one."
C.S. Lewis

A few weekends ago, I was at a retreat with other women. We shared deeply with each other...our fears, our sins, our joys. What we discovered is that we are much more alike than we are different. We are not alone in our 'stuff'. Everyone has stuff - we just usually don't talk about it with each other.

But, once you do, did you ever notice how much less powerful that stuff seems to be? Take the risk....talk about what is going on. Be honest and notice how freeing it can be.

Grace and peace,
Deb

sabbath

no post today ~ enjoy your sabbath