PRAYER REFLECTIONS

 

Thread of Discernment

 

 Boxes Anyone?

I’ve noticed an interesting pattern of process in my own life.  Oddly enough, when I have a speaking commitment I don’t begin by thinking about what I am going to say, or by writing and studying. I carry boxes. Out of some need to spend physical energy, I find myself immersed in closet cleaning.  Something that has been sitting for months suddenly has to be put in it’s proper place, or gotten rid of right now. As I clean space in my environment and gain some measure of satisfaction and peace, I am also clearing my thoughts.

The first step in this process is scheduling time alone, allowing myself to respond to what I need to do in order to get to something that I can do for others.

We clean out to remember what we have.

We clean out to get rid of what is old, or not working for us anymore.

We clean out to create space for something new.

This is true of physical space, but it is just as necessary in our spiritual lives too. We are physical and spiritual beings and both aspects of our personalities affect the quality of our daily lives. That is why I have come to realize, to reach a deeper spiritual reflection, I benefit through becoming physically involved in ordering my environment.

One of the most exciting elements in this process of experiencing a deeper peace is what we choose to bring in as new. An important reward of cleaning and preparing a physical space is the new function and appeal it takes on. Often we buy a new piece of furnishing or choose a new paint color for the walls. What we bring in, or buy into spiritually, also creates our new spiritual environment in the same way.

Spiritually we clean out to remember we are God’s children and God cares about absolutely every little detail of our lives.

Spiritually we clean out to get rid of what is not of God.

Spiritually we clean out to create space to pray, as Jesus taught us, to live in God’s perfect will for our lives.

As I finally wrap up my notes for the talk, I remind myself that I didn’t clean up perfectly, there is still more to do, and I know the time will come when I have to clean out all over again. The process will continue on both physically and spiritually. But my heart is sweetly consoled because I know and have experienced that there is much joy to be found in the journey, even when disguised as an ordinary cardboard box.

Celeste

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NO REGRETS

Do what is good, right, and holy before God and you will never have need of the burden of regrets. (Notice the words: easy, preferred, justified, deserved, desired ... etc., are not part of the previous statement.)

In my life experience I am now the mother of young adults and grandmother of young children. I have years of decision making to look back over. Some decisions I am glad and thankful I made. Others I wish I had chosen differently, or that someone had protected me from myself.

But there is one decision I whisper as part of the fiber of my heart and the air I breathe. I hold onto it tightly. I beg Jesus to help me, to give me wisdom, to lead me to all that is good, right, and holy before God.

In my human weakness, even after committing to this prayer, I sometimes do, say, or choose the opposite of God's will for me. But, I believe that the action of my prayer wraps a blanket of God's love around me and opens wide His receptive ears toward me. His promise to respond to my prayer becomes perfect and complete. My prayer will be answered, "worked out" within the days of my life.

I believe, "All things work for the good of those who love the Lord." Roman's 28. Not some things, but ALL things. Not dependent on me knowing how, when, or why, but depending on God to fulfill His promises.

 

Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say Rejoice!  

Philippians 4:4

 

 

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Spiritual Oil Change

Offering praise can be like getting a new oil change, introducing the  “new grease” allows the wheels of peace to turn and carry us back to joy.  Often the anxieties of daily life, or a major crisis entering our lives, disable our coping abilities and we find ourselves off balance, maybe even falling into a proverbial “hole”. We just don’t know how to climb out.

Praise creates a barrier between anxiety and us and separates us from our problems reminding us that we belong to something greater. We are the children of God. We have access to God’s mercy, power, healing, hope, and omnipotence. God owns everything in creation and holds all our solutions.

When we turn to God, however weakly and seemingly irrational it may feel during our time of suffering, we are performing a profound act of faith, an action highly favored by God. In His great love for us, God extends His life rope, placing it securely and firmly into our hands.

There are as many forms of praise as there are individuals. Writing these words is an expression of my offering of praise.

 I encourage you to explore your unique ways of offering praise, oiling the wheels of peace in your life to turn swiftly, powerfully, joyfully, pulling you through life's pitfalls.

 Dismiss all anxiety from your minds. Present your needs to God in every form of prayer and in petitions full of gratitude.
-The Apostle Paul writing from his jail cell to the people of Phillipi (Phil 4:6)

Celeste

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MEETING JESUS FOR COFFEE

I have experienced repeatedly throughout my life that when I don't schedule time to pray, I lose my peace and my path. In an effort to put Jesus first in my life, most recently I have a developed a new habit that is working very well. I bought a Bible cover that has room for a pen and pencil, my journal, and sticky notes. Before going to bed each night, I put my Bible on the table by my favorite chair. The very first thing I do every morning is sit down and drink two cups of coffee to help me wake up. If I have placed reflective reading in that space I will give the Lord the first fruits of my attention that day. By the time I finish my second cup of coffee I have written one sentence or scripture verse that especially touched me during prayer such as " Jesus is the shepherd and guardian of my soul". 1Peter 2:25. I have a small key ring wallet with a photo window, I tuck my reflection for the day into the photo slot. As I put my coffee cup away, I feel good knowing that throughout the day, seeing the words I have written will remind me of my time of giving God glory and experiencing the joys of His promises in a very personal way.

Celeste

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I BELIEVE AND THEREFORE I SPEAK

In a room filled with women dedicated to the teachings of Jesus Christ, the music ministry led us in song, read scripture, and brought our awareness to why we sing praises to God.  I wondered in such a faith filled group, why I even needed to say a word. But, I believe that the Holy Spirit doesn't require our understanding, but delights in our obedience, so I stood up to speak.

 At one point during my talk, I shared a memory from my personal prayer time. I picked up a visual aid.  I held up a dingy, ordinary PVC pipe.  The pipe was filled with mud, debris, rotten sticks, and crumbling little rocks. The Lord had shown me in prayer that this was what I looked like. All the gunk clogging up the pipe represented my need for healing and repentance. God in His great mercy and love, also quickly allowed me to see myself as a beautifully clean PVC pipe with the living water of grace flowing through me rapidly and powerfully!

 As ordinary Christians we are conduits of God's grace, and we are needed greatly in our modern world to share the message of Jesus Christ. Each and every Christian has a ministry, a mission, and a part to play as a vital member of the body of Christ. We live in a time when we are bombarded with new age and false teachings. Our churches are becoming empty. We are greatly needed to be clean pure vessels ready to carry the living water to all who are thirsting.

There is one healer, only one, who can clear our debris, erase the residue of our sins, addictions and weaknesses. " Jesus is the way, the truth, and the light." John 14: 6-7  God does not call us all to be theologians, pastors, or priests in order to share our personal testimonies. We are the children of God, called to give joyful praise and thanks to God, to share our story of what God has done for us, to tell others about Jesus Christ. The work God calls us to is not dependent on our abilities or bound by our limitations. The Holy Spirit works through us. The scriptures promise we will be given the words to speak.

To know Jesus we have to spend time in conversation with Him just as we do with anyone we desire to know. In prayer we begin to recognize Christ's personality, His ability to heal us, to wash us clean, and to fill us with living water.

The word of God is a love letter written to each one of us personally as we anxiously await Christ's return.

Celeste

 "I believe and therefore I speak." I Corinthians 4:13

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BUTTERFLY IN MY HANDS

 

 

Preparing to sing at the Mass while looking out at a packed sanctuary, that holds approximately 1000 of God's people, was enough; but I had no clue about what would soon happen. I was asked to sing a song I wrote entitled "Hands". The retreat committee members planned the weekend retreat to incorporate the theme of "Hands" symbolizing our openness to receive the gifts God has given to us and to give those gifts to others in Christian service. Also, a parallel theme of the retreat was the transformation of the butterfly. From a seemingly dormant unattractive cocoon, the butterfly transforms into a beautiful creature that soars, reminding us that we are invited to do the same. During the Mass, following the gospel, a young woman came forward to the altar and released 25 beautiful monarch butterflies which quickly flew away into the vast assembly and onward toward the sunny windows. I noticed two butterflies that remained on the steps of the altar and wondered why they were hanging around. I was to sing at the offertory and right before I walked up to the podium, one of the butterflies flew upward and landed on the podium. When I reached the podium I picked the butterfly up. I thought it would fly away. It did not. It seemed content to stay on my hand. I felt surely when I began singing loudly into the mic it would fly away, but instead it danced all around my hands, crossing over to one hand and then the other as I watched in amazement. If I turned my hand over it kept walking along joyfully as if it wanted to flow with the rhythm and be a part of the song. My husband was sitting to my right and I prayed he could see the butterfly. He did. I started noticing people in the congregation looking and smiling, then Fr. Richard Jankowski walked forward to receive the offertory gifts and he smiled. I felt he must see the butterfly! The committee members, along with the 200 women who attended the Daughters of God retreat were all sitting together. I hoped all of them could see what God was allowing in this beautiful little creature. With my hands lifted in praise I sang "Hands".

Surely this must be a little glimpse of Heaven, to be in the midst of God's people offering Him praise, and holding this delicate, beautiful butterfly. Of all the places it could have flown, of all the moments of the Mass, the offertory was where God placed this little butterfly as a symbol of His gifts gently and freely offered to His people. God's many gifts, placed in our hands to transform us and unite us to all His Glory.

Amen and Alleluia!

Celeste

The butterfly remained with me during the entire song, having gone before me onto the podium it stayed in my hands until I returned to my seat and then it flew away.

January 2011 Retreat , St.Cabrini Catholic Church, Spring Hill, Florida 

Photography be Ed Sawyer

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