Thursday, March 28, 2019

Reflections

Reflections of the past reveal the patient and enduring love of God.
     Forgiveness,
          transformation,
               healing...
miracles... 
worked in me...in spite of me.
I am drawn with an awed gratefulness to this
faithful one."
--August 1999
Juanita

Thursday, March 7, 2019

We Are Nothing Without God

Excerpt from The Lent Project --Center for Christianity, Culture & the Arts,
Biola University, California

Psalm 8:4 "...what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?"

"...in this season of Lent, I think we ought to start there--by meditating on the absurdity of God's care.  I so often think myself big.  To comprehend God's love for me I must remind myself daily that I am small.  Ludicrously so.  My life is unbelievably brief.  My concerns and troubles are not worth mentioning even compared to other creatures who are as tiny as I am.  And yet the God who spoke a billion stars into being loves me.  Listens to me.  Was willing to die for me...

It doesn't make sense.  It is utterly undeserved.  And remembering that this is so strips us of our sense that we are owed God's attention, that his constant reception is only to be expected.  No, Christ's regard for me is pure, astonishing gift, for I am dust."
--Dr. Janelle Aijian
Assistant Professor
Torry Honors Institute
Biola University

Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Ash Wednesday

"Sometimes, O God,
my thirst for you is pushed aside,
ignored,
or simply quenched by something other--
something reasonable,
something more popular--
than you.
But you never go away,
never stop,
never leave the depths of me.
Like an underground spring,
you are fresh and free,
breaking through.
Help me prepare a place for you
in the caverns of my soul.
Amen."
--Pamela Hawkins
"The Awkward Season:  Prayers for Lent"

One day it's summer and the next, autumn is in the air.  It will continue like this for a good month yet, at least the summer lovers sur...