Creative Conversations with God

It's Express It Week again (thank goodness, as I totally am struggling with finding moments of silence for Silence and Solitude Week)

You may be wondering why I keep harping on "express it." or faith journaling or spiritual creativity.

 

I want to list some reasons I feel like creative expression in our spiritual life is a useful tool.

 

1. During the creation of something we dwell in a deeper place inside ourselves. We immerse ourselves in this area, this core of our being and this is where our soul dwells also. Our soul can find it's voice in our creative expression.

 

2. Creative expression puts us out of our heads and into our hearts. It is here, I believe that God has easier access to us. A place where his voice is more easily heard.

 

3. Creating is a joyous experience (yes even for you non-artists). It's about the process not the end product. God wants us to find joy in daily living. He didn't put us here to merely survive.

 

4. As we doodle, as we paint, as we write, or draw or glue....we are opening ourselves to a different experience and while it might not be a heavenly experience, its not a run of the mill human one either. Perhaps in our creativity we will find the bridge.  

 

5. Creativity requires us to think differently, to access a different part of our brain, and in doing so, there are times when we "see" things differently, when we think things we have never thought before, when suddenly something that was foggy becomes clear...we discover connections.

 

6. Entering into the creative experience is a meditation of sorts, freeing our soul to seek a higher level and to have creative conversations with God.

 

 

Hugs to each of you....this week, use your imagination, create, and have creative conversations with God in the process.

February Week Three: Silence and Solitude

 

Well I doubt any of us here in Missouri will find our Silence and Solitude this week under a tree.....in a snow drift maybe! Last month this week...silence and solitude was the most difficult...who knew!

 

This morning when I woke up I drew a card for reflection...and I chose "stillness." This totally made me think of the week ahead. How often can we find even a moment of stillness. Yet stillness itself is what helps us calm our busy minds and delve into our very core to muse and contemplate so many things. Being centered helps us connect to our spiritual self....but wow is it hard! It is also in this quiet stillness that we can hear God's voice.

 

This week make a conscious effort to spend some time in silence and solitude with the Lord. Quiet your mind and spirit and listen for his voice. Remember that this month's theme is LOVE.  Listen for God's message about love.

 

Hugs to all of you and may you have some "stillness" in your life this week!

 

 



Soul Care Beliefs

Yep it's week two of February which is Bible Week and the focus for February is Love. I've picked out several verses to focus on this week and I'll have to say they are ones I have a bit of trouble with. That's the point, isn't it?  If we just picked things that were easy peasy then we wouldn't be allowing our soul to grow and develop a closer relationship with God. Before I write more about that, let me tell you a few things I believe about Soul Care.


I believe that Soul Care is required in this busy, hectic, conflicting world we live in. If we don't take care of the essence of who we are, it will shrivel up and become useless to us. Our souls are essential in our relationship with God. They are the part of us that most closely resembles the divine rather than the human. It is like our tiny life line to God.


I believe that Soul Care gives us joy and peace of mind and allows us to grow in our spiritual life. We devote more time to our weekly TV shows than we do to our spiritual selves. That just isn't right!  Our soul allows us to connect with God, have conversations with God and to understand at a deeper spiritual level the path God wants us to walk on. This needs to be nurtured, not ignored.


Ok, now back to my verses and why I find them challenging.

This one really resonates with me. I've had some "darkest hours" in life....all kinds.....some my own creation! What I struggle with at times is letting go of mistakes and things that I don't feel like I handled well. Yet this verse reminds me that God loved me at my darkest hours. God can't be wrong so I must also learn to let go of "dark" thoughts and focus on the joy of the here and now. Past mistakes are "in the past.

This too is a struggle as I think it is for most of us. We all have people who we think have wronged us, and not only THINK....sometimes it is definitely true!  It's hard to love your enemies, people who have hurt you deeply. It is something I have been musing a lot about lately and find that I have a more joyous day if I just follow God's word.

Another good one to work toward. Basically I am pretty accepting and open to most people. I try to see the good in others and to accept them wherever they are in life.  I have never had to lay down my life for my friends but I hope that I would have the courage to do so if need be. This brings me to a little "play" on concepts with this one.

If Jesus is a friend, like no other, are we willing to lay down our life for Him? Now I'm not talking about dying for Him, although in today's world you just never know.  I'm talking about laying down the life you know and picking up another one. One that focuses on Jesus and walks the spiritual path that God has set before you. It's a scary thought really....sometimes just blogging and sharing my thoughts about my spiritual journey can be scary..... is there more I "should" be doing?

Hugs everyone.....there are lots of great verses about love to choose from. Pick one and try to live it this week!



Why I'm Praying

Why I'm praying for Jordanian pilot Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh and his family.

I'm not here to debate politics, military action, to defend the U.S.or to condemn any other religion. I'm here because I know God, and evil. I know that sometimes this world becomes a topsey turvey place that none of us can really understand.

I know some will say they do not want my prayers because I do not believe in their God but I believe in my God, therefore I pray.

I pray that he has safe passage in his journey to the other world. The world beyond this one where suffering and fighting does not exist. I pray for his family that they have strength and comfort during not only a great loss but a horrific loss. I pray for the country of Jordan that they too seek comfort and understanding and have strength in the coming days.

I pray for all the countries of the world, that they come to the realization that evil does exist, that God does exist, that a more global community needs to develop that has a softer, kinder approach to all people.

I pray for an end of war, for the senseless loss of life over money, and politics, and archaic beliefs.

In the coming days we will most likely discover the true political impact this young man had, not only on his country but on the world in general. The loss of his life may become the guiding force in decisions to come. I pray those decisions are made wisely, objectively and with guidance from God.

As it is prayer week I hope you will join me in LOVE and PRAYER for his family and his country. It certainly fits the challenge of praying for someone you might not "agree with".

Hugs to each of you and may God be ever present in the coming days.

Love and Prayers

February's theme is Love. This month as we continue our Soul Care journey we will focus on love, which seems a very basic concept but so often is fraught with difficulties. I'm not just talking romantic love. I mean all kinds of love, parental love, friendship, our love for Christ, our marriages, love of ourselves, etc. Love can be complicated as we let other emotions interfere with the feeling and expression of love.

We know about this concept of love from God but it is riddled with human weaknesses. Love gets distorted here on earth and loses its purest form if we do not strive to achieve it. We constantly guard our hearts and souls. Have you ever worried if you tell a friend how much you love them that they will think you are weird?  Have you ever wanted to express your love in words but held back because you thought the other person might not know how to respond (or you feared their response)? 

Well good news! This week in prayer I want you to talk to God about love. Ask Him for guidance. Ask Him to allow you to feel and express love on a daily basis. While you're praying don't forget to express your love and thankfulness for God and His guiding hand.

Here's a simple truth....if you love God, you will love people. Now please don't confuse loving people with agreeing with everything they do, or even "liking them". You will have a tendency to gravitate toward people you are like, people you agree with, people who support you....but the challenge God puts before us is to love people....not just the nice ones!

That idea right there might be a good prayer challenge for the week....pray for someone you don't really care for. Do it every day and while they may never change, you will feel your spirits lift as you raise your voice in prayer.

Hugs to each of you...if you are reading this blog and I have never met you...the hug is for you too!  May we continue our soul care journey with a loving heart!