Month: June 2011
A Life of Gratitude
"We live in constant dependence upon this merciful kindness of the Father, and thus our whole life is a life of gratitude—a constant response to His help which comes to us at every moment." - Thomas Merton, Thoughts In Solitude Once I finally got my arms around the idea that the abundant life is not ...
Going Deep
While I recover from my motorcycle accident (minor injuries) I thought I’d let Gordon MacDonald fill in for me. While his article, “Going Deep” (which appeared on-line in “Leadership Journal” yesterday, 6/27/11) is geared toward those in leadership, it speaks to all Christians in regards to the need for living deeply in God. It is, after ...
More God
“When I hear people talk about what is wrong with organized religion, or why their mainline churches are failing, I hear about bad music, inept clergy, mean congregations, and preoccupations with institutional maintenance. I almost never hear about the intellectualization of the faith, which strikes me as a far greater danger than anything else on ...
Final Thoughts on Solitude
There is so much more to say about the practice of silence and solitude but I will finalize my thoughts today. But lest I give the impression that silence and solitude are the only means by which we encounter God, let me proclaim an emphatic “No!” Silence and solitude are just one of the many environments ...
Practicing Solitude
I’ve posted for several days now on the spiritual practices of silence and solitude...and we are coming soon to an end. The danger, of course, with any Biblical teaching is that it remains in our head as a cherished belief and not actually practiced in our lives. Thinking about solitude is not the same as closing the ...
A Quiet Transformation
“Mom! He’s in our lane!” Even before my daughter screamed the words, I saw him coming, crossing over into my lane of traffic. We were traveling the 60 miles an hour speed limit on a two-lane country road. “I know, I see him,” were all the words I could get out. The mind is an ...
A Portable Sanctuary
As we continue in our practice of silence and solitude, over time we begin to discover even our solitude begins to be transformed. In solitude where we create space to attune our hearts to the voice of God, where we confront our driven souls, and stay present to the work of the Holy Spirit in ...
Thoughts on Solitude
Today I thought I'd post what others have to say about the practice of solitude: “The invitation to solitude and silence is just that. It is an invitation to enter more deeply into the intimacy of relationship with the One who waits just outside the noise and busyness of our lives. It is an invitation ...
A Quiet Gift of Grace
“Solitude eventually offers a quiet gift of grace, a gift that comes whenever we are able to face ourselves honestly; the gift of acceptance, of compassion, for who we are, as we are. As we allow ourselves to be known in solitude, we discover that we are known by love. Beyond the pain of self-discovery ...
The Surprising Rewards of Silence
I continue my thoughts on the spiritual practices of silence and solitude. Today's post comes from an article written for NavPress by Tim Stafford. I thought he said it better than I could. The Surprising Rewards of Silence Why are we afraid to be quiet before God? By Tim Stafford Ever stop to think why ...
Gail Johnsen 