Checking My Credentials

Last night as I was reading the additional verses that accompanied the devotion for the day, this one spoke to me. Maybe I heard it because we have had many conversations at school lately about senior scholarships applications, letters of recommendation, and resumes.

"You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all.  And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts." ~ 2Co 3:2-3

 If I am God's letter of recommendation, what are my credentials?  Are my actions sincere, or they just "good to have on a resume?"

Do I need to check my credentials to assure Him that I am a faithful letter of recommendation?

We are all called to be servants of God.  When we serve Him, He blesses us abundantly.  It is only when our actions and words give Him the glory, that we can add these lines to our faith resumes.

Returning

Last week I wrote about acknowledging God's prescence and how wide the gap is between believing and acknowledging.  I also included three ways to maintain devotion time from the blog While I Ponder.  

This is the perfect segue to Michelle's word ~ selah.  This word seems to have many definitions, but I prefer this one:  pause and reflect.

This week I have decided to take you along on my journey as I take time out to pause and reflect.  I have dusted off my devotional, Jesus Calling, Enjoying Peace in His Presence by Sarah Young and have once again started reading it.  I love this devotional because it is conversational in nature.  I feel like Jesus is speaking straight to me.

Yesterday's devotion was perfect timing.  (How does God seem to know just what we need just when we need it?)  He tells us that wondering while praying is human.  We should not get upset, just return to Him throughout the day.  We should remember that He is always with us, waiting for our return.  

This practice of returning to Him helps us to acquire a gentle and quiet spirit which is what He wants to see.  It is through our weaknesses that we see His power and strength.  ~ 2Co 12:9

"but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." ~ 1Peter 3:4

Thank you for taking time to pause and reflect with me today.

Present

Today is Spiritual Journey Thursday, a day to spend some time turning toward God.  Please feel free to join me on this journey each Thursday with Holly Mueller and friends.  For the next several weeks, Holly will be featuring the spiritual aspects of our one little words.  This week we are writing about Margaret's word, present. 

Last week Holly mentioned on her post how "there was never a time when I can't remember believing there was a God."  I am the same way.  Each week we would recite the Nicene Creed at Mass:

I believe in One God, the Father almighty...

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ...

I believe in the Holy Spirit...

I have always believed, but how often do I acknowledge His presence?  

I know the answer.

My first response would be during the "big life" times, those times of trouble or times of need. Sometimes it is in those times of great joy.  Many times I have looked back and I have noticed His presence, but it is usually in hindsight ~ not in the present.  For me, believing in God and acknowledging His presence can be separated by a wide distance.

How often do I acknowledge His presence in my every day?  Those mundane times when we are just going through the motions of another day.  Those times of daily chores such as washing dishes, preparing meals, or doing laundry.

I know the answer.

I live in a world of distractions and obligations.  I do not want to turn these into excuses.  I know I must not allow this world to separate me from God's presence.  I know I need to turn toward him more than what I do now.  That was the purpose of this blog.  But have I honestly taken the time to be  truly present?

I know the answer.

I recently found a new blog, While I Ponder, by Karlene Arthur.  She wrote a post on three ways to maintain devotion time.  She lists:

                           1.  Choose devotion resources you LOVE.

                           2.  Find a routine that works for YOU.

                           3.  Relax and be kind to yourself.

All three of these steps are tightly wrapped in being present.  I know it is time for me to look at and to reorder my priorities.  It is time for me to shorten that gap between believing and acknowledging. 

I know many of us in the original group have referred to this verse many times, and it is a constant reminder of what I need to do:

"Be still, and know that I am God." ~Psalm 46:10

I hope all of us find time in the coming weeks to be still and be present.  I think He has something important to say if we just listen.  How will you be in His presence this week?

I Believe

Today is Spiritual Journey Thursday, a day for me to spend some time turning toward God.  Please feel free to join me on this journey each Thursday with Holly Mueller and friends.  For the next several weeks, Holly will be featuring our one little words.  This week our word is believe, the one little word by Carol from Beyond Literacy.

"And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." ~ Hebrews 11:6

Today I write with a heavy heart.  We received word today that a student in our community unexpectedly passed away.  She was a second grader.  Her sibling is a student in Megan's class.

It is so hard to believe when things like this happen.  Why would God take a beautiful little girl when she still had so much life to live?  We do not have the answers; we are only asked to believe.

I know that difficult times are not meant to make us stronger, but are meant to strengthen our faith in God.

This is not easy, but we are asked to just believe.  

Below are the words from a song by Brooks and Dunn. I have included the video, but the words really say it all.  It is a song about believing when we really have more questions than answers. When we are trying to sort out this thing called life.

When I raise my hands, bow my head

I'm finding more and more truth in the words written in red

They tell me that there's more to this than just what I can see

I believe

Oh, I believe