tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51188812107951005472024-02-07T01:15:03.924-05:00Turn...a place to turn toward Him.Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118881210795100547.post-4896751414518928162017-07-07T09:41:00.001-04:002017-07-07T09:41:46.016-04:00Comfort Zones<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It is nice to be back with the Spiritual Journey First Thursday crew. Pat from <a href="https://writeronahorse.blogspot.com/2017/07/spiritual-journey-thursday-stepping-out.html">A writer on a Horse and Dog</a> has the round-up this month with the topic of "getting out of our comfort zone."<br />
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<i><span style="color: #274e13;">"We all have those moments in our life that fill up time and space with both darkness and light, both happiness and sadness, and it is in those moments that we are all defined and changed. We can look at those moments, those minutes and hours, and come to the realization God changed us and marked us in those moments."</span></i></div>
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These words appeared in a column in our local newspaper this week.</div>
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My community shuffled in and out of their comfort zones this week as they laid to rest a young man whose life of 15 years was cut too short. I know of his family, and my husband has worked with his grandfather for many years. But neither of us knew Jacob.</div>
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What we have learned was that Jacob had a very strong and visible faith. He shared his faith with others, and many described him as a true servant. When it came to his faith, he was in a comfort zone where many teenagers, as well as some adults, find themselves uncomfortable. Openly sharing their faith at a young age is not an easy thing to do, but Jacob lived like Jesus. Jacob found his comfort zone.</div>
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And that is how he is remembered.</div>
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His mother told my husband at the visitation, "Tomorrow, I will be one day closer to him."</div>
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<b>That is faith.</b> That is truly living in a comfort zone.</div>
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Living my faith is something I have struggled with several years for many reasons. That is one of the reason why I started this blog. Seeing my community go through this experience has made me think not about getting out of my comfort zone, </div>
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but finding it and living it instead. </div>
Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118881210795100547.post-49821123596723763702017-02-01T19:18:00.000-05:002017-02-01T19:18:22.151-05:00Rise Up and Pray<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well come to our second Spiritual Journey First Thursday! I am hosting the round-up today, and I thrilled that you are here to share about my one little word RISE.<br />
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This is my fourth year to choose a one little word, and is something I have fully embraced each year. <br />
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When I chose RISE for my OLW and "Embrace Challenges" for a monthly motto, I had no idea how it would play out so quickly in my personal life. I began to think about God's influence in the choosing of our OLW.<br />
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Does He put those words on our lips and in our minds? Does He place us in experiences that cause our words to choose us?<br />
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Each year that I have chosen a word, I believe He led me to those words. This year is no exception. Just a few days after I posted about my word, I learned that my sister had cancer. <br />
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I believe that God knew what was going to happen and led me to that word. <br />
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I believe He knew that I was going to have to RISE for my sister.<br />
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I believe that he knew this was a challenge that I was going to have to embrace, and he wanted me to TURN toward him in these times of trial. He wanted me to RISE up and pray.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from<a href="http://iwilltrustinyou.org/post/115147176109/hecallsmelovely-httpsinstagramcombrittzy"> I Will Trust in You</a></td></tr>
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What part has God played in the choosing of your one little word?<br />
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<!-- end InLinkz script -->Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118881210795100547.post-41745659843325752302017-01-05T18:48:00.001-05:002017-01-05T18:48:24.245-05:00Rise - One Little Word 2017<div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;">It is hard to believe that almost a year has passed since I posted on this blog, which was created when my one little word was turn. I wanted to turn more toward God, but that is a constant struggle for me. That is why I appreciate the small community of bloggers who write for Spiritual Journey Thursday. Holly Mueller at </span><a href="http://hollymueller.blogspot.com/" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Reading, Teaching, Learning</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"> began the community, and it slowly grew. We took a hiatus for awhile, but Irene Latham at </span><a href="http://irenelatham.blogspot.com/" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Live Your Poem</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"> has brought the group back together. Each month will feature a different topic from a different blogger. This month's roundup about our One Little Word is hosted by Carol at <a href="http://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2017/01/one-word-to-guide-our-2017-journey.html">Beyond LiteracyLink</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;">When I chose Rise as my one little word this year, I knew I wanted to make a positive difference in the lives of others. I knew I wanted to..</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><i><b>Rise each day with</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><i><b>love on my lips</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><i><b>hope in my heart</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><i><b>thankfulness in my thoughts</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><i><b>...always in my actions.</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;">At Catholic mass we make the sign of the cross on our heads, lips, and hearts before the reading of the Gospel. This is a way of praying and inviting the Word of God to be "in our minds, on our lips, and in our hearts."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;">I was not thinking about this part of mass when I wrote my words. (Honestly, I wrote "hope in my heart" and was trying to use alliteration.) It wasn't until much later when I realized the connection between being positive and opening my heart to the Word.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;">My first day back at school I became frustrated with a colleague about being negative. As I was talking about it with a different colleague, I realized I was doing the same thing. If this had been a resolution, I would have broken it four days into the new year.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;">This is the power of one little word. It is a guide, and we do not have to feel as if we have failed when we have a set back.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;">I also have created a purpose for positivity for each month. This gives me ways to use words other than rise. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6XIDlRTMIaIorNsYWbNIsbWbnAScyAqsXCoT1RtxmBiA0bx8Uwh-dq7MFUaIcghXnsNQPwWlZn3zcm7vP7k5YO3KBi9XBWY_T7x7mfcfGMI_HgzzbnZoxUcBt59Qay0ebPJsPNkBVxs/s1600/f34c5a5a7c718a25a3b4b421f7df1bd3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6XIDlRTMIaIorNsYWbNIsbWbnAScyAqsXCoT1RtxmBiA0bx8Uwh-dq7MFUaIcghXnsNQPwWlZn3zcm7vP7k5YO3KBi9XBWY_T7x7mfcfGMI_HgzzbnZoxUcBt59Qay0ebPJsPNkBVxs/s320/f34c5a5a7c718a25a3b4b421f7df1bd3.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;">January is "Embrace challenges." I think back to the book of Exodus when the Israelites were escaping the Egyptians. When God led them out of Egypt, he didn't make the journey easy. They experience challenges as they traveled through the dessert and reached the Red Sea. And when they were being chased by the Egyptian army, they were afraid of what may happen if they were caught. But Moses told them, </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><i>"The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still." </i></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"> Exodus 14:14</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;">It is when we meet these challenges with God's Word is in our minds, on our lips, and in our hearts, that we can Rise above them. I ask you to embrace the challenges with me, knowing that God will fight for all of us.</span></div>
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Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118881210795100547.post-61781599558903877332016-01-25T22:08:00.001-05:002016-01-25T22:14:10.153-05:00Checking My Credentials<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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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.<br />
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<i><span style="color: #38761d;">"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</span></i></div>
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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?"</div>
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Do I need to check my credentials to assure Him that I am a faithful letter of recommendation?<br />
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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.</div>
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Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118881210795100547.post-81908252154876770192016-01-24T20:48:00.001-05:002016-01-24T21:06:04.654-05:00Returning<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">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 <a href="http://www.whileiponder.com/pondering-3-ways-to-maintain-devotion-time/">While I Ponder. </a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">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, </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus Calling, Enjoying Peace in His Presence </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">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 re<b>turn</b>. </span><br />
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This practice of re<b>turn</b>ing 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<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;"><b>"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</b></span></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you for taking time to pause and reflect with me today.</span>Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118881210795100547.post-49542859408619678372016-01-21T08:51:00.003-05:002016-01-21T09:15:40.383-05:00Present<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">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 <a href="http://hollymueller.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; color: #771100; text-decoration: none;">Holly Mueller</a> 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 <a href="https://reflectionsontheteche.wordpress.com/">Margaret's</a> word, <b><i>present. </i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Last week Holly mentioned on her post how <i>"t</i></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><i>here was never a time when I can't remember believing there was a God." </i>I am the same way. Each week we would recite the Nicene Creed at Mass:</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;"><i>I believe in One God, the Father almighty...</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;"><i>I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ...</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;"><i>I believe in the Holy Spirit...</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have always believed, but how often do I acknowledge His </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">presence? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>I know the answer.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">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 <b>have </b>noticed His presence, but it is usually in hindsight ~ <i><b>not in the present. </b></i> For me, believing in God and acknowledging His presence can be separated by a wide distance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">How often do I acknowledge His presence in my every day? </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">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?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>I know the answer.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I recently found a new blog, <a href="http://www.whileiponder.com/pondering-3-ways-to-maintain-devotion-time/">While I Ponder,</a> by Karlene Arthur. She wrote a post on three ways to maintain devotion time. She lists:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> 1. Choose devotion resources you LOVE.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> 2. Find a routine that works for YOU.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> 3. Relax and be kind to yourself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">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. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">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:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">"Be still, and know that I am God."</span> ~Psalm 46:10</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">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?</span></div>
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Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118881210795100547.post-89748958845734925272016-01-13T20:33:00.000-05:002016-01-13T20:47:48.721-05:00I Believe <div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">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 <a href="http://hollymueller.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; color: #771100; text-decoration: none;">Holly Mueller</a> and friends. For the next several weeks, Holly will be featuring our one little words. This week our word is </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><i><b>believe,</b> </i>the one little word by<i> </i>Carol from</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><a href="http://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/" style="color: #771100; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none;">Beyond Literacy.</a></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><i>"And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must <b>believe</b> that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." ~ Hebrews 11:6</i></span></div>
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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.</div>
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It is so hard to <b><i>believe</i></b> 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 <b><i>believe.</i></b></div>
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I know that difficult times are not meant to make us stronger, but are meant to strengthen our faith in God.</div>
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This is not easy, but we are asked to just <i><b>believe</b>.</i> </div>
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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.</div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><i>When I raise my hands, bow my head</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><i>I'm finding more and more truth in the words written in red</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><i>They tell me that there's more to this than just what I can see</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><i>I believe</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><i>Oh, I </i></span><i style="color: #990000;">believe</i></div>
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Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118881210795100547.post-92009215911588660662015-12-31T17:36:00.000-05:002015-12-31T22:32:41.147-05:00An Unlikely Gift<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Today is Spiritual Journey Thursday, a day for me to spend some time turning toward God. December's theme has turned out to be gifts. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Please feel free to join me on this journey each Thursday with </span><a href="http://hollymueller.blogspot.com/" style="color: #771100; text-decoration: none;">Holly Mueller</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> and friends.</span></div>
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Dear Spiritual Journey Friends,</div>
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These past five months have been a true test for me. </div>
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A test of strength. </div>
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A test of faith.</div>
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As you know, Megan started her first year of teaching in August. It was during this time when I had never felt so helpless as a mother. Megan was miserable, and I would say a little bit scared. She had just spent the last four years of her life preparing for a career in which she now hated. She threw her hands up in the air and wanted to quit so many times.</div>
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I didn't know what to do; so I prayed. I left the house each morning with a pit in the bottom of my stomach. And I worried all day long. During our moment of silence each day at school, I prayed a mother's plea, "God, please help her." </div>
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I felt like my own prayers were not enough, so I called on many of you to pray for her too.</div>
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And you did.</div>
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Little by little God started to reveal His answer in an unlikely gift.</div>
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Megan has one student in particular who has some difficult emotional needs and who is Megan's biggest challenge as a teacher. </div>
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One day, Megan showed me a picture of her student, "J," and she had completely surrounded herself with cardboard dividers. I knew then there was more to this little girl than neither Megan nor I could imagine. But what I didn't know was that she was the very person who would save Megan.</div>
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One day Megan came home and told me about a letter "J" had written her. She looked at me and said, "Mom, she just wants to be loved." I wrote about that letter <a href="http://adayinthelifeof19b.blogspot.com/2015/11/this-is-why-we-teach.html">here</a>.</div>
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God's answer was being revealed day by day.</div>
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Then another time, Megan and "J" had lunch together. "J" confided in Megan and told her that she trusted Megan because she was her teacher. I wrote about that <a href="http://adayinthelifeof19b.blogspot.com/2015/11/listen-just-listen.html">here</a>. </div>
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I knew then that God had answered my prayers, our prayers. He has placed in Megan's hands a gift, a gift which Megan never expected and a gift which helped her to realize she was called to be a teacher.</div>
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Thank you my friends. I think she is going to make it.</div>
Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118881210795100547.post-78434821529513443012015-12-11T16:21:00.000-05:002015-12-11T16:22:18.683-05:00Lighting the Way<div style="color: #1f1f1f; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><i><b>in the horizon</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><i><b>one bright star lights the way to</b></i></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><i>an unlikely gift</i></span></b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">©Leigh Anne Eck, 2015</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">This haiku is reposted from my blog A Day in the Life where I am participating in a December challenge.</span></span></div>
Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118881210795100547.post-19892411681204254972015-12-10T07:14:00.000-05:002015-12-10T11:58:03.529-05:00Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Today is Spiritual Journey Thursday, a day for me to spend some time turning toward God. December's theme is gifts. This post is not about gifts, but a post that needed to be written.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Please feel free to join me on this journey each Thursday with </span><a href="http://hollymueller.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; color: #771100; text-decoration: none;">Holly Mueller</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> and friends.</span></div>
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I knew it had been awhile since I occupied this space, but I didn't realize just how long until I began writing this post.<br />
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There are many reasons why I have not been here. One is that I didn't feel like I belonged here. After reading so many of your posts, I felt I wasn't good enough, or I wasn't a "Christian" writer.<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>The joy thief came.</b></span></div>
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My faith seemed so small compared to many of yours. I was no longer strong enough to put my words on these pages for you to read, to compare my words to yours.<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>And he came again.</b></span></div>
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Weeks turned into months, and after not writing for so long, I felt like a failure. This space became a mockery of what I called my faith. I was just writing words, I was not living them. And all of you were.</div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>And he came again and again.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Every time I tried to write.</b></span></div>
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My faith became weaker, and I stopped writing.</div>
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Last night as I was watching a preview clip of "A Coat of Many Colors," Dolly Parton's mother said these words.</div>
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<i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">"Love ain't just a feeling. It is an action."</span></i></div>
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I immediately wrote these words down and they kept repeating themselves to me, again and again. I began thinking about why I started this space. I wanted to TURN toward Him. Turn is an action.</div>
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This space was meant to be a journey. A journey is an action. It is the act of getting from one place to another. I am not there yet. I may never get there. </div>
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When I think about the twelve men Jesus chose to come along on His journey, I see me. <br />
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I see weak faith. <br />
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I see doubt.<br />
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I see struggle. <br />
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But I also see love.<br />
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Love as an action, not just a feeling. Their faith was tested again and again, but they continued the journey. <br />
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My love for God cannot just be a feeling, it needs to be an action.</div>
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And so I begin...again.<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Maybe this post was about a gift after all.</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. ~ Colossians 3:7</i></span></b></div>
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Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118881210795100547.post-75078220785792540692015-04-09T20:37:00.004-04:002015-04-09T20:37:41.006-04:00Easter Cinquain<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">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 <a href="http://hollymueller.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; color: #771100; text-decoration: none;">Holly Mueller</a> and friends. This week's theme is Easter</span></span></div>
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<i style="color: #38761d;"><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Easter</span></b></i></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><i><b style="background-color: white;">the stone is rolled</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><i><b style="background-color: white;">to find the tomb empty</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><i><b style="background-color: white;">"Do not disbelieve, but believe"</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><i><b style="background-color: white;">my Lord</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><i><b style="background-color: white;"><br /></b></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLd0Y40hY0Z2P_bjhj-O9msgIB2X2AUARqCaL5AoCcIagu1NGwsm3UWlW_II_Ph8HISBYeHu14_fmJ0ZYR5skYL4L0N3TfJTrQbBdP0d_lIklYju1sbdsKyU49eblnqce8_OCUsg8HRc/s1600/IMG_8607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLd0Y40hY0Z2P_bjhj-O9msgIB2X2AUARqCaL5AoCcIagu1NGwsm3UWlW_II_Ph8HISBYeHu14_fmJ0ZYR5skYL4L0N3TfJTrQbBdP0d_lIklYju1sbdsKyU49eblnqce8_OCUsg8HRc/s1600/IMG_8607.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Jesus said to him, </span><span style="color: #990000;">"Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who </span></span><span style="color: #990000;">have<span style="font-family: inherit;"> not seen and yet have </span>believed<span style="font-family: inherit;">." ~ John 20:29</span></span></span></b></i></div>
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Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118881210795100547.post-6930158499672554612015-04-02T01:00:00.000-04:002015-04-02T10:22:49.205-04:00Eucharistic Love Story<i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></i>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">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 <a href="http://hollymueller.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; color: #771100; text-decoration: none;">Holly Mueller</a> and friends. This week's theme is Maundy Thursday. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBorGsRAh9s5oZOV8OI4mmm8o6dtc-EeaiRaDRHYN3QLKeSqRtF0jvV2m03vmCDhmhJisBRwJ1lNwnUMU47r4t9oJTr9hmg0-n6qYVIJm9511DRKlxHG5bbAEL19CR3FFH9Kp-IVOLP_c/s1600/poetry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBorGsRAh9s5oZOV8OI4mmm8o6dtc-EeaiRaDRHYN3QLKeSqRtF0jvV2m03vmCDhmhJisBRwJ1lNwnUMU47r4t9oJTr9hmg0-n6qYVIJm9511DRKlxHG5bbAEL19CR3FFH9Kp-IVOLP_c/s1600/poetry.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Today I am connecting my </span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">spirit journey with poetry as I </span></span><span style="line-height: 22px;">participate</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"> in National Poetry Month. Last year, I was introduced to a Fibonacci poem by Margaret at </span></span><a href="https://reflectionsontheteche.wordpress.com/2014/04/08/the-writing-process-blog-tour/" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px;">Reflections on the Teche</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">. </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1f1f1f; font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;">A Fibonacci poem is based on a series of numbers where the next number is found by adding up the two numbers before it. For example, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8... Today I share some thoughts about my Catholic faith and the importance of the Eucharist.</span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><b>This </b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><b>is</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><b>my body,</b></span></i><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>the bread of </b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>everlasting life, </b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large; font-style: italic;"><b>be filled with spiritual joy</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large; font-style: italic;"><b>and share my Eucharistic love story with others.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-style: italic;"><b>"And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." ~ Matthew 28:20</b></span><br />
<br />Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118881210795100547.post-85898810210666236772015-03-26T20:05:00.001-04:002015-03-28T23:43:27.850-04:00My Faith is Weak<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">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 <a href="http://hollymueller.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; color: #771100; text-decoration: none;">Holly Mueller</a> and friends. For the next several weeks, Holly will be featuring our one little words. Today's featured word is Exercise by</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 21px; text-align: center;"> </span><span style="color: #993300; line-height: 21px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #888888;">Mary Hill</span>. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;">I have been away from this blog for awhile. I could list excuses, but I won't. I wasn't planning on writing today, but God had other plans. My words tonight are raw; my hurt is fresh once again.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><span style="line-height: 21px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;">Last fall my trust and my faith were </span></span><span style="line-height: 21px;">shaken by a dear friend. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;">He made a mistake that has lifelong consequences for him, his family, his friends, and a young girl.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;">Tonight I saw him for the first time since the incident. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;">I had to make a split-second decision </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;">~do I speak or turn my back.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;">I chose to speak. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;">It was awkward.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;">I asked him how he was doing and he replied, taking one day at a time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;">He said, I read your blog post. You have no idea how much your words mean to me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;">I said thank you. Take care.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;">He touched my arm like old friends do, and I tried to make it out of the store </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;">~without breaking down.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;">My heart aches. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;">My heart hurts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;">My heart weeps.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;"> ~ for him, his sweet family, and the young girl.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;">Through all the hurt and attempts at forgiveness, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;">I can't forget her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;">I want to understand. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;">I want things to be back to the way they were.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">They can't.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;"><b>~My faith is weak.</b></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness.</span> ~ 2Corinthians 12:9</span></i></div>
Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118881210795100547.post-57449581148595931382015-02-23T20:49:00.003-05:002015-03-05T22:18:24.035-05:00I Am<div style="text-align: center;">
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I have been hanging out in the book of Exodus this week because while researching Ramona's word, stretch, I found the words, "Stretch out my/your hands" many times. But a single verse is one that spoke to me today.<br />
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This verse is found after Moses discovered God in the burning bush and was asked by God to lead the people of Israel from oppression. Moses questioned God. When I tell them <span style="color: #990000;">"The God of your Fathers has sent me to you, and they say to me What is His name? What shall I say to them?"</span><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span>~ Exoduxs 3:13<br />
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God answered with:<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span><span style="color: #990000;">..."I Am who I Am." </span>~ Exodus 3:14</div>
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I am sure Moses was confused because I know I would be. How can we possibly wholly define who and what God is? How can we explain God?<br />
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We can't.<br />
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Stormie Omartian says in her book, <u>Praying God's Will for Your Life</u><i>, </i><span style="color: #38761d; font-style: italic;">"The Lord has many names in the Bible, and each one expresses an aspect of His nature or His attributes. When we acknowledge Him, we invite Him to be those things to us.</span><br />
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He is everything I need at any given moment.<br />
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On those days I feel hopeless, He is my <b><span style="color: #990000;">Hope.</span></b> (Psalm 71:5)<br />
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When I am weak, I ask him to be our <b><span style="color: #990000;">Strength </span></b>(Isaiah 12:2).<br />
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When I have a difficult decision to make, I ask Him to be our <b><span style="color: #990000;">Wisdom</span></b>. (1Corinthians 1:24)<br />
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Stormie has a list of thirty attributes of the Lord. I have listed here just a few:<br />
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He is my <b><span style="color: #990000;">Restorer</span> </b>(Ps. 23:3)</div>
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He is my <b><span style="color: #990000;">Helper</span> </b>(John 14:16)</div>
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He is my <span style="color: #990000;"><b>Patience</b> </span>( Rom. 15:5)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He is my <b><span style="color: #990000;">Refuge from the Storm</span> </b>(Isa. 25:4)</div>
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He is my <b><span style="color: #990000;">Healer</span> </b>(Mal. 4:2)</div>
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He is my <b><span style="color: #990000;">Shield </span></b>((Ps. 33:20)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He is my <span style="color: #990000;"><b>Light</b></span> (John 6:35)</div>
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I know the more I accept that He is all of these things, the sooner He will become them in my life. Walking through scripture is helping me to open my heart to everything He is and to everything I need.<br />
<br />Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118881210795100547.post-25744179729750353652015-02-21T13:17:00.002-05:002015-02-21T13:35:39.894-05:00The Giver of Gifts<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i>Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i>and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i>and there are varieties of activities, </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone</i>.</span> ~1Corinthians 12:4</span></div>
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I am my own worst critic and my worst enemy. I think most of this scrutiny comes from my childhood and my relationship with my father. In my mind, I was never good enough for him, and those thoughts have carried over into adulthood.<br />
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This first verse reminds me that we all have different gifts, services, and activities, but we all share the same God who is the Giver of gifts. <br />
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I am a mom.<br />
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I am a wife.<br />
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I am a sister.<br />
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I am a daughter.<br />
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I am a teacher.<br />
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These are my gifts with which I have been blessed, and I need to use these gifts to give glory to God ~ the Giver of gifts. In God's eyes, I am gifted in my own special way, empowered only by Him. <br />
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I just need to remember this today, tomorrow and everyday.<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">let us use them...</span> ~ </i>Romans 12:6</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
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Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118881210795100547.post-20542884343516995342015-02-20T08:56:00.001-05:002015-02-20T08:56:58.979-05:00The Plan<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">The heart of man plans his way,</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;">but the Lord establishes his steps. </span>~ Proverbs 16:9</span></i></div>
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This verse has been talking to me lately. I know there are many nuggets of wisdom in the Book of Proverbs, but to me it seems like a list of things I am supposed to do in order to obey and be pleasing to God. Many of these verses make me feel like a Christian failure, but this verse is different ~ it gives me strength.<br />
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Many of us, especially teachers, set goals. Some are long-term and some are short-term. Most goals revolve around some type of achievement. We want to lose weight, or exercise this many times a week, or save this much money. Most goals have a point of destination, a place to end. In a sense, our desire to achieve these goals gets us going and allows us to take action. <br />
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But I think God calls us for a bigger goal or a mission. My spiritual journey is a mission; it is an action. I have no point of destination, only a focus ~ to grow closer to God and live my faith the way He wants me to. (Takes me right back to Proverbs!) It is only through action, as simple as a prayer for help, that God can guide us. I can't sit idly and wait on Him. I must create a plan and let Him guide me along the way.<br />
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Yes, my heart has a plan or a call to action, but I know He is there guiding me, establishing my footsteps. And that is a comforting thought.Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118881210795100547.post-1234572793279791932015-02-19T10:05:00.001-05:002015-02-23T20:50:02.750-05:00The Cross <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">I decided to take this time during Lent to reflect on a scripture verse each day. This new endeavor was </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">inspired by <a href="http://www.ruthayreswrites.com/">Ruth Ayres </a>who wrote 40 Stories of Lent last year. Thank you Ruth for your inspiration and for sharing your faith so that others can learn and grow through your words. </span></span><br />
<i style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span></i>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i><span style="color: #38761d;">And He said to all,</span><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #990000;">"If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." </span><span style="color: #38761d;">~Luke 9:23</span></i></span></i></div>
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<i style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span></i>
Several days ago, 21 Egyptian Christians died at the hands of evil. The picture of them kneeling with evil standing behind them is one that replays in my mind over and over again. They took up their crosses and lost their lives for their belief in God.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Before this verse in Luke's Gospel, Jesus had just fed thousands of people with only five loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus was praying with his disciples and he asks them.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><i>"Who do the crowds say that I am?"</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">They reply with John the Baptist and state that others believe that one of the prophets of old had risen.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Then he said to them, <span style="color: #990000;"><i>"But who do you say that I am?"</i> </span> and Peter answered, "The Christ of God."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Those 21 men died because they answered the same as the disciples, because they believed in Jesus. They died for their faith, while I am still trying to figure out how to live mine. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">This act of martyrdom makes my faith seem small and weak, but I want it to be strong. I want to not only find the love of the cross, but to fully live it for all to see. That is what this journey is all about.</span></span>Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118881210795100547.post-29937731019153614132015-02-18T20:50:00.000-05:002015-02-19T09:21:54.110-05:00DIVE Into Scripture<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZY4fM-FwRuIfLpugLIF0kKLYth4NLJ8A6j2S66j9Kl6Wa8rt738lElmWzc2HfxlKnAVag9VM7CrrECHMCdA7ck7P-CPJj7vZwXeWM2NsrCA2-lAMJ3YhNpEKKeOigy-40BeHY44Cwpg/s1600/Spiritual+Journey+framed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #771100; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZY4fM-FwRuIfLpugLIF0kKLYth4NLJ8A6j2S66j9Kl6Wa8rt738lElmWzc2HfxlKnAVag9VM7CrrECHMCdA7ck7P-CPJj7vZwXeWM2NsrCA2-lAMJ3YhNpEKKeOigy-40BeHY44Cwpg/s1600/Spiritual+Journey+framed.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">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 <a href="http://hollymueller.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; color: #771100; text-decoration: none;">Holly Mueller</a> and friends. For the next several weeks, Holly will be featuring our one little words. Today's featured word is DIVE from Greg Armamentos at <a href="https://dashthebook.wordpress.com/blog/">Dash - Life Between the Numbers</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent for many of the world's religions. It is a time of penance, fasting, and prayer for </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">forgiveness. As a cradle Catholic, many discussions in our house at this time of year was about "What are you giving up for Lent?" I don't necessarily agree with this because I don't think giving something up changes me. Instead, I always wanted to add something or do something to </span><span style="line-height: 22px;">change me to help me grow closer to Jesus and to deepen my faith.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Keeping this in mind and reflecting on what this spiritual journey really means to me, I have decided to focus the next 40 days on scripture. Or to keep with the theme of the OLW - I am going to DIVE into scripture. As a Catholic, I am not as well versed in scripture as I would like to be, which is another reason for me to DIVE in. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><i>"All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in the righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." ~ 2Timothy 3:16-17</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Each day I want to spend time reading the Bible and focusing on one scripture verse. My routine will consist of the following:</span></span></div>
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<ol>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Prepare my heart and my mind to listen to the voice of God.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Call on the Holy Spirit to help me pray (because this is another weakness of mine.)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Read the scripture, taking time to think and meditate on how I can respond to the verse. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Finish with a prayer and a resolution to follow Jesus more closely each day of Lent.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Write in my journal or on my blog my thoughts and response.</span></span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Please check back during the next 40 days and DIVE into scripture with me. I would love for you to join me. </span></span></div>
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Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118881210795100547.post-90597642189869887732015-02-18T20:06:00.001-05:002015-02-18T20:41:52.537-05:00Outstretched Hands<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZY4fM-FwRuIfLpugLIF0kKLYth4NLJ8A6j2S66j9Kl6Wa8rt738lElmWzc2HfxlKnAVag9VM7CrrECHMCdA7ck7P-CPJj7vZwXeWM2NsrCA2-lAMJ3YhNpEKKeOigy-40BeHY44Cwpg/s1600/Spiritual+Journey+framed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #771100; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZY4fM-FwRuIfLpugLIF0kKLYth4NLJ8A6j2S66j9Kl6Wa8rt738lElmWzc2HfxlKnAVag9VM7CrrECHMCdA7ck7P-CPJj7vZwXeWM2NsrCA2-lAMJ3YhNpEKKeOigy-40BeHY44Cwpg/s1600/Spiritual+Journey+framed.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" /></a></div>
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<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">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 </span><a href="http://hollymueller.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; color: #771100; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; text-decoration: none;">Holly Mueller</a><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"> and friends. For the next several weeks, Holly will be featuring our one little words. Today's featured word is REACH by Margaret at </span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><a href="https://reflectionsontheteche.wordpress.com/">Reflections</a></span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><a href="https://reflectionsontheteche.wordpress.com/"> on the Teche</a>.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">I opened my laptop, ready for inspiration. But the words didn't come. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">I took a shower, hoping for inspiration. But the words didn't come.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;">I perused through my "faith books" on my shelf, searching for inspiration. But the words didn't come.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">How was I going to write about reaching for God, when the words just wouldn't come? </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><span style="color: #333333;">I picked up </span><i>The Power of Praying Through the Bible</i> <span style="color: #333333;">by Stormie Omartian. I was getting desperate now. As I began </span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">reading, I noticed that verse after verse was not about me reaching out to God, but Him reaching out to me. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="color: #333333;">From the beginning of time, God reaches out through His breath. </span><i><span style="color: #990000;">"The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."</span><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span></i><span style="color: #333333;">~Genesis 1:26-27</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="color: #333333;">He reaches out by sending us the Holy Spirit. </span><span style="color: #990000;"><i>"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."</i> </span><span style="color: #333333;">~ John 14:26</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="color: #333333;">He reaches out by telling us simple stories, by teaching in parables. </span><span style="color: #990000;"><i>"This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, not do they understand."</i> </span>~Matthew 13:13</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">He reaches out through His Word. <span style="color: #990000;">"I<span style="font-style: italic;">n the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.</span></span> ~John 1:1</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">My thoughts today center around God reaching out to me, </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"> his hands </span></span><span style="line-height: 22px;">outstretched, </span><br />
<span style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 22px;"> calling me to reach out to Him.</span></div>
Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118881210795100547.post-72517637246079831312015-01-29T19:09:00.002-05:002015-02-12T11:37:05.670-05:00My Road to Here<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZY4fM-FwRuIfLpugLIF0kKLYth4NLJ8A6j2S66j9Kl6Wa8rt738lElmWzc2HfxlKnAVag9VM7CrrECHMCdA7ck7P-CPJj7vZwXeWM2NsrCA2-lAMJ3YhNpEKKeOigy-40BeHY44Cwpg/s1600/Spiritual+Journey+framed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZY4fM-FwRuIfLpugLIF0kKLYth4NLJ8A6j2S66j9Kl6Wa8rt738lElmWzc2HfxlKnAVag9VM7CrrECHMCdA7ck7P-CPJj7vZwXeWM2NsrCA2-lAMJ3YhNpEKKeOigy-40BeHY44Cwpg/s1600/Spiritual+Journey+framed.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">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 </span><a href="http://hollymueller.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; color: #771100; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;">Holly Mueller</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> and friends. For the next several weeks, Holly will be featuring our one little words. Today's featured word is <b>TURN, </b>my one little word. </span></span></div>
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My road to here has not always been a straight path, a safe drive, nor have I taken the scenic route. Along the way I have encountered...<br />
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roadblocks</div>
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curves</div>
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wrong turns</div>
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speed limits</div>
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detours</div>
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roadmaps</div>
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traffic jams</div>
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caution lights</div>
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stop signs</div>
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one-way streets</div>
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speeding tickets</div>
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u-turns</div>
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construction zones</div>
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speed bumps</div>
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dead ends </div>
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I have met roadblocks along the way. But God placed them there not to make me stumble, but to make me stronger. <br />
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I have taken curves, a different path than what I expected. But this is when I learned that it is God's plan, not mine.<br />
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I have had detours. But this is when He taught me patience.<br />
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I have gone over speed bumps. But this is when He told me to slow down and be thankful.<br />
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I have have been given the wrong directions by people I trusted. But this is when He taught me about forgiveness.<br />
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I have made some wrong turns, turning left when I should have turned right. But this is when I learned about grace and mercy.<br />
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I have been lost. But this is when He taught me to follow Him.<br />
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Looking back down the road to here, I realize that God was always the yellow dotted line in my road. He was what I needed to focus on to keep from veering away. On the sharp curves he was the double line telling me not to pass and to stay in my own lane. To trust in Him.<br />
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As I make my turn toward Him, He has given me a roadmap, His word. There is never a dead end when we take the right turn, a turn toward Him.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhWt1HIz5C7fLCdDlFwwUJk_ie4NDX-shyJdkORaPKtPS0-Ds8NL1yp0xy7VDE5cq17V4mW0M5pSKN3a_lDMBip5QHqcVfSUGdPoWuVZYDybe59YMnZl-j9GSntQaumpCv7hIJ5dcQzOk/s1600/street-238458_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhWt1HIz5C7fLCdDlFwwUJk_ie4NDX-shyJdkORaPKtPS0-Ds8NL1yp0xy7VDE5cq17V4mW0M5pSKN3a_lDMBip5QHqcVfSUGdPoWuVZYDybe59YMnZl-j9GSntQaumpCv7hIJ5dcQzOk/s1600/street-238458_640.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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I leave you with my devotion from Wednesday.<br />
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<i>Trust is a golden pathway to heaven. When you walk on this path, you live above your circumstances. My glorious Light shines more brightly on those who follow this path of Life. Dare to walk on the high road with Me, for it is the most direct route to heaven. The low road is circuitous: twisting and turning in agonizing knots. There the air hangs heavy, an dark ominous clouds predominate. <span style="color: #38761d;">Relying on your own understanding</span> will weigh you down. <span style="color: #38761d;">Trust in Me absolutely, and I will make your path straight.</span></i>Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118881210795100547.post-62466089523321003032015-01-22T05:00:00.000-05:002015-01-22T05:00:00.277-05:00On Eagle's Wings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZY4fM-FwRuIfLpugLIF0kKLYth4NLJ8A6j2S66j9Kl6Wa8rt738lElmWzc2HfxlKnAVag9VM7CrrECHMCdA7ck7P-CPJj7vZwXeWM2NsrCA2-lAMJ3YhNpEKKeOigy-40BeHY44Cwpg/s1600/Spiritual+Journey+framed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #771100; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZY4fM-FwRuIfLpugLIF0kKLYth4NLJ8A6j2S66j9Kl6Wa8rt738lElmWzc2HfxlKnAVag9VM7CrrECHMCdA7ck7P-CPJj7vZwXeWM2NsrCA2-lAMJ3YhNpEKKeOigy-40BeHY44Cwpg/s1600/Spiritual+Journey+framed.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">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 </span><a href="http://hollymueller.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; color: #771100; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;">Holly Mueller</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> and friends. For the next several weeks, Holly will be featuring our one little words. Today's featured word is <b>Fly</b> from Michelle at <a href="http://1gratefulteacher.blogspot.com/">One Grateful Teacher</a>. Thank you Michelle, for letting us fly with you this week.</span></span></div>
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I finished Gari Meachum's Spirit Hunger, and once again found inspiration for this week's post. This book is about seeking God and feeding our Spirit hunger. I think because we share our words each Thursday, we are all seeking God in some capacity. Maybe we are seeking Him because we have been away awhile and need to rekindle that relationship, or we are seeking for a deeper, more meaningful relationship, or simply seeking to be with Him on a regular basis. <br />
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Just because we seek, doesn't mean our journey is easy. Seeking is difficult for me personally, which is one of the reasons I started this blog.<br />
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Gari's last paragraph in the book says:<br />
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<i><span style="color: #990000;">Spirit hunger is a lot like kite <b>flying</b>. If we are willing to get in the air, we'll be carried by the Spirit's current, which is more than able to sustain us. We don't need to be afraid of the wind of the Spirit; instead we can <b>fly</b> in it. For with this sure hope, our Spirit hunger will find wings of its own, and soar. (Emphasis is mine.)</span></i><br />
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If we can just get into the air, we can fly. I don't think this is too easy either. Each of us go through dark times, times when we don't want or can't get into the air. I have learned during these times God lifts us and <span style="color: #990000;">"under his wing is where we find refuge."</span> ~ Psalm 91:4<br />
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One of my favorite Catholic liturgical songs is On Eagle's Wings written by Father Jan Michael Joncas and is based on Psalm 91. Many Catholics sing this song at masses and funerals, and it is a good reminder how God raises us up on eagle's wings so that we can fly.<br />
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My prayer for all of us is that we continue<br />
to seek Him,</div>
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to feed our Spirit hunger,</div>
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to be sustained by the Spirit's current and </div>
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to ask God to help us fly.</div>
Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118881210795100547.post-47301871294928002432015-01-15T06:18:00.000-05:002015-01-15T10:29:24.847-05:00He Listens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZY4fM-FwRuIfLpugLIF0kKLYth4NLJ8A6j2S66j9Kl6Wa8rt738lElmWzc2HfxlKnAVag9VM7CrrECHMCdA7ck7P-CPJj7vZwXeWM2NsrCA2-lAMJ3YhNpEKKeOigy-40BeHY44Cwpg/s1600/Spiritual+Journey+framed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #771100; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZY4fM-FwRuIfLpugLIF0kKLYth4NLJ8A6j2S66j9Kl6Wa8rt738lElmWzc2HfxlKnAVag9VM7CrrECHMCdA7ck7P-CPJj7vZwXeWM2NsrCA2-lAMJ3YhNpEKKeOigy-40BeHY44Cwpg/s1600/Spiritual+Journey+framed.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">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 </span><a href="http://hollymueller.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; color: #771100; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;">Holly Mueller</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> and friends. For the next several weeks, Holly will be featuring our one little words. Today's featured word is <b>Listen</b>, the one little word from Carol at <a href="http://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/">Beyond Literacy.</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: #38761d;">"For I know the plans I have for you," </span><span style="color: #990000;">declares the Lord,</span><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #38761d;">"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~ Jeremiah 29:11</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">This is </span><span style="line-height: 22px;">probably a familiar verse for many. It is certainly one of my favorites. As I continue to read Spirit Hunger by Gari Meacham, I am inspired once again. I wrote last week about God's timing and how hard it is to wait for an answer. It is during those long waiting times when many of us get discouraged or disheartened, and sometimes the spiritual journey takes a pause. We start doubting and thinking God doesn't hear us, and He doesn't listen.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">I find comfort listening to this verse, to know that yes, God does have a plan for me. Even if that plan is not our plan. But </span><span style="line-height: 22px;">Gari says the words that follow this verse are the ones that "hold the punch." </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>"Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will <b>listen</b> to you. You will seek Me when you search for Me with all your heart."</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">We need to remember that a future filled with hope doesn't just happen. We have to do our part in seeking God and praying for our future. The real comfort lies in that He is always l<b>istening </b>to us, even when we think He isn't. In turn, we need to listen for God's voice to guide us along the way.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">We seek.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">We search.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">We pray.</span></div>
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He <b style="background-color: transparent;">listens</b>.<span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUEtGh80T4YU8CzVcjSlpGnv6_8OPc6geBpfZkHOCeBAMJICyMxEZ1-oBzrRNK5tKnVm11IDTw8ocvRDPghsp_h4eRBu99wBEpL9_81nmwK7qyXi_JCSNq5QC0xNWWf7kuwoT7Qlyc-s/s1600/13700205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUEtGh80T4YU8CzVcjSlpGnv6_8OPc6geBpfZkHOCeBAMJICyMxEZ1-oBzrRNK5tKnVm11IDTw8ocvRDPghsp_h4eRBu99wBEpL9_81nmwK7qyXi_JCSNq5QC0xNWWf7kuwoT7Qlyc-s/s1600/13700205.jpg" height="320" width="206" /></a><br />
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Update - I just returned from our teacher devotional/Bible study this morning and the lesson was about listening to God's whisper. I love God moments.</div>
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</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"></span>Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118881210795100547.post-31504616440240817852015-01-08T21:23:00.000-05:002015-01-08T21:26:19.915-05:00A Time For...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I revealed on my first post that my one little word for 2015 is <span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">TURN, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and it was the inspiration behind this space for my journey. </span><br />
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When I think about the word turn, I start singing the song, "Turn, Turn, Turn" by The Birds. Although this song was written during the time of the Vietnam War and was a controversial song, the lyrics come from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NRSV)<br />
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<i>For everything there is a season, and</i></div>
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<i>a time for every matter under heaven'</i></div>
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<i>a time to be born, and a time to die;</i></div>
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<i>a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;</i></div>
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<i>a time to kill, and a time to heal;</i></div>
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<i>a time to break down, and a time to build up;</i></div>
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<i>a time to weep, and a time to laugh;</i></div>
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<i>a time to mourn, and a time to dance;</i></div>
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<i>a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;</i></div>
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<i>a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;</i></div>
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<i>a time to seek, and a time to lose;</i></div>
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<i>a time to keep, and a time to throw away</i></div>
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<i>a time to tear, and a time to sew;</i></div>
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<i>a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;</i></div>
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<i>a time to love, and a time to hate;</i></div>
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<i>a time for war, and a time for peace.</i></div>
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These verses remind me that there is a time for everything.<br />
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<b>God's time. </b> </div>
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We don't always agree with His timing, but His timing is perfect. <br />
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Prayer is often about timing. Many times when we ask for something, prayer becomes cyclical.<br />
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We ask, </div>
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we wait, </div>
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we ask again, </div>
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we don't get an answer, </div>
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we stop</div>
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we start over</div>
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Waiting is hard. When we don't get answers quickly, or we don't receive the answers we want, we wonder<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">why</span></b></div>
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Life is full of ups and downs and yes, times to weep and laugh, and mourn and dance, and embrace.</div>
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There is also a time to ask, and a time to wait, and a time to listen. <br />
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Because God answers, He always answers.</div>
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<b>In His perfect time.</b></div>
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Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118881210795100547.post-71939558903752498982015-01-07T22:23:00.000-05:002015-01-07T22:34:33.897-05:00Even the Disciples Lost Focus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZY4fM-FwRuIfLpugLIF0kKLYth4NLJ8A6j2S66j9Kl6Wa8rt738lElmWzc2HfxlKnAVag9VM7CrrECHMCdA7ck7P-CPJj7vZwXeWM2NsrCA2-lAMJ3YhNpEKKeOigy-40BeHY44Cwpg/s1600/Spiritual+Journey+framed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZY4fM-FwRuIfLpugLIF0kKLYth4NLJ8A6j2S66j9Kl6Wa8rt738lElmWzc2HfxlKnAVag9VM7CrrECHMCdA7ck7P-CPJj7vZwXeWM2NsrCA2-lAMJ3YhNpEKKeOigy-40BeHY44Cwpg/s1600/Spiritual+Journey+framed.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">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 </span></span></span><a href="http://hollymueller.blogspot.com/" style="color: #771100; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; text-decoration: none;">Holly Mueller</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"> and friends.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">For the next </span></span><span style="line-height: 22px;">several</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"> weeks, our topics will be each other's one little </span></span><span style="line-height: 22px;">word</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"> Today's topic is Holly's word -</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"> focus. I had a post ready to go, but another idea surfaced the other night as I was reading </span></span></span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px;">Spiritual Hunger </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px;">by Gari Meacham. I was reading a chapter on engaging God with prayer.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="color: #333333;">This particular section was "Lack of Stamina or Staying Power in Our Prayers."</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">I am a cradle Catholic, so most of my prayer life has been ritualistic, </span></span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">traditional prayer. I can say a decade of the Rosary with no problem. But it isn't long before I am rote praying, and my mind easily becomes focused on everything but the Our Father or the mysteries. It is easy for me to lose focus when praying this type of prayer. Or as Gari puts it, I have "<i>...Attention Deficit Disorder when it comes to prayer.</i>"</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">As I kept reading, I realized the disciples, Jesus' closest friends, struggled with staying focused while praying. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: #38761d;">They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, </span><span style="color: #990000;">"Sit here while I pray."</span><span style="color: #38761d;"> He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. </span><span style="color: #990000;">"My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," </span><span style="color: #38761d;">he said to them. </span><span style="color: #990000;">"Stay here and keep watch."</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. </span><span style="color: #990000;">"Simon," </span><span style="color: #38761d;">he said to Perter, </span><span style="color: #990000;">"are you asleep? Couldn't you keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."</span></i></span><br />
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The last line is key to understanding that sometimes no matter how much we desire to be focused on God and want to have engagement with him through prayer, we are still weak. He knows we wander and through His grace continues to center us.Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118881210795100547.post-38687017907048446002015-01-05T10:53:00.000-05:002015-01-05T17:56:56.296-05:00The ProviderMy husband and I have been married almost 25 years, and I would describe our marriage as very traditional. Maybe not quite a June and Ward Cleaver, but more like the Bradys minus four kids and an Alice. <br />
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I was a stay-at-home mom and enjoyed every minute of it. We made sacrifices in order for me to do this, but it was worth it. My husband takes great pride in being the provider for our family. He worked hard as a banker for 30 years up until this fall when he started a new job. Sunday, a decision was made and our life took a major turn. <br />
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We are left with so many unanswered questions. How are we going to do this? How do we get through this turn in life?<br />
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Last night I opened my devotional and God knew just what I needed to hear. <br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i>"Adverse circumstances become growth opportunities when you affirm your trust in Me no matter what. You receive blessings gratefully, realizing they flow directly from My hand of Grace. Your continual assertion of trusting me will strengthen our relationship and keep you close Me."</i></span><br />
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Then I went to the verse for this day. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>"So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, </i></span><i style="color: #38761d;">beholding your power and glory."</i></span><br />
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As I closed my book, turned out the light and lay my head on my pillow, I knew this decision was in the hands of the real Provider. We will be fine.Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com6