Follow the star - all year round

Let's face it. The church calendar and the calendar on our walls and in our planners are not one in the same. The Liturgical calendar is distinctly unique and has a way of setting those that follow it on a different rhythm that follow the Greco Roman Calendar alone. I spoke to a friend at church recently (the day after Christmas) and she shared that many people she knew were already done with Christmas. By the morning of December 26th, many people were planning to or already were removing the decorations and traces of Christmas. The only thing I could think was, after all the preparation - what's the rush to put Christmas away?

Over the last few years, I've begun to become better educated on the Liturgical year and its cycles, and now know that Christmas Day is only the beginning of the celebration. It was wonderful to discover that many people wait to give gifts on January 6th, which just so happens to be my birthday, which is referred to as Epiphany. Epiphany is defined as: a Christian festival, observed on January 6, commemorating the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles in the persons of the Magi; Twelfth-day of Christmas.

It can be difficult to live into a calendar that is so much different than everyone else's, but with a little unpacking and learning I think it is a worthwhile effort. Just as the Three Wise men had to make an effort to seek out the Christ child, I believe that we as followers of Jesus should be in the year round practice of seeking too.

For this Christmas, I received a gift from my husband that will help me with my year-round Jesus seeking. I received a newly revised Book of Common Prayer: Liturgy for ordinary radicals. I've been seeking a means of refreshing my own devotional life that also connects me with the greater Church as well. It is my hope that this book with be a helpful tool in further developing my spiritual roots in this coming new year and already begun church year.

I encourage you also to seek out a means of readjusting your heart and life with a source of spiritual food that is for soul what a Tom-tom GPS is for your roadside travels. What will be the star that leads you to Jesus this season and every season to come? If you would like some help in finding some devotional resources for all ages here are a few suggestions I'd recommend:

For younger children:
The Beginner's Bible

For Family Devotions with grade/middle school children:
Making time for God

For Teens and Young Adults/Adults looking for a fresh reading of the Bible:
The Message/Remix: Daily Reading Bible

For a prayer & daily scripture reading based in Lectio Divina format/Adults:
Sacred Space 2011

Sacred Space also offers and online resource where you can pray and read at sacredspace.ie

For praying the hours try:
Common Prayer: A liturgy for ordinary radicals

or
The Divine Hours/ Spring-Summer-Fall-Advent to Epiphany etc.

The ELCA offers a well worked out plan for the introduction of Daily Devotions within a Congregational setting as well. To learn more about this visit: Implementation Guide for Daily Discipleship Groups for the ELCA.

God speed on the journey ahead! Follow the star.

Sunny and rainy day friends

There are two kinds of friends in the world: Sunny day friends and rainy day friends. This is a statement that my Mom used to remind me of when I was in the midst of drama or conflict with one school friend of another. There are lots of people that we define as friends, but they are really acquaintances. Two men were out hunting in the northern U.S. Suddenly one yelled and the other looked up to see a grizzly charging them. The first started to frantically put on his tennis shoes and his friend anxiously asked, "What are you doing? Don't you know you can't outrun a grizzly bear?" "I don't have to outrun a grizzly. I just have to outrun you!" This story is funny, but it does help define the distinct difference between a rainy day friend and a sunny day friend. The sunny-day-friend is more concerned with watching out for their own health and wellness, than their friends' wellbeing. On the other hand, a rainy day friend is willing to take risks, work fo

FCE - Dog stroke in spine

Kahlúa is our 15 year old dog that we adopted from the Humane Society when she was four. She joined our family and has been with us for eleven years so far. This morning we found her laying on the carpet in the dining room and was unable to get up and go outside. After letting her rest for a few hours, I gave her some bread to eat and she got up. She was wobbly so I scooped her up and took her outside to go to the bathroom. She managed to remain standing for a few minutes, but was back down quickly. Her back legs did not want to support her even though she was trying to walk. By this point, she had begin to cry so I called the vet and they said to bring her in for an evaluation. My kids and I tearfully wrapped her up in a blanket and drove to the vet. It seemed as if we were sitting in the waiting room forever. The vet told me that her heart, eye function, and lungs were great - also taking into consideration her age of 15! The problem seemed to be FCE - firocartilanginous embolism: w

Gifts we have to give

So often people will think of the areas of life that they fall short or what may need some improvement. I think there is some wisdom in knowing where we need some work as humans, but I also feel it is equally important to learn, foster and use the gifts each one of us are instilled with. So here is the challenge or question that I'd like to present: "What gift(s) has God given to you that can be used in the care and ministry of loving others?" How have you seen that gift used in the past? How would you like to use it? If you dream big and I dream big together - how could God work in that big pool of gifts in the lives of others??? Let's share our gifts today and dream of what they can accomplish for God's purpose! 1 Peter 4:8-10 (New International Version) 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,

Uphill idealist

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