Noah and the whale - Love

The other day, a friend of mine was telling me about his little boy Noah and all his Noahism's. Today while listening to a mix on Pandora, I came across a band called Noah and the whale. I don't know too much about this band, but the common name caught my attention as well as the song and video posted above.

I hope you are feeling loved today. Either way, consider this song and sentiment as some love being sent your way - from me and of course, Noah.
:)

Happy Friday!

Tara

Celebration!

Celebration by Keith Mallett found at "It's a black thing.com"

Today is a rather normal Thursday. I took my kids to school and then got ready to go on a long run. It's amazing that I can say the words "long run" and now be able to actually do it. For the last 2 1/2 years, I'm been on this journey of learning how to run for fitness and dare I say it - fun! This was not my perspective two years ago, but wow time has changed things.

Today I'm celebrating the fact that I went on a run and ran 5.1 miles! I know it may not be a marathon, but this is my longest distance run since I began this effort and I recall when running from telephone pole to telephone pole seemed impossible. I started this effort with the Couch to 5k online guide, did that several times, ran in a few 5k races and now I go out every morning to run and clear my head. It's a good thing so I'm going to celebrate it.

What do you have to celebrate today? Don't hesitate to find a small thing and enjoy it, make a party of it. Life is too short not to acknowledge all the little and big celebrations of life.

Go for it! Make a goal - and celebrate each telephone pole along the way. You have my support and permission, so
CELEBRATE TODAY!

Thoughts on being a ripple stone

Image from the blog Woman of Worth.
In the last few weeks of working though the devotions in the back of the "Unbinding your heart", I've begun to be more freed up to pray for people throughout the day, make a phone call when that person keeps coming to mind, or drop off a surprise to someone because I feel I have something in particular that will bless them in some way.

I've had these kinds of 'holy promptings' in the past; but it's wonderful to have them be a current and present gift in my spiritual life. For a person like me, it's often so difficult to stop, sit still and pray. It's interesting that when I do stop, pray and listen to God; that he leads me to activity and action.

I'm thankful to God that my mode of operation is understood, and I hope as I grow in the ability to pause and pray; more of God's activity will be done in my own actions.

Maybe it's like being a stone that is tossed into a pond. The stone simply goes where the thrower tosses it, but the ripples go on forever.

Tara

If you would like to post your prayer and intersession story? You can do that in the comment section here, or you can go to our Holy Conversation Facebook group page and post there if your prefer.

What Christianity means to me

This last week my Holy Conversations group wrestled with the questions,"What difference does Christianity make in your life?" and "Why does it matter that others consider becoming Christians?" What I share below is meant to be the start of a conversation. I do not desire that this be the end of the conversation, just a beginning prompt. Please feel free to post your responses in the comments or at the Holy Conversations Facebook Group. Please read, reflect and comment as you feel comfortable..

Living a Christian life is not something that I claim to have mastered. It is a daily challenge to balance in that place of "love the Lord your God with all your heart, strength, mind and soul and love your neighbor as yourself."

While Jesus says there is no law greater than this commandment - it's at first apparent simplicity makes it easy to read. But when this all encompassing commandment sinks in some more; the hearer begins just how dependent upon God's grace we all need to be to attempt living a 'Christian' life.

It's difficult for me to imagine living without Christianity being the lens I look and live through. I was only two weeks old when I first started attend church with my parents, and have rarely missed worship on Sunday's my entire life. I have in some capacity worked or volunteered in ministry for over twenty years now. I suppose some my say I'm a cradle Christian.

However, there have been times that I attended worship and maintained a Christian lifestyle probably more out of habit than heart. It has been especially in those times, that in one way or another; God has made his presence known and drawn me back into a place of participation and involvement because my heart, soul and mind were equally engaged.

It was a natural connection for me to share these experiences of how God was working and moving in my life with those around me. I did and still do desire to share God's love with the world around me. While in my youth, my methods of sharing were not as refined or listening as it should have been; I honestly can say I really wanted to share the good news with anyone willing to listen.

I know that there are many people that have experienced the down side of judgmental or hypocritical christianity - when right behavior and right thinking becomes a barometer that no one can live up to. I have been on the receiving end of this kind of criticism. Its not a fun or easy place to be.

So for those that have become disenchanted with organized religion, been outed for one shortcoming or questions of faith; I hear you - I've been there and back and even have the t-shirt.

But for the long haul, I have to say that in spite of hurts of disappointments I've experienced in the church; God continues to open the door for continued ministry and a sense of community from inside that reaches beyond the doors of the church. I believe through it all, walking the journey of a Christian life and sharing Christianity with others, sincerity and authenticity is fundamental.

It believe that God desires to see our whole person - questions, faults and all - and love us anyway. The journey of faith is one that lasts a lifetime, and beyond.

Loving God, loving self and loving the world seems to be the place to begin and pursue in living a Christian life and sharing that life with those around me. This kind of Christian life is the only kind that will ultimately make a lasting difference to me and those I share it with.

SWB: Animal Crackers in my soup

It's been too long since I've posted the Monday Sleeping with Bread Meme prompt. Life has been rather hectic lately, but I've missed our 'bread' conversations - so I thought I'd try to get things baking here again. Thanks for your patience.

I was on my day off today, and to be honest there's been a little too much candle burning on both ends - so I'm home with the sniffles. Nothing big, but it was a good rainy day for some rest, hot honey tea and animal crackers. It's funny how these frosting and sprinkle covered animals reminded me of the good bread in the midst of my stuffy head. They were sweet, so I could taste them even in my stuffy state; and in that they are so like the presence and blessings of God even in the muck and mess of life.

Imagine a drinking bowl of steaming hot chicken noodle soup on a cold rainy day. Taste the oyster crackers and slurp up all the noodles with determination. Even when the circumstances are not their best, a bowl of hot soup - with crackers - can be wonderful medicine indeed!

Since I'd like to get your input here and have this Monday meme be very interactive, I'll keep this prompt short.

What are you most and least grateful for in this last week?
How did you experience God placing animal and oyster crackers in your soup bowl of life?

I'll leave my most and leasts below this video of Shirley Temple clip - it was too cute not to add to our topic today. :)
Peace and Animal Crackers -
Tara



Least grateful:
For not knowing how to shift from summer to fall in my head and allowing my body to accommodate the change.
Learning how to balance additional groups with the fall schedule back in gear.
Stepping into unknown territory of higher ed options for my 12 grade child.
Clutter: Emotional and physical.
Serious health/other problems of extended family and friends.
Discerning answers to some really big questions.
Sniffles.

Most grateful:
Sunny fall days with leaves crunching under my feet.
Celebrating my two year anniversary at my church at the end of this month.
Art shows.
Going to the movies with my husband.
Pizza night with the family.
Taking a whole day off.
re:form nights
Experiencing God's presence and overwhelming love in worship.
A good friend who always has my back.
Team-teaching.
Cell phones for my WHOLE family - feeling much more connected.
Frosted animal crackers.
;)

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This "Sleeping with Bread" Monday Meme, started by Mary-Lue and based off the book by the same name is a place to, just as “the orphans held on to what nourished them and were thus able to sleep peacefully at night, the examen, based on the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius, helps a person hold onto what spiritually nourishes him by looking at what is giving him consolation in his life or causing him desolation. It allows someone to express his gratitude to God for the good stuff and turn to him for solace for the bad stuff."

25 reasons to pray for your church

If you need more reasons to pray for your church, I have some more for you.
How about 25, 7th-9th grade students on an adventure of sharing space, life and confirmation class?

Sunday evening was our third night of shared confirmation classes using the new re:form curriculum. It's amazing to see the youth from four local Lutheran churches coming together and gelling as a group.



The lesson this week was an overview of the ten commandments and a compare/contrast on the Old Testament vs. the New Testament.



Each student was counted off into a smaller group where they would decide what Bible story was the most historically important one, but they were not permitted to use any Jesus stories. Three groups out of five choose the 'Creation' story because without God getting things started - why have the rest of the story, another choose 'Revelation' because it ends with good winning over evil and the other choose 'Noah's Ark' because it expresses God keeping promises.



From what I've heard from most people who went through confirmation in a mainline church in the past 30 years or so, it was something that they simply "endured" or "put up with till I get confirmed". I did not grow up in this tradition, so it makes me feel sad that something like learning and growing spiritually and becoming an adult member of a church would be something so non-engaging.



It is my hope, that my students will grasp how amazing, exciting, and life fulfilling being in relationship with God can be, so beyond seeing a problem and saying, "How sad." and stopping there. It's my goal and the goal of the leaders in this partnership to encourage the students to ask questions, wrestle with the things they don't understand and fall deeper in love with the God that cares so much for each one of them - and all of us!



It seems that our churches need to be reformed more than helping being a part of confirmation classes in a more engaging way - the parents and grandparents of these children need to also find a way to become re-connected and engage with their creator in an authentic and sincere manner. On that topic, I'm still thinking.

However, as you look at these pictures of the 25 students in our class; may you be reminded that they represent so many youth and families all around the world who are searching for a place where love is always offered. You may only see a few faces here, but the big number God sees is always growing! For all our churches and fellowships, this is the kind of reformation is a means of re-creating an environment where all are welcome (young, elderly and in-between) to experience to love and forgiveness of Christ.

Please take some time and pray for your church/members/and people that God would desire you to invite into that community.