Uphill idealist

Breathe. Trust. Play. Rest. Create. Love. Be. These are the words that I need. These are the words that I will hold close. These are the words that are a prayer -  when I forget to breathe, when I don't remember to trust, when I need to play, when rest is far from me, when I don't feel like being creative, when love is what I long to feel and when "being" needs to be enough. Be. Love. Create. Rest. Play. Trust. Breathe. Thank you Jesus...  for these seven simple and profound words. No matter the order - these seven words bring light and life. Amen.

For the warmth, for the pause, for the need beyond words, for the joy bubbling to the surface... light a candle. Because of the news we read, because there is news we can't bear to read, because there is news we can't wait to share... light a candle. In loss, in abundance, in the in-between, in the hopes, in the pits of despair, and in the embrace of love... light a candle. For its flickering, because it's light carries on even in the darkest of times, in the way it reminds us that we are loved by a God that uses tiny things like water,  word,  bread, wine, wax and wick  to connect with us... light a candle. Image and poem by T.L. Eastman copyright 2015

Family friendly devotional activities for Holy Week Make these cookies with your kids and use the cookies to help talk to them about Jesus Resurrection! My mom was terrific at making any holiday season special. We would color Easter eggs, prepare a fantastic meal, make up thoughtful and fun Easter baskets and help to make wonderful memories in my childhood. One of our Easter traditions was to make "Overnight cookies". These cookies are simple and tasty recipes that help to tell the story of Easter. Once they were prepared, cooked and left in the oven overnight, my Mom would tell the story of Jesus' Resurrection with the help of these hollow treats. (See recipe below.) In preparation for holy week I collected some scriptures, activates and devotional resources to share with the families at my church, and was happy to share them online too. I hope these devotions help you to pause and take notice of God throughout this busy holiday and make some great family memories of you...

The challenge for week 1 of Lent with World Vision was to, "Sacrifice what surrounds you." I decided to tidy up a corner of my office and set up a prayer and reflection station for myself and others to use. I know that my office may not be located on Main Street, but I hope this space will be a place where folks will feel welcome to pause-pray-and draw closer to God. If you are on Facebook and would like to follow along with the online group, join us here: ACT's Lenten Group. Peace, T

Image from Martin Liberman . To view his other work or contact him click or here visit "(C) by www.martin-liebermann.de" Jeremiah 6:16 "Thus says the Lord, stand at the crossroads and look, and ask for ancient paths:where the good way lies; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls." I will be thinking and praying my way through this verse this week as part of reading "The Artists Rule" . This verse seems to be waving hello to me every time I turn around. When I read it yesterday, it took my breath away - and that reaction makes me think there is a great deal to unpack in the above words. What do you do when you find yourself at a crossroads? How do you decide which direction to move? - Flipping a coin, listening to your gut? Here is a quote from "The Artists Rule" about the work of transition, that really struck me... "We must disrupt old ways, shattering the planes upon which we have unwittingly built lives that do not bring us happ...

Earlier this week, I told you about my "sacrificial" efforts with giving away and selling off some old books,working to establish an online group to discuss and work through "sacrifice" for the Lenten season, and my frustration because of not knowing what specific thing to sacrifice for this season of reflection. I was overwhelmed with possibilities, and decided to draw that feeling out in a sketch yesterday. As I began to process the feelings and words that spilled out on the page, I realized that it might be good to have a way to work through some of those ideas and feelings. So, I took out my markers - got out an old notebook - redesigned and added some color to yesterdays sketch - and made a space for me to express these things. I made a re-cycled journal to re-purpose some of my time during the Lent season. Time is often the thing I'm least likely to use to refill my own well, and that needs to change. It's not that I'm giving up a tangible thing fo...

Image found at Colima Car Wash . Do you have a point card for a convenience or grocery store? Last week, when filling up my car with gas and coffee mug with coffee; I was surprised to receive a "Free Car Wash" at the checkout. After a lot of slushy, salt covered winter driving; the car wash coupon could not have come at a better time - for me and my winter weary Dodge Stratus. I have a thing for automatic car washes. I love the sound of water whooshing, the juicy-fruit smell of the soap, colorful stripes of bubbles streaming down my windshield and how my car is gently pulled through the car wash bay. At first, the two men worked on my car by spraying and brushing the excess dirt and ice buildup away. When I pulled into the car wash bay, I carefully lined up my wheels to rest on the tracking to be led through the wash process. I was told to place my car in neutral and release the brake. I shifted gears but nothing happened. I looked down and saw that I had shifted to reverse -...

Image from 123RF. During this season of Advent, our thoughts may turn to the wise men searching through the challenges of distance, obstacles, and the great unknown as they searched to find Jesus. Who was this Jesus they were seeking? How would meeting him change their lives? How did they feel as they finally came to the place where Jesus laid waiting for their arrival? There are many things we can desire this Advent season. Out of all the things we could place on our wish list, what if what we desired most was Jesus? How would Jesus change, mold and impact our lives if he were at the top of our "wish" list? May this season of preparation for Christmas day bring you joy, peace and most of all -Jesus. This Advent, may we seek Jesus just like the wise men did on that silent, holy night when they found him lying in a manger. Jesus waits for us to seek him. Follow the star. More than/less than Prayer What do you need more of in order to draw close to Jesus this Advent season? How...

Image found at Conversation on blogs. Do you think that God feels like the person pictured above? "Talk to me?" The idea of prayer being more like a sit-down chat with God can sometimes be difficult to understand and practice. I came across the definition of a prayerful "colloquy" earlier today while reading and praying with Sacred Space. This text below was found in the helpful prompts they place in each section of the daily prayer prompts. (Click on the "guide" tab to see it there.) The picture of a colloquy painted by Ignatius, is a little warmer and color filled that what I found at a generic online dictionary... 1. a formal conversation or conference 2. a literary work in dialogue form 3. an informal conference on religious or theological matters • Saint Ignatius calls this conversation a 'colloquy', and says: • A colloquy is made, properly speaking, in the way one friend speaks to another, or a servant to one in authority - now beggi...

Read the following scripture: "Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us." (Romans 12:4-6a) What word or phrase stands out to you in the verse above? Why do you think this is? Think about the different gifts in the Scripture references listed below: (Romans 12): exhortation, giving, leadership, mercy, prophecy, service, teaching, (Corinthians 12) administration, apostle, discernment, faith, healing, helps, knowledge, miracles, (Ephesians 4) evangelism and pastor. Is there a gift that stands out to you or that you have interest in? Circle the ones you might like to learn more about. Think about the responses on your affirmation cards (Ie. See group activity on earlier blog post): How might those affirmations be clues to some of your God given gifts? Take some time to write a...

For all of you following the progress of the "dots" banner, the trim and ties were completed and one is up in the contemporary worship space and the other will be hung up in the Nave after a wedding on Saturday. Each banner is a work in progress as each week people will be invited to respond to the question, "How have you been made aware/seen/understood God's presence this week?" or in simpler terms - "Where did you see God?". These banners will be continually added to for this Sunday school year, but this project is not limited to the youth. Its my hope that all attendees and visitors will feel welcome to add to this visual display of God's love and grace.

Sunday school banner for 2011-12 school year at First Lutheran Church of Jamestown . “God has a way of working dot-to-dot of our lives. For the last almost two years, I’ve been searching for a continuing education program specific to the ministry situation here at First Lutheran Church. I knew it had to be something I could do from Jamestown, it had to require a minimal amount of travel, it needed to engage my heart and mind and it had to apply to and assist me in the work I do on a daily basis. In February, my husband came across a book called, “The God bearing life.” by: Kenda Creasy Dean. In this book he learned about a Certificate program specific to current trends in youth and family ministry that fit all the requirements I’d hoped to find…” Click here to read the original post. Over a year ago now, I gave a version of this essay as a talk at the 9am Sunday service. I’m sharing it with you, because the idea of God connecting our dots is one that has carried throughout the time ...

(Image from Praying in Color blog - it is an example of a one person prayer .) When I was small and very squirmy, my Dad used to give me offering envelopes to doodle on in Church. I would cover every square inch of the paper and even open the glued edges to have more space to draw on. I never totally dawned on me that this act of drawing could in fact be a prayer practice. As a teen, I struggled to find a means of prayer and devotion that I would be consistent in participating in. Now that I think on it, much of my journals would be drawing and doodles. As an adult, I have had more consistent periods of time that I've journaled my prayers - and even then the drawings are always there! Even over the last few months, I've been contemplating on paint/praying the Psalms. Isn't it funny how serendipity brings things together? I think this is a forest for the trees kind of moment for me. My drawings are prayers. Really, no joke - no farse - it's not cheating. Drawing, paintin...