Uphill idealist

I have this shelf in my office where I collect trinkets, photos and notes of encouragement. Many of the items are gifts from youth or adults that I've had the blessing of getting to know in ministry. Earlier today I looked up to the middle of the shelf to see the words - trust in God. I don't know why it seemed different today, but the words seemed to be saying they were capable of caring for everything and everyone represented in my shelf/and wall collection. I like that - very much. I really needed to be reminded that God can be trusted with the concerns on my own heart as well as all the lives that touch mine too. Holding on to "trust" and G-d. PS. When I posted this first picture, more youth/young adults from my church took notice of my shelf/wall and started adding to it as well. This is just one more way for me to pray for and entrust more of who and what I care for to G-d. To be continued...

(Myrtle Susan Rain around twenty years of age.) Dear Grandmother Rain, You're son Gary gave me this photograph of you a few years ago and I keep it on my shelf in my office. I don't know very much about you except that you passed away after and illness, when my Dad was about three years old. Dad(Gary) has very strong feelings for you and to this day will get misty when he shares those early-childhood memories with me. Years ago, I'd meet some of the great Aunts or Uncles when we'd make a trip to Pittsburgh for a reunion - and they would comment on how I resembled you. Dad always says I looked a great deal like you and from the photograph, it's easy to see that we have a close physical resemblance. But I wonder if we are similar in any other ways? I've wondered if you liked to read or paint? Did you like to talk as much as I do? Were you a writer as well? By the strong connection Dad has with you to this day, I know you were (and are) a greatly loved Mom. All his...

Two weeks ago, First Lutheran Church hosted a "Spaghetti and Meatball lunch" collaborative fundraiser for the 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering . The team of over twenty people helped to cook and serve five gallons of sauce, five-hundred meatballs, thirty pounds of pasta, and six cases of sliced Italian bread with the addition of raffling off 40 donated baskets to raise $1350.00 for the effort. The volunteers and donations came from people from St. Timothy's Lutheran, Bethel Lutheran, Holy Trinity Lutheran, Immanuel Lutheran and First Lutheran Churches. In July 2012, twelve youth and five adults will be traveling to New Orleans for worship and mission and fundraisers like this will be our main resource in achieving the goal of making this trip. Until November 10th, our team will also be selling coupon books for the Bon-Ton "Community Days" for $5.00 each. These coupon books are worth up to $200.00 in the Bon-Ton during their holiday kick off sale on November 11th a...

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...

Image found at Bizrealtionships blog. Open space that needs to be filled, with time, with living, with intention of will? What makes it beautiful, worthwhile, and great? How can this moment be filled with the holy and grace? I'm told whats needed are open eyes, heart, hands, mind and ears - to listen, ponder, question, wrestle and drop tears. Water that washes away the dirt, clears way to see the image - that's the spirit's search. This space is open and already full with time and living if we ask the question - "What might be your will?" T.L. Eastman Oct. 2011

Image found at Homemade Soup blog. Chicken noodle soup is good for: stuffy noses, hearts that are broken, weary bodies and burdened minds. What is the fix dancing inside that bowl? Water, carrots, noodles and broth - everyday items cooked in love and brought - comfort for life, and breath and soul. Wrap me up and hold me tight. Swaddle me like an infant tonight. Hold me in the place of safety and rest - so the noodle soup, now in my stomach, can work it's best.

Image found at blog: seeking spirit. Prayer: Lord, you have called us into life, now by your grace, reveal to us Your truth, show us Your way, and lead us in the life that is abundant. let your witness speak clearly and effectively words, that would indeed work in our lives for the benefit of Your Kingdom, and make us listen with discerning minds and hearts. AMEN. Do you remember the opening song from the TV show Cheers? The main chorus of the song "Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got. Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot. Wouldn't you like to get away? Sometimes you want to go Where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came. You wanna be where you can see, our troubles are all the same You wanna be where everybody knows Your name." source: http://www.lyricsondemand.com/tvthemes/cheerslyrics.html Being a part of a caring, inclusive community is something that is important to most everyone. We all ...