Month: March 2011 (Page 3 of 4)

Devotions based on Trevor Hudson’s book. Discovering our Spiritual Identity

Our faith is grounded in remembrance- we are called to remember God’s presence in the gospel life of Jesus, in our own personal stories and in our daily lives.
The Psalmist says, “I remember you, O Lord.”  And Jesus himself said in connection with the breaking of bread to “Do this in remembrance of me.”

We all carry memories in our hearts, and when we look back on where we have come, we may see more clearly, we may be renewed, and we may have a deeper sense of who we are.
Often we may ask ourselves how we can deepen our friendship with the Lord? The author is saying, “Keep company with Jesus in the gospels”.  As we follow Jesus through the pages of the gospels, we are reminded of what God is like. Jesus becomes a living presence and we begin to sense what He wants for our daily lives. As we read through the gospels we can notice the way Jesus relates to people, hear the message he brings, watch what he does etc. And as we remember God’ loving presence in the past it makes His presence real within the present

Devotions based on Trevor Hudson’s book, Discovering our Spiritual Identity

Within each of us there is a picture of God that has been formed over the years and it influences how we live our daily lives.  When distortions creep into our picture of God, they have negative effects throughout our lives. Ex. If we think we have to earn God’s love and that we don’t measure up, we will wear ourselves out with busy schedules etc, as the author did.  But our picture of God can be redrawn and in any true picture of God there will be mystery. He is transcendent and beyond us, but not vague…. Rather someone personal. John Powell suggests we compare God’s love to the sun that always shines and radiates warmth and light.  We can allow the light to fill our senses and make us warm or we can separate ourselves from its rays. But the sun itself doesn’t change. In the same way God’s love never ceases and He continues to send out it’s warm rays.  He is always with us and shares our pain, and brings light and life where there is darkness and death.  Any time we are surprised with the new possibilities for life and healing in our brokenness, there is a little Easter that gives us hope. He speaks to each of us by name and welcomes us with open arms.

Devotions based on Trevor Hudson’s book, Discovering our Spiritual Identity

From all eternity it has been God’s purpose that we discover that we are cherished and loved.  We often struggle inwardly to believe this because of childhood memories of abuse, conditional love and acceptance, undermining by others etc. But the truth is every one of us is God’s creation, and He is attentive to what we are experiencing, and has an eternal purpose for our lives. We need to see ourselves through His eyes. We must learn to treat ourselves as dearly beloved of Christ and then we will be freer to give ourselves away to others without resentment too. When we love our selves we can then forget ourselves, direct our attention toward others and respond to their needs.  That means being honest about the various aspects of our inner needs, taking time to listen to them, and open our hearts to His grace and forgiveness.  As we experience being His beloved children we can take the inward journey and face our inner shadows.  “Nothing we uncover can ever render us unlovable to God.”  As we really know this we can reach out to others with transparency and honesty, without being dependent on their approval.  Wherever Jesus went, people knew they were valued and He wants us to relate to others that way too. May we “Bear the beams of His love towards those we meet.”

Devotions based on Trevor  Hudson’s book, Discovering our Spiritual Identity

For most of us there is a big gap between knowing in our head we are beloved of God and knowing in our heart. It is far more than an intellectual conviction and the Lord wants us to wake up to the amazing truth of our belovedness. Then we can from that place of inner security seek His will and help others to know how loved they are. When we don’t know our true identity, we feel inferior and see ourselves wrongly. In our pit of worthlessness, we struggle to believe that God has a unique purpose for our lives. We usually search for answers by looking inward, looking toward others, and looking toward achievement.  By looking purely inward we diminish the mystery of who we truly are. It does not reveal the whole story. When we look to others to please, we cannot find our own voice and life is lived in a secondhand existence. When we look toward achievement to give us inner assurance of our significance, what happens when we are unemployed, retired and forced to rest? It can be devastating. Jesus received His identity from beyond himself: He is the Beloved of God and in this inner awareness, He could accomplish the will of his father. NO matter what we have done or how we have failed, He wants us to know that we are loved. We don’t need to prove ourselves to God or do anything at all to be acceptable to Him. “You exist because God loves you already. You are a child of divine love.”

Devotions based on Trevor Hudson’s book, Discovering our Spiritual Identity

“Spirituality is being intentional about the development of those Christ-shaped convictions, attitudes and actions through which our identity as God’s beloved is formed and given personal expression within our everyday lives”. Wherever we are on our journey we can be more intentional as we live out our identity as His beloved and stretch forward in the  transformation of our personal lives.  That means falling in step with Him as He shows us not only how to live and but provides us with the strength to follow. The author suggests not WWJD ( What would Jesus do) but HWJDI ( How would Jesus do it). This question is more than something outward and has to do with what is deep within….the transforming of our seeing and listening, of our attention and our awareness, of our willing and our doing.  St Ireneaus wrote “The glory of God is a human being fully alive. “ As we discover our spiritual identity we will come alive to the wonder of our Belovedness, see the sacredness of our ordinary life, become alert to hidden things in our lives that need attention, become aware of those around us suffering, and wake up to His available presence.  We are invited to be His followers whereever we are on our journeys. What a privilege!

Devotions based on Rupp and Wiederkehr’s book, The Circle of Life

The winter season holds beauty all of its own and it is a less busy more reflective time. Even though it is quiet and dormant, it also has its share of harshness. We may miss the positive value of this season just as we may consider our interior winters uncomfortable. But it is something to enjoy and is vital for spiritual growth. Our spirits need dormancy, rest, silence and solitude. Winter time is the opportunity to slow down and refocus our direction and purpose in life. When we encounter storms it challenges us out of our comfort zones and we may find we need courage to stand strong with hope for the future.  It may force us to let go of our securities and cause us to reach out for help from others too.  In this dark time we can learn more about ourselves and our relationship with the Lord.  Even though all appears dead and void of movement, there is quiet growth that is taking place. Sometimes we may be tempted to give up, to lose hope and to stop believing in ourselves when we can’t see our growth. But we must wait patiently and to remember with hope, that a future springtime is coming.. a time to burst forth in the joy of spring.

Devotions based on Rupp and Wiederkehr’s book , The Circle of Life

Each of us has a well of wisdom from which to drink. Too often we are led to believe that the wisdom of someone else’s well is better than our own. We can so easily treasure their wisdom and discount the source of spiritual and intellectual nourishment within us. We need to be encouraged to trust that what is within our own well is of immense value and worth. Our wisdom is often hidden in a deep source and we need to spend time in reflection and silence in order to find it. Our inner well is waiting to nourish and refresh us. We may discover something in our well that energizes us, or something that needs to be released and healed, something that needs to be celebrated etc. Why not share what we have found with someone else?

Devotions based on Rupp and Wiederkehr’s book, The Circle of Love

If we live each day in a spirit of gratitude our lives would be radiant. But how do we become grateful people?
Let us begin by being thankful for what is and not focus on what is not.
Let us find good even in unwanted aspects of life, without denying the presence of the unwanted.

Let us focus on the beauty of little things of life, as well as deliberate about the great beauties.

Let us find something to laugh about in every day, even when there seems nothing to laugh about

Let us search for and to see the good in others rather than remembering their faults and weaknesses.

Let us be thankful for each loving deed done by another, no matter how insignificant it might appear.

Let us taste life to the fullest, and not take any part of it for granted.

Let is forgive others for their wrong doings, even immense ones, and  put the past behind.

Let us remember to say “thank you” for whatever comes as a gift from another.

    And may we be at peace with what cannot be changed.

Devotions based on Joyce Rupp and Macrina Wiederkehr’s book, The Circle of Life

We all go through struggles and when we do it is good to ask ourselves what lies beneath them that would help me grow and for which I can give thanks.

If we look at the illness we might have, we see only physical diminishment. But if we look underneath we may see it as a teacher bringing us vital wisdom

If we look at a broken relationship on the surface it seem harsh but underneath we may see the seeds of new growth.

If we look at lost dreams we may see only disappointment and doubt, but underneath we may see the stuff that new dreams contain.

If we look at the death of a loved one, we see only sorrow. But underneath we may see that love lives on forever in the heart.

If we look at ourselves we might see tarnished unfinishedness but underneath we may see His goodness shining there.

Let us all look beneath the externals of our lives for His love, peace and strength that lie in the deep waters of our souls.