Month: September 2009 (Page 2 of 3)

We spent a wonderful day yesterday on a nature walk to “the top of the world” and one through dense woods that was so beautiful.  We also had a delicious  salmon supper at Anna and Dave’s and got to see their lovely daughters. Then we also went to Mercer Island and got to see  their handsome grandsons on the way home. Fun!

Today’s devotions are from Henri Nouwen’s book on the Selfless Way of Christ

To follow the Lord requires the willingness and determination to let His Spirit pervade all the corners of our minds and hearts so that we can become like Him.  We need discipline in our spiritual lives but not to master anything but to be mastered by the Spirit.  “True Christian discipline is the human effort to create the space in which the Spirit of Christ can transform us into His image.”  He mentions 3 disciplines.

1.  The discipline of the church. This means remaining in touch with the true story of God in history and making connections between God’s story and our own. Without the spirit, our lives may be full of doing so many things outwardly but unfulfilled inwardly.  Without the Spirit, our busy lives may remain just a series of random incidents.   Instead, our lives can be influenced by the events of Christ’s life being realized among us and through the church.

2.  The discipline of reading the scriptures.  Each day we need to listen to the Word in the intimacy of our own home and let it speak to the most hidden corners of our being.  That means chewing it, digesting it, and letting it become nourishment.  Then the Word descends from our minds into our hearts and finds a dwelling place there.  It could be one word, one story, one parable that has power to change our whole life.

3. The discipline of Prayer.  Personal prayer leads us not just to our own heart, but to the heart of God. As we enter into solitude with Him,  we come in our vulnerability and face our own inner chaos. Gradually as we stay with our struggles, an inner space opens in our hearts as we come to know the presence of His spirit.
May we be attentive to His presence in our daily lives!

We have arrived in Edmonds, Washington after driving 1800 miles.  When we left the hotel yesterday we were awe struck by a huge rainbow over the mountains . The scenery was so breathtaking and a reminder of our creator who made it all .  And then to think, Glory is going to surpass even this!
We were welcomed warmly by Grace and Tom with a steak dinner and walk down to the water front at dusk.  It was awesome with Mount Baker is sight.

So far I am unable to use my computer here so will write on the blog for the duration of our time. Sorry I can’t get your e-mails either.
Today’s devotion is from Gary Thomas’ book, “The Beautiful Fight”
Transformation is really about how present God is in our lives and how He makes a real difference.  It’s not enough to discuss issues, pray about them, and feel inspired by them.  Now we have to find ways to put them into action.  If we don’t think about God, pray to Him, listen to his voice and consciously serve Him, we are really living an ungodly life.  Ungodly is not necessarily being against God but it can be simply a life that ignores God and doesn’t tap into Him.  Instead t be a healthy believer we should experience God every day-His presence, His power, and his wisdom.   We can be reading our Bibles,  fellowshipping,  praying, etc. and all the while not relying on Him. We need a direct experience of knowing Him and being empowered by Him.
May we be “an instrument which the Holy Spirty blows and on which He plays”.

Blessings on your day!

Dear Ones,

Soon we are off to Grace and Tom’s  who live in Edmonds, Washington. We are excited as we have waited a long time for this day!  We found a nice motel in Kalispell, Montana, and I got to swim laps in the pool while Al went for a long walk. We went to a Mexican restaurant for supper, which is my favorite. Today’s devotion continues from Henry Nouwen’s book , The Selfless Way of Christ

Downward mobility is not to cause us pain and humiliation but to help us to see God present in all of our life, including struggles. But temptations that try to return to see upward mobility are:

1. The temptation to be relevant. We want to do something so we can be appreciated by people- to make productivity the basis of our ministry. In many ways we are made to believe that we are what we produce. But instead we need to detach ourselves from the need to be relevant.
2. The temptation to be spectacular.  We act as if visibility and notoriety are the main criteria of value for what we are doing. Perhaps this is our search for selfhood. Are we insecure, lonely and doubtful when others don’t recognize our work?  The search for the spectacular glitter is an expression of doubt in God’s complete and unconditional acceptance of us. The real basis of all ministry is really the acceptance of us as His beloved children that it so total that we are free from the compulsion to be seen, praised, and admired.
3. The temptation to be powerful. Our culture is encouraged to seek power and climb to the top for the most influential positions. Power can come in many forms: money, connections, fame, intellectual ability skills etc.  These are all ways to get a sense of security and control. The mystery of our  ministry is that we are called to serve not with power but with powerlessness.  As His followers we are sent into the world vulnerable and weak so we can reach others in their pain.

These temptations stay with us all our lives but we need to recognize them as illusions of our false self.

May we serve others even when our lives remain the same, even when few people offer us praise, and even when we have little or no power. Then we can come to know ourselves as God knows us, as children hidden in God’s love.,

Better get packed up now but do pray for a safe journey for us. When I was driving from  2 a.m. to 4 am. on Tuesday night, I saw over a dozen and half deer along the road that I could have so easily hit.

The bed felt wonderful last night and we are refreshed to start the day. Blessings and love, Judy

We are in Kalispell, Montana and have driven 26  hours all through the night. We left yesterday after the funeral and are on our way to Edmonds Washington to see special friends.   Al is sleeping and I’m sure I will be soon too.
I wanted to write my thoughts about the funeral  for Frank yeseterday.  It was a meaningful time for me  and a time of processing years of past input into my life. I was most grateful that we were not embarked on our trip so I could be present at the celebration of his life. My aunt is a most special person in my life and it meant a great deal to me to be able to walk with her through this part of her journey. At the close of the reviewal time there was a Power Point of their life together and then a time open for sharing. M y introverted nature does not like to get up in front of crowds but I felt like I wanted to tell my aunt and family  how important they are in my life. I stumbled through with tears and had so  much more to say and couldn’t, but I hope they could read my heart.  When I look back on all the years with their family, it’s the unspoken example of Marcia and Frannk that influenced me most. Marcia was always there for Frank and  joined him in each of his new ventures…..like flowers, farming, fishing, hunting etc. I don’t think I remember her ever speaking negatively of him, even when he only gave us an hour’s notice he was bringing home company for supper. It just meant we had to work together and very quickly!  She was such a vital part of Frank’s life.   When I got married, I  enjoyed being knit with Al in his ventures also and  may never know how much Marcia and Frank influenced me in this  postive way.

Even though there was sadness as we gathered together as family yesterday, something deep united us. We were sharing the celebration of a life that has affected our lives.  Every person leaves behind footprints and makes an impact!  The service for Frank gave expression of his personality and they even played Stars and Stripes Forever!  He would have wanted things to be upbeat as he liked to keep things that way. The priest spoke of how Frank lived a life of sharing with others and therein was joy.  The music was beautiful as children and grandchildren used their musical gifts. An especially touching scene was the grandkids processing in with  gifts and  laid them on the altar.  I could imagine the Lord smiling and receiving their gifts of love. Terry gave a beautiful eulogy of her dad’s life that was so well spoken .
To share communion together with friends and relatives all affected by Frank’s life was a uniting experience too—age, male or female, prominent or humble–all are one at the foot of the cross.
None of us know how our lives touch others, but to live a life of love is eternal. The ripples go on and on. Don’t neglect to tell someone who has touched your life!
Tomorrow we hope to get to Washington and will write as I am able! Blessings!!

I am writing this today as we plan to head out tomorrow morning for the cities to be with my dad and to go to my uncle’s Reviewal in the evening. There is going to be time of sharing and a power point of the celebration of his life at the close. We plan to stay overnight at Augustana and see my dad again before the funeral Tuesday at 11. Then following we will begin our long trip and head to Washington to see our dear friends. Then we go on to Colorado, Texas and Kansas.
Soon we are going to a Cursillo gathering at our new church and help with the pot luck etc. We are feeling at home already and warmly welcomed to everything. What a blessing!  Al hasn’t missed preaching either but maybe it is because he has been too busy.
Devotions for 9-12 from Henry Nouwen’s book called “The Selfless Way of Christ”

This book of Henry’s is about downward mobility in our Christian life,

He speaks of ministry and the spiritual life belonging together.  Living the spiritual life is an intimate communion with the Lord. It is seeing, hearing, and touching. Living a life of ministry is witnessing to Him in the midst of this world.

If our ministry does not emerge from a personal encounter it will become a tiring routine and boring job. On the other hand, when our spiritual life no longer leads to ministry, it quickly leads to introspection and self-scrutiny. Our life in Christ and our ministry belong together as the two beams on the cross.

He points out how the ambition for power and success are very different from true ambition to love and serve others. True freedom is found in downward mobility as Jesus himself followed that path.
Somewhere deep in our hearts we really know that success, fame, influence, power, and money don’t give us inner joy and peace. We can rather see that those who have shed false ambitions have found a deeper fulfillment in their relationship with God. Downward mobility actually leads us heavenward.

 This may be the last e-mail for a while as we will be on the road. I will write as I can. Do check www.canaansrest.net as I may be writing from there. Check the box that says sister Judy and you will find me. Al hopes to write so you may want to check  Brother Al box too.

We would appreciate prayers for our trip as we put on lots of miles and will be gone about 5 weeks. That is a first for us. Thank you for prayers for my aunt and family too. It is so good to rest all in His hands. Blessings and love, Judy

You can try to contact me by e-mail as well

Instead of the usual devotions today, I think I will write about my uncle who had his “Homecoming” Friday afternoon. His final days were a special  time as he was able to meet with each of his 8 children and also grandkids  and speak into their lives. What a gift to leave them with! He had times to express to Marcia his love through all the years she was at his side.  After Marcia called to share of his passing, I walked to the Point to just sit by the lake. It was so still and like a mirror reflecting the clouds above. Everything was so clear. I thought of when someone we love enters eternity, everything changes and becomes clear. The things we thought were so important for this day, no longer have a hold on our attention for they are just transitory things. But when we focus on the Lord and eternity there is clarity and purpose and life. I began processing my times with Frank through the years, as I was like a nanny for their family from the time I was very young. Frank would give me rides to their home in Prior Lake and we had that time to talk together in the car. Often he would tease me or have a humorous remark. If I  didn’t want to take as much pay for babysitting, he would just throw the money in the street so I had to take it. He never wanted to inconvenience others either. My last visit with him at the hospital was the most special as we were able to say “I love you”  and I planted several kisses on his head. Al prayed over him and it was a holy time. I am grateful for his life and for being a part of their family. It was like a second home. I wondered as I walked last night, if my mom, or brother John, or grandma or grandpa welcomed Frank into glory. We have so much to look forward to the best is yet to come. May we be aware this day of what is going to matter for eternity. Some things can quickly be gone with the wind and other things we need to pursue. May we live with eternity in our hearts each day and share His love with everyone He brings into our lives.
Thank you for your prayers and please continue to pray for Marcia and family.

Devotions for 9-11 from Alice Fryling’s book,

As we gather with others in spiritual direction, we are journeying together toward God. Our job is not to fix each other or even to teach each other, for God is the real spiritual director and He is the one drawing.

In the group it is important that each feels free to share and is comfortable with silence so we can listen to how God is leading. We must humbly allow the Holy Spirit to be the guide.

Even when problems arise we can know that God is with us, within each of us, and present in all that happens.  Each one must be committed to grace and truth and a desire to draw closer to God. As a group we have the wonderful opportunity of traveling together. God never intended for us to journey alone. May He give each of us  companions so that we can seek God together.

When  starting out we can reflect on such questions as:

When today did you feel the most joy, the most freedom, or the most loved?  What time today were you most aware of the presence of God?

If a  passage of scripture is meditated on, focus on how that passage might reflect in some way God is at work in your life.

But do take time to be still and listen to God, letting go for the distractions and welcoming the Holy Spirit.

Spend some time listening to the gentle whisper of God and sit in His presence. He has so much to say if we are quiet enough to hear!