Devotions based on Brennan Manning’s book, The Rabbi’s Heartbeat It is one thing to discover a treasure but another to claim it as our own through determination and effort.  So often in our lives get so fascinated with the trophies of this world that is passing away…pursuit of money, pleasure, power etc.  Whatever it is,…

Devotions from Brennan Manning’s book, The Rabbi’s Heartbeat How often do we shut the Lord out of our lives?  Maybe we enjoy some things alone to exclude Him or to hug certain experiences and relationships to ourselves.  It may not consist of the denial of a personal God, but rather we grow inattentive to His…

Devotions based on Brennan Manning’s book, The Rabbi’s Heartbeat As Christians we have the resurrection power at work in us. This power enables us to accept pain and to discover that we are not alone. It helps us to stand fast in our present circumstances and grow as a result.   Even when tragedy alters our…

Yesterday I went for a walk to the Point for a time of reflectionby the Lake.  On the way home I noticed a road sign that showed the winding road and curves ahead. I thought how great it would be if our journey was like that and we could know what is ahead. But of…

Devotions from Brennan Manning’s book, The Rabbi’s Heartbeat. How childlike are we in our walk of faith?  Jesus said , “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.”  Matt. 18:3-5.  As we think of the characteristics…

Devotions from Brennan Mannings book, The Rabbi’s Heartbeat Often we feel like we are wasting time when we aren’t doing something productive and accomplishing something. We may feel guilty and selfish when we take time to go off alone.  But spending time in quiet before God is not wasting time but a time when we…

Devotions based on Brennan Manning’s book, The Rabbi’s Heartbeat The author’s spiritual director told Manning to define himself radically as one beloved by God.  God’s love for each of us constitutes our worth. We need to accept that and let it become the most important thing in our lives.  The basis of our personal worth…

Devotions based on Brennan Manning’s book, The Rabbi’s Heartbeat So often we want to present a perfect image to others that they may admire us but consequently they don’t know us. Augustine wrote, “There can only be two basic loves, the love of God unto the forgetfulness of self, or the love of self unto…

Devotions based on Brennan Manning’s book, The Rabbi’s Heartbeat The author said that what is denied cannot be healed. If we remain in hiding and deny the reality of our sin, we deprive the community of our healing gift. “In Love’s service, only wounded soldiers can serve.” ( Thorton Wilder)   If we conceal our wounds,…

Devotions from Brennan Manning’s book, The Rabbi’s Heartbeat God wants us to stop hiding and openly come to Him.  Why do we hide what we feel ourselves to be ( which we assume is unacceptable) and put on the appearance of what we are not?  God loves who we really are—whether we like it or…