Happy Friday, Friends! I hope you've had a wonderful week. Can you believe that this is the very last day of January? Here's to hoping that Punxsutawney Phil does not see his shadow Sunday. We have an Alabaster Al at the Birmingham Zoo. If Al doesn't see his shadow, yet Phil does, which pontificator should I believe?
Did you experience anything transcending as discussed in our lesson this week? Entitled "When Heaven Breaks Through," Farrell Mason explains how "transcendent moments hint of eternity, [and ] they offer a mystical awareness" (on page twenty-one). She also describes how the Celts believed in the existence of thin veils between our physical world and heaven. Ironically in my Bible class at church yesterday, we also discussed this same Celtic belief. We're studying Joyce Rupp's The Open Door, and this week's lesson was Chapter Five entitled "Standing On the Threshold." This chapter explores thresholds, or the liminal spaces "between our inner and outer space such as spirit and body." In Jubilee Time, Maria Harris reminds us that "the threshold is a place of the spirit, uniting the mundane with the mysterious, the commonplace with the awesome." It takes a willingness and sometimes courage to cross this threshold, and growth and wisdom will be waiting on the other side. I'm sure we've all experienced these transcendent moments, but I can't help but wonder how many we might have missed.
Farrell tells us that the secret to the art of transcendence is simple:
Seek God's face always. Fall in love with the life given and keep falling in love over and over again---with people, nature, food, new experiences, and music....Believe, believe, believe that a corner of heaven can be pulled down on your watch.Page 23
Here is this week's scripture:
I thought this was a very unusual translation of this verse. I also started reading several different translations, and I was fascinated by the differences. This one is my favorite version from the Modern English translation:
I called upon the Lord from my distress;the Lord answered me and set me in an open place.~Psalm 118:5
Farrell gives us a lovely list of music to nourish our souls in this chapter. I love Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons," and we all might be a little tired of Winter (plus it reminds me of Christmas), so I'm sharing Spring (La Primavera).
- Pray for our military and military families, and the Wisconsin National Guard deployed in Iraq.
- Pray for our military being sent to the southern border.
- Pray for Kitty's son Mike to get a job that uses his talents.
- Pray for the Americans displaced by the derailment (East Palestine, OH), fires (Maui and California) and Hurricane Helene (East Tennessee and Western North Carolina). Pray that they will receive the help they need to rebuild.
- Pray that God will extinguish the fires in California.
- Pray for the victims of the Nashville school shooting at Antioch High School.
- Pray for Carla's parents as they face health issue, including her father's blood pressure. Pray for Carla as she travels to help them (they live two hours away).
- Pray for Kitty's grandson Connor, that he will find a path to follow and good relationships.
- Carla requests that we pray for Trump's cabinet, and his picks will be confirmed quickly.
- Pray for our daughter Shanley Belle as her post doc is coming to an end. She is in the midst of a job search. Please pray for God's guidance in her next step.
- URGENT: Please pray for the victims of the tragic plane and helicopter collision in Washington, D.C. Wednesday night. I have no words!
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I am loving this devotional. This week's is one in which I have both experienced and witnessed others experiencing moments "between the veil". It would behoove us all to stay alert to the possibilities of these transcendent moments.
ReplyDeleteThe prayer for the grieving is good. It is an unimaginable tragedy, and such a hard job for the recovery workers. I read the waters were not only ice cold, but zero visibility, and the tide made for swift water conditions. All of these the worst of conditions for recovery.
I love Vivaldi's "The Four Seaons". When I was in the ballet, we did a piece to this work. I remember it so well.
I loved dancing to each season.
I always get confused as to the interpretation of the rodent's sightings. I had to look it up, in fact. Seeing the shadow is a good sign of an early spring. That's what I'm hoping for!
Happy weekend, everyone. And Happy February!
LOL Okay so I had it completely backwards. I'm all in on an early spring, too, Rita!
DeleteHello, Thank you for praying for the requests my friends.
ReplyDeletePraise Report..
The Wisconsin National Guard that was deployed to Iraq are home.
My parents appointments went well. They are pleased with their new doctor. And she is helping them feel better.
Prayer Request...
I am running for Trustee for our local Village Board. The election is April 1st. I have been attending the meetings for a year now. I was disheartened to witness that they did not say the Pledge of Allegiance before the meetings. Well... I got on that and that changed. I did that as a citizen. I am happy to report the Pledge of Allegiance is said before a meeting.
I continued to see NOTHING being done about problems in our village. And very sad to see that our local village police will no longer be. Very sad. Our Chief resigned, he actually said many of the board members like DE-FUNDING the police. It all made me very sad. Our village police will end, and the county sheriff's department will patrol our village.
The only way to try and change things is to get involved. So I am running against "the good ol boys".
Thank you for the prayers.
Carla
Hi dear friends, this devotional is so excellent and makes me think. The transcendental experiences are very real and I will be on the lookout for more. I have been saying the ask, seek, knock novena and hope with faith that my prayers will be answered. I looked up the Four Seasons and listened to some of each. It’s beautiful!
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend to all and faithful prayers will continue.