Emily attends NLF and is a very talented professional artist/poet. Click on the link below to read or listen to her poem, GIve Us This Day. May her words carry you to God as it did me. http://www.sparkandecho.org/give-us-this-day_emily-ruth-hazel/
Five Questions to Ask Yourself Before Posting To Social Media
#2 Connection is more important than rules. When they leave the kitchen a mess, donāt clean their rooms, miss the bus, wear attire thatās less than desirable, must have the last word, are sulky, moody or non-talkative, donāt do their chore they way you want, etc, donāt sweat the small stuff. I know that it may not feel like small stuff to you in the moment, but in the realm of what is most important in life it is small potatoes. In the bigger picture it is much more important to stay emotionally connected to them than for you to get your way and get them to follow a rule. Itās not that rules are unimportant. They are. You need, for example, rules for boundaries (they can be angry but no verbal attacks) and rules of engagement (no cell phones at dinner table so we can be present with one another). But do not. Read more.
“Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for mine eyes have seen your salvationā¦ āØLUKE 2:28-30 Christians say with Simeon: “Our eyes have seen His salvation.ā The Jews reply: “We have not seen His salvation, we are waiting for it.” The presence of the Messiah is a mystery; it cannot be said to everybody, and it cannot be seen by everybody, but only by those like Simeon who are driven by the Spiritā¦.The mystery of salvation is the mystery of a child. Its nature is visible and invisible, it is here and not yet hereā¦Salvation has the nature of a childā¦.He who wants a salvation which is only visible cannot see the divine child in the Manger as he cannot see the divinity of the Man on the Cross and the paradoxcal way of all divine acting. Salvation is a child and when it grows up it is crucified.. Read more.
(Here are some very helpful words from a mentor of my husband’s.) There are simply times in life where new things hit us, and we feel completely overwhelmed. Here are some suggestions for moving beyond overwhelmed: 1. STOP … recognize it … admit it, āWhat am I feeling? … Overwhelmed!ā 2. ASK … āAm I tired?ā … Vince Lombardi — āFatigue makes cowards of us allā 3. UPDATE / CREATE my āLife Milestones Listā * Remembering past accomplishment brings a sense of deep encouragement 4. SHIFT my focus from āWhat I lack to what I haveā * Moving from negative to positive 5. UPDATE my … Visual Perspective Chart to Re-focus my thinking * Visual Perspective Chart … a sheet of paper with an icon of you in the center … and all of the pieces swirling around in your head somewhere on the sheet … this gives you a visual picture of all. Read more.
As I prepare for my small group meeting this week I am mindful that we are not just about transformation, but very distinctly, Christian transformation. My reminder comes as I contemplate the work of theologian and New Testament scholar, Robert Mulholland, on the āeveā of his upcoming visit to NLF. I had the opportunity to sit under his teaching last year and next weekend heāll be with our leadership community. Ever since I discovered (should say experienced) the life-changing integration of emotional health and spirituality I have wanted to eagerly lead others into transformation. Dr. Mulhollandās NT work dovetails beautifully with what I am seeking to accomplish in the lives of my small group members which is, putting off the false self and putting on the true self. This is a significant part of the growth required for Christian maturity and authentic loving. Robert Mulhollandās work is highly concentrated on keeping this transformation anchored. Read more.
