• Home
    • About
  • Prayer Diary
  • Daily Quote
    • Untitled
    • Archives Quote musings 2012
    • Archives, Quote musings 2011
  • Word & Image
  • Resource List
  • Books
  • Prayers and Poems
  • Spiritual Books
  • Archives, scripture
  A Prayer Diary

Praying for the Fruit of the Spirit~

11/30/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
Tomorrow I return to the cottage after the Thanksgiving holiday week with my family. I’m grateful for all the time we spent together and now I’m grateful for time alone. I’m continually amazed at how the busyness of life draws me away from prayer, and yet, how my faith is sustained by this non-prayer time. If I didn’t have community, how would I stay grateful? How would I know of people to visit and pray for? Where would I find strength to strive for the fruit of the spirit, which Paul tells us is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? (Gal. 5:22-23).

      My pattern is to be alone at the cottage praying for the fruit to enter deep within me, and then, to go out in the world to practice. I falter all the time but thankfully Christianity is a faith of hope. God forgives me again and again, offering me the trust to forgive myself.

    So back and forth I go, cottage to home, home to cottage, finding the fruit, losing it, and finding it again. I believe that cottage time, this extended time alone, tips the balance toward the good. Jesus went off alone to pray, and we must do the same. I go to the cottage but I also find other times and places in the midst of community. You see, the cottage is a metaphor for that time away with God. I pray that you can find yours.



0 Comments

A Gratitude Blessing

11/27/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture


 Dear Friends:

First, let us offer a blessing for those celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday in the USA, and for all of our contemplative friends around the globe:

"Contemplative Outreach, Ltd." <clp@coutreach.org>

Loving God we thank you
For the beauty and fruitfulness of the earth,
and the mystery and wonder of all creation.
For the love of family and friends,
and the blessings of our global contemplative community.
For health and strength, and the courage to bear ill health and weakness.
For the gift of work, and for the opportunities of creative leisure.
For this and for all our many blessings we are grateful.
Amen.


(Adapted from Romans 7:25)


0 Comments

Prayer diary~

11/24/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
I was stunned, well at least surprised, to learn that C.S. Lewis and JFK died on the same day. Maybe I already knew it, but this year, on the 50th anniversary, was the first time really thought about it.

     C.S. Lewis, an intellectual, a Christian, who wrote, “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.

    JFK, a politician, a Christian, who said, “Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men.”

    Scholars don’t have to hide behind their faith.; those in public life do. So where does this position the rest of us? It’s something I ponder for myself, and although I don’t talk much about my faith, writing this blog seems just about right.



0 Comments

Hope in the midst of affliction~

11/22/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
So many friends with afflictions, sorrows that feel like more than one can bear. And yet, with God’s help we do get through it. Jesus suffered but then we remember, that's not the end of the story. We call His words,  “I will be with you until the end of the age.”


0 Comments

Obedient to God~

11/20/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
On my walk today I got thinking about what it means to be obedient to God. Obedience is an emotionally charged word, especially when linked with the demands that organized religion gives as criteria for membership in its particular denomination. Where does one’s obedience lie? In religious (or social) norms that we adhere to, or in ourselves, in the God within? Sometimes the two dovetail and that makes it easy. Other times, big conflict.

     Right now I’m not talking about issue of obedience that we study as part of church history. I’m talking about obedience now, in the twenty-first century, as the obedience button is being pushed over acceptance of gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender/queer persons. While my denomination, UCC, has officially welcomed all of God’s children, others are speaking out a little less boldly, and some individuals, lay and clergy alike, are defying their denomination and acting from conscious to marry (and welcome) couples from the GLBTQ community.

     One such individual is Rev. Frank Schaefer who yesterday was found guilty by a United Methodist jury in Pennsylvania of performing a same-sex wedding six years ago for his son Tim, and of “disobedience to the order and discipline of the United Methodist Church.” Within thirty days Schaefer has been told he must decide if he can uphold the Book of Discipline in order to retain his “ministerial credentials”.

      I mention this, not to get involved in church politics, but as a way to gain some clarity about obedience to God. I have to believe that Schaefer acted out of obedience to a God of love, to Jesus who preached love, and to the Holy Spirit who entered his heart with love. Whatever I’m pondering, I have to look into my own heart to see what is right for me, to discern what I want to be obedient to. My sense of right and wrong isn’t always clear cut, which is why I walk the beach praying for answers, hoping to hear God leading me to my obedient answer. 

My source of information: The United Methodist Reporter: An Independent source of news and commentary on the life of the United Methodist Church http://unitedmethodistreporter.com/2013/11/19/schaefer-jury-30-day-suspension-possible-surrender/


0 Comments

‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’

11/19/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
I just got word that a young mother, a wife, friend, a woman full of light and love has died. What can we make of such unfairness? We lament like Job, like the psalmists. Like Jesus we call out, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’

     I am grateful for all these laments, especially for Jesus’ words that let me know that I can be angry, that anger, despair, and even hopelessness are all part of the human condition. Simone Weil writes: “Affliction constrained Christ to implore that he might be spared, to seek consolation from man, to believe he was forsaken by the Father. It forced a just man to cry out against God, a just man as perfect as human nature can be, more so perhaps, if Job is less a historical character than a figure of Christ.”

     Jesus  and Job called out to God in their affliction, but they never left God, they never stop believing in God’ love; they just didn’t understand. 

That’s where I am now, trying to understand, waiting in hope for the resurrection. Thank God the story isn’t over.


0 Comments

Prayers heard and answered~

11/18/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
I’m at the cottage, so grateful to wake up in this sacred place; the silence, solitude and simplicity is palpable. I arose at 5:15 and sat of the deck (living room) for almost two hours, just being in God’s presence as it  washed over me—it remains with me still. I am blessed to be here with no obligations other than to take care of myself in the most rudimentary ways--eat, sleep and be safe. But blessings are not to be coveted or selfishly held, and so I know I have another obligation, one that God has given me, and that is to pray for others. When I am here, it is easier for me to clear out the cobwebs of chatter, judgment, critique and analysis that get in the way of being with God. When I am here, the space between God and me (and others) is transparent, and that, I believe is when prayer is heard and answered.

      Prayer, God, faith, hope, all such mysteries, and yet today I sense I have a handle on it all. I am especially praying for a friend whose son just took his life, and for a few others who are walking a precarious road. I know that my prayers are being heard and answered. ‘Very grateful.’



0 Comments

Off to the cottage~

11/16/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
Tomorrow I’ll be settling in again at the cottage. For those of you who are wondering, What cottage? here’s the quick story. This is the fourth winter season that I have rented a cottage right on the ocean. It’s an hour and a half drive from my home, so I can easily go back and forth, and that is just what I do. Usually I’m at the cottage during the week and at home on the weekends.

    I love the silence, solitude and simplicity there. I watch the sunrise every morning--even when it’s cloudy. Also, in no particular order, I pray, read, write, enjoy jigsaw puzzles, walk the beach, and gaze at the ocean. I check my email twice a day, morning and evening, and I don’t talk on the phone. Sometimes I cover the clocks and live a timeless day.

     It is in this simple, silent life of solitude that I let go of the chatter (read judgments) in my head. Then, I can pray for others, which is why I go to there-- to pray and to be with God.



0 Comments

Thinking as prayer~

11/13/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
I’m finding there is more than one way to pray without ceasing. There is the traditional “Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me,” which is the way of the starets of the Eastern Orthodox tradition. I like that one, humming in my mind at various times, like intentional background music.

    Recent news that a friend’s son had taken his life catapulted me into a new level of praying without ceasing. I couldn’t stop thinking about him, about his mom, about his family and friends. The thinking, which was the prayer, kept going, without form or words. All I knew was that I was joining everyone in their array of emotions. I was doing this all my waking minutes, including the last minute before sleep and the first in the morning, and, I have to believe, while sleeping, as well. God was right in there, right in the midst of it all. It was the best I could do and it was good.

    Then I heard myself praying for my friend’s son. God was leading me to pray for him during those three days as his soul was leaving. God was asking us all to help him on his way. And then I saw God reach down and scoop him up into God’s embrace.

     Don’t ask me if I actually saw this, or if it was actually happening. I’ll never know. What I do know is that my friend’s son is with God and it is good.



0 Comments

The Little Way of Ruthie Leming~

11/11/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
In The Little Way of Ruthie Leming, Rod Dreher suggests that at some time in life all human beings come face to face with their own particular Lenten experience. For his sister Ruthie and his family it was the two years between the moment she was diagnosed with lung cancer and her death. There was the suffering, with all those times filled with doubt, fear, anger, physical pain, you name it, but also moments of resurrection, times of joy, peace and reconciliation. Ruthie’s ‘little way’ was to follow the treatment prescribed by her doctors, and stay clear of delving into the medical analysis and prognosis of her condition, which she believe would keep her from hope. Ruth knew that it was through hope that resurrection finds its eternal home.  

0 Comments
<<Previous
    Contact me
    bobbifisher.mac@mac.com

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011

    Categories

    All
    55 Maxims Of Fr. Hopko
    Amy Carmichael
    Anne Lamott
    Art
    Assisi
    Awe
    Bede Griffiths
    Benedict
    Bible
    Billy Graham
    Blessing
    Bliss
    Bonhoeffer
    Books
    Breathe
    Brigit
    Call
    Canticle Of The Sun
    Celtic Daily Prayer
    Centering Prayer
    Christ
    Christian Life
    Christmas
    Church
    Cloud Of Unknowing
    Coleridge
    Communion
    Compassion
    Contemplation
    Contemplation And Action
    Contemplation And Action
    Cottage By The Sea
    Craft
    Cross Roads
    Cynthia Bourgeault
    Dad
    Daily Prayer
    David Steindl-Rast
    Death
    Death And Dying
    Desert Mothers And Fathers
    Desiderata
    Dietrich Bonhoeffer
    Doris Grumbach
    Dostoyevsky
    Easter
    Edinburgh
    Emmet Fox
    Energy
    Ermetic Life
    Eve Kiley
    Everyday Simplicity
    Faith
    Fasting
    Father Maximos
    Fear
    Florence
    Food
    Forgiveness
    Frederick Buechner
    Friends
    Fruit Of The Spirit
    Gardens
    Gift
    Giving And Receiving
    Giving Thanks
    Giving Thanks
    God Moment
    Grace
    Gratitude
    Harold Rohheiser
    Healing
    Health
    Heart
    Hildegard De Bigen
    Holy Spirit
    Holy Week
    Hope
    Hospitality
    Howard Thurman
    Humility
    Humor
    I Believe
    Icons
    Incarnation
    Intercessory Prayer
    Intercessory Prayer
    Iona
    Iona Prayer Circle
    Ireland
    Italy
    James Martin
    Jeffrey M. Gallagher
    Jesus
    Jesus Prayer
    Joan Chittister
    Job
    Julian Of Norwich
    Kate Tristram
    Katherine Paterson
    Kazantzakis
    Kinds Of Prayer
    Kingdom
    Kyriacos C. Markides
    Laura Hillenbrand
    Lent
    Louie Zamparini
    Love
    Madeline L'Engle
    Maranatha
    Margaret Bullitt Jonas
    Margaret Bullitt-Jonas
    Marsha Sinetar
    Martin B. Copenhaver
    Mary Luti
    Mary Oliver
    Matthew 25
    Max Ehrmann
    Meditation
    Meeting Jesus In The Gospel Of John
    Meister Eckhart
    Midrash
    Ministry
    Miracles
    Mom
    Monastery
    Monastery Of The Heart
    Morton Kelsey
    Mountain Of Silence
    Moving
    Music
    Mystery
    Nature
    Northumbria Community
    Now
    Oliver Herford
    Oswald Chambers
    Othona Community
    Outreach
    Oxyrtynchus Manuscript
    Pamela Dalton St. Francis
    Peace
    Phyllis Tickle
    Pilgrimage
    Pope Francis
    Praise
    Prayer
    Prayer List
    Prayer Questions
    Prayer Questions
    Prayer Shawls
    Prayer Walk
    Pray Without Ceasing
    Psalms
    Raven's Bread
    Reading
    Religious Orders
    Retreat
    Richard Rohr
    Robert J. Wicks
    Rome
    Ronald Rolheiser
    Ross King
    Rule Of Life
    Sabbath
    Sacred Places
    Sacrifice
    Scotland
    Scripture
    Silence
    Simone Weil
    Simplicity
    Sister Madonna Kolbenschlag
    Skye
    Society Of Saint John The Evangelist
    Sol
    Solitude
    Son Of Man
    Spiritual Exercises
    SSJE
    St Augustine685a78b5bd
    St Benedict2e69d019b8
    St Brigid8a489d0d27
    St Francisb0c25165c2
    St Francisda1a8c4071
    St Ignatius97c6861c0b
    Suffering
    Taize Lent743fec0e30
    Talking With God
    Thanksgiving
    Theophan The Recluse
    The Reader
    Thomas Keating
    Thomas Merton
    Thomas-merton
    Thy Will Be Done
    Trinity
    Unbroken
    Upper Room
    Walking With God
    Walter Ciszek
    Way Of A Pilgrim
    Wm Paul Young757e23b986
    Wonder
    Writing

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly