LENT 2: LIFE of the BELOVED by HENRI NOUWEN 19.2.15

Second Day of our Lenten Journey, * I'm sharing brief daily segments of Henri Nouwen's BELOVED.
Thoughtful reflection to inspire and inspirit our contemplation of who we are as we begin this journey. . . *

* part 2  [Lent day 3] 
* “Over the years, I have come to realize that the greatest trap in our life is not success, popularity, or power, but self-rejection...   Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that calls us the "Beloved." Being the Beloved constitutes the core truth of our existence.” 

― Henri J.M. Nouwen

* Also available in print and audiobook Find Henri Nouwen online *

Initially written in response to a Jewish journalist's question
[which began a friendship],  How does one live a spiritual life in a secular world?  Life of the Beloved has become Henri Nouwen’s greatest legacy to Christians around the world.  Epistolary writing, this personally sincere and powerful invitation to the spiritual life offered in Christ is indeed a truly uplifting guide. * 160 pages paperback
Publisher:  Crossroad Publishing Company Published:  October 1st 2002
[Originally published 1992] * Audio version:  2 cds 2.5 hrs
Read by Henri Nouwen

Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World

**[Available for order by clicking titles - FREE delivery no minimum order] **

Nouwen, born Henri Jozef Machiel [Nouen] in Nijkerk Netherlands January 24th 1932.

Nouwen authored 40 b0oks on spiritual life.  His books are widely read today by Protestants and Catholics alike. The Wounded Healer, In the Name of Jesus, The Life of the Beloved, and The Way of the Heart are just a few of the more widely recognized titles.

After nearly two decades of teaching at the Menninger Foundation Clinic in Topeka, Kansas, and at the University of Notre Dame, Yale University and Harvard University, in 1986 he accepted the position of pastor and went to share his life with mentally handicapped people at Daybreak, the L'Arche community, founded by Jean Vanier, near Toronto, Canada.

After a long period of declining energy, which he chronicled in his final book, Sabbatical Journey, he died in September 1996 from a sudden heart attack.

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LENT: Day 11 ABILITIES 15.3.14

* As the window has particular purpose  yet possesses unexpected abilities {such as this one in reflecting the sky} What unique abilities do we possess that we might be  gifting to the world ? 

*  Sharing with ~
* Weekend Reflections * Still Saturday * Weekend Brew *
* Sunday  * Inspire Me Monday  *  Another Deep Day *

* WW * Royal Legacy * NC Sue * Curious Cathy * Winsome Wednesday *
* Sharing Lent photo posting with
Lisa and Jacqui and... You? Add your links if you're Lent journeying with us

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@_eHope - Goodreads - Facebook - Pinterest
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LENT: Day 8 PILGRIM PRINCIPLES - PRACTICING AWARENESS 12.3.14

I am so enjoying Lacy Clark Ellman's prompts for intentional living from Pilgrim Principles the book I'm using for my Lenten journey. My responses to last week's somatic awareness
of God's gift of our senses
~ sight, taste, touch, smell, hearing ~  have been photo posted and I'm now moving into this 2nd week's challenge.  Awareness of God's gifts to us of resources to                                            practicing my awareness of resources. * Daily challenges will be photo posted along with your invite to link up your own Lent photo or gratitude posts. My own Gratitude for Lisa Advent for hosting the linkup, Jacqui Avery for inviting us to photo post along with our monthly Abbey of the Arts Invitation to Photography via the
Dancing Monks fb group.
With that introduction, I better get today's  ' Resources' photo posted!

* You're welcome to add your Lent and Gratitude posts here:




Find and follow FHC online:

@_eHope - Goodreads - Facebook - Pinterest

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Shared at :
* Little Things Thursday *


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LENT: Day 6 [10.3.14]

boundaries . foundations vision *



* Linking our Lenten photo journeys
Lisa Advent  and  JacquiAvery * Abbey of the Arts * * * { You're Invited to add Yours }


* Blessings on your journey...
* Shared with -
* three word wednesday *

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Find and follow FHC online:

@_eHope - Goodreads - Facebook - Pinterest

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LENT: Day 4 8.3.14

Vision.  New beginnings. 

Past impacting future. Not it's determination.

Gratitude to God for this journey.  

Eyes to see.  Ears to hear.  Heart to follow ~

Lead on . . .

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lent Journeying in photos with :
Lisa Advent  and  JacquiAvery
* Invitation to Photography * *

Are you photo posting during Lent?  Sharing Gratitude?

You're invited to add your Lent and/or Gratitude links of your Journey at host Lisa's below:

*

 Sunlit spires of ancient Stone, Staffordshire,

 in England's Midlands.

Located equidistant from Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent

source

St. Michael's, the church to the left in top photo,
was built in 1753. 

Notes of Stone's amazing historical importance HERE.

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* Still Saturday *  Sunday Community *
* Saturday Snapshot *  InSPIREd Sunday  * 

* Small Victories Sunday *

                                                  

* A Word to the Wise ~

Find and follow FHC online:

@_eHope - Goodreads - Facebook - Pinterest

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LENT: Day 3 7.3.14

Day 3 of my Lenten Journey.




* Lent Journeying in photos with :
Lisa Advent  and  JacquiAvery
* Invitation to Photography * * Journey with us?  Add your posts to Lisa's linky here :
* * Shared with : 
* Faith-Filled Friday *
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LENT: Day 2 6.3.14

Joining two online friends as we photo journey through Lent. One photo per day. Yesterday's posted - Ash Wednesday . * Today's was a different kind of exploration as I have yet to discover the whereabouts of my camera's memory card!
I am sharing a photo expression of my journey today, [Now that I've found one in my files.] and totally accurate to today's weather outside my door ! * Such is life, and I find, particularly expressive of beginning my Lenten journey.  I refuse to let it distract me. 
May you be blessed in your journeying. . . ~
*

Are you photo journeying  through Lent ? Here are two Lent link ups we'd love to have you check out for more Lenten photo journaling.
And it's your opportunity to link up your Lent photos.
Respond as Spirit leads . . .
* Lisa at L.Advent   and  JacquiAvery
* Invitation to Photography *




*
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Easter JoY !

Easter

“Oh, what joy for those

      whose disobedience is forgiven,

      whose sin is put out of sight!”

The Alleluia of Easter 

while living in a Good Friday world, 

King David’s words resonate with me increasingly 

as I near the day of celebration.

Caspar David Friedrich 1833

My Lenten journey has been long 

as I’ve plumbed new depths of relationship 

with Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  

Spiritual discoveries gained through exploration 

of new directions led by Holy Spirit, 

that voice behind me saying, 

"This is the way you should go,”” Is 30.21. 

From the very inception of this Lenten journey 

I have been led on a new path.  

Not a common path of caffeine or sugar sacrifice; 

A path of inner recognition; a path of listening and hearing; 

a path of relational focus;  

An uncommon path of sacrificing distractions.  

I was impelled to answer the searching gaze that queried, 

“What is keeping you occupied?  

What has your attention?  

Your focus?  Your heart?” 

Which is, of course, what God is always pursuing; 

our heart.  My heart in this case. 

 And was it a worthy focus?  A worthy occupation?  

These attractions; these distractions 

that so cleverly kept my attention?  

Anaesthetizing me to the very relationship 

to which I’m called and for which I’m created.  

The questions searched the depths of me; my core.  

Which they must if I am to be changed.  

To be transformed.  

To be conformed to the image 

of the One who designed and desires me as His own. 

And so the journey continues.  

Hearing, now that I’m listening.  

Listening, now that I’m hearing.  

The joy and beauty of a developing love relationship.  

How do we fall in love?  

By spending time together.  

Which is exactly what this Lenten journey has provided.  Focused time – together. 

Time intentionally redirected to God.  

Sitting in His Presence.  

Reading and re-reading His love letters.  

Conversation.   Notes taken in those conversations.   

Ah hah  moments of revelation.  

Resting in His embrace.  

Gratitude and reflection.  

Contemplation of beauty – His beauty.  

Of person, heart, love, nature.  

‘Altogether lovely’, isn’t He described in scripture?  

And I’ve - we’ve – been invited 

to discover this loveliness for ourselves. 

And so I enter into Easter.  

Into this celebration of joy.  

Focused.  Intentional.  

Undivided in heart and attention.  

In heart satisfying relationship with my Saviour.  

And with all Easter people I joyfully proclaim, 

Alleluia!  Christ is risen!  

The Lord is risen indeed!  

Alleluia!

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LENT: 40 Days of Renewal

1. Oddly this year, the second day of Lent was Valentine's Day. 

How was this for you? 

Was Valentine's Day any different being in Lent?

For me, there was an increased gratitude for God's Love,
even an anticipation.  Definite difference in the Love focus.
Reading Ken Wytsma's debut, 'Pursuing Justice', redirected thoughts on Love
with his discussion of our current culture's definition vs Yeshua's example
and call to Love in selflessness...

2. Did you celebrate Mardi Gras/Shrove Tuesday this year?
Any memories of memorable celebrations past?

 I celebrated with a blog post specifically as preparation for Lent
[along with a great pancake recipe!]
Great memories of celebrating - church family working + eating together -
participation!

3. How about Ash Wednesday, past and/or present? 

Providing disabled residents with Ash Wednesday services is a fave memory...

4. Do you have a personal plan of give-ups, take-ons, special ministries,
and/or a special focus for your own spiritual growth between now and Easter?
Giving up distractions to my spiritual focus as learnt HERE
There is a re-awakening to Awe and Wonder of God in my 
spiritual growth that I am pursuing with expectancy!

5. Do you have a book or a website you are reading often during Lent?

 I love Ian Adams' Morning Bell on FB, Ann Voskamp's blog  Holy Experience ,
have joined the Abbey of the Arts Lent photo group on FLickr,
Margaret Feinberg for more on Wonder,
and downloaded a booklet from Michelle DeRusha HERE
while I work at posting my own Lenten journey of Wonder
in photo and quote on Pinterest 

Bonus:  Song, prayer, picture, etc. that sums up your feelings
about this liturgical springtime.

{ Slice of Life }

annnnd

Be blessed in your expectancy !


 

Let us know in comments if you played too!

And so Lent Begins... 13.02.13

 The LORD is like a father to his children,

tender and compassionate to those who fear him.

For he knows how weak we are;

he remembers we are only dust.

Psalm 103:13-14

We begin our 6 week journey through Lent,

a season to prepare for a deeper experience

of the passion and resurrection of Jesus,

with the acknowledgement of and reflection upon our own mortality.

"Ash Wednesday worship is the chance for us all to openly acknowledge our frailty and sinfulness. 

On Ash Wednesday we are faced with our imperfections. 

We all bear the mark of sin... We all stand guilty before a holy God. 

We all are mortal and will someday experience bodily death. 

Thus we all need a Saviour."  

And that is the good news we anticipate as we journey toward Easter.

 On Ash Wednesday

We can admit our own mortality.

We can talk openly about the limits of this life. Why?

Because through Christ we have entered into life eternal,

 fullness of life that will not end when our bodies give out.

The emotional result of Ash Wednesday observance isn't depression or gloom,

but gratitude and new energy for living.

When we realize how desperately we need God,

and how God is faithful far beyond our desperation,

we can't help but offer our lives to him in fresh gratitude.

And when we recognize that life doesn't go on forever,

then we find wonder anew to delight in the gifts of each and every day,

and to take none of them for granted... 

 Ashes are placed on our foreheads

as a reminder of our mortality and sinfulness.

The person who imposes the ashes quotes something like

what God once said to Adam after he had sinned:

 "You are dust, and to dust you shall return" (Gen 3:19).

This is the bad news of our sinfulness that prepares us to receive

the good news of forgiveness in Christ.

May I inspirit you with this final thought ? ~ 

"How grateful I am for the grace of God that allows us to stare death in the face

so we can live with greater wonder and delight!

How thankful I am for a day that grants us permission to think about death

so we can cherish life even more."

Let's live in Wonder on This Lenten Journey ...

  

Let's #LiveWonderstruck

 

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