God smile on you

I just discovered The Message translation's version of The Aaronic Blessing:

God bless you and keep you,

God smile on you and gift you,

God look you full in the face
    and make you prosper.

A lovely way to end the day... imagining God smiling on me.

May he smile on you too 

I can choose...

This has been a challenging semester: some health issues, the death of a close friend, my son moving out of home for the first time, the deterioration and death of a loved pet, lots of study to do, and the list goes on.
It is easy to be self absorbed and whinge about my lot in life.
Yet...
I keep being reminded in so many ways that
I am not alone in my 'suffering' - there are many around me who are struggling with their own issues, big and small (probably way bigger than mine) and
I am so blessed - I have a wonderful family, job, friends, church family, home, ministry opportunities..

So here are words that I need to reflect on, and maybe they will be helpful to you too...

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:4-9 NIV

 ¹ Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
²     Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs.
³ Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his^[a];
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.
⁵ For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 100 (NIV)

I can choose my attitude and tonight I choose to be thankful.

enneagram part 2

A little while ago as part of a Unit I am doing (spirituality for 21st century disciples) we looked at the Enneagram. This was an opportunity to look at the shape of my personality and celebrate my own distinctiveness – acknowledging that I need to grow and mature as I aim to become more Christlike in my discipleship journey.   

This is the second time I have been introduced to the Enneagram. 

After the last time, I reflected further and wondered if I am a 2 or a 7. 

As part of a journaling exercise I paid for an online test and undertook the Riso-Hudson Enneagram Type Indicator. 

The result… a tie between 2 and 7! (LOL! )   

One comment that I read on the Riso-Hudson report suggested that if I am a woman, and 2 is one of the tied types, then I should look at the next type because many women default to a 2. How fascinating! It is almost like 2 is what I feel like I should be – and 7 is what I really am (and want to be). It speaks of some of the rebellion in me as I grew up – I think wanted to be a 7 (not that I knew about the Enneagram) but felt I was being put into a 2-shaped box (and still put that pressure on myself now).

I have found this exercise to be quite liberating. Reading the descriptor for Type 7 The Enthusiast is like reading a description of me – both the positives and the negatives!

"Sevens are extroverted, optimistic, versatile, and spontaneous....."

Have you spent time reflecting on the shape of your personality and celebrating your distinctiveness?   

How challenging to read about the areas for growth and recognise some of myself in there!

---

Who would have thought?

Today is my anniversary of 4 years working at Uniting College. Originally a decision to move to a less stressful job, providing me with head space to discern God's call on my life...

Now a learning community that I love being fully  immersed in as employee and student as I follow God's call to ministry. 

Four years ago who would have thought this is where I'd be!

Time to declutter

I needed to find something in my handbag this morning...

The only way I could find it was to empty the contents of my bag. 

Oh dear! How did it get so full of junk? And it's so heavy! 

I found what I needed but now it's time to put everything back in my bag. ....Or should I?

Maybe today is the day to let go of some of these things that have become something of a safety net for me. To re prioritise what I really need to carry with me everyday.

I am reminded of a bible verse:

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

(Hebrews 12-1-2)

What clutter do you need to let go of today?

Inspiring worship

I have always loved drums. The rhythmic sound stirs me.

I loved drums so much that I even had drum lessons for a few years in my 20s. 

(Interestingly, I was pregnant for part of this time. Matt, my son, has turned out to be a fine drummer!)

I am passionate about worship.  Worship that glorifies God, that comes from the heart, that has been well planned, yet still open to the leading of the Spirit. Worship that inspires others to join in the celebration. 

So to combine worship with drumming is wonderful.... 

I saw this today. Enjoy!

http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=00BMMJNU

anointing each other while still alive

It has been a long time between blogs, and here I find myself again inspired by an entry from the Council of Churches e-newsletter:

Gospel Reading 

Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”  John 12: 3-7

For Reflection…

If this woman had gone to Jesus’ grave with this outpouring of affection and perfume, it would have been accepted, even admired.  You were allowed to anoint a dead body, but it was not acceptable to express similar love and affection to a live one.  Nothing has changed in two thousand years.  We still save our best compliments and flowers for the funeral.  Jesus’ challenge here is for us to anoint each other while we are still alive: shower those you love with affection and flowers while they are alive… Ronald Rolheiser ‘Seeking Spirituality’

From: Ecumenism: Reflections & News. For more information about ecumenical events and resources, visit  www.sacc.asn.au

Yesterday we celebrated with joy our son's engagement. Family and friends gathered to celebrate, to tell stories, to give gifts, and to 'anoint' this young couple.

What a great opportunity to shower those we love with words of affirmation, support and affection.

After having celebrated the life of my father-in-law at his funeral in December, it was good this time to be able to affirm my son and future daughter-in-law (DIL) while they are alive and well and setting out on an exciting life together.