I AM

Helen Mallicoat

I was regretting the past and fearing the future. Suddenly my Lord was speaking:

My name is I AM.

When you live in the past,with its mistakes and regrets,it is hard. I am not there.

My name is not I Was.

When you live in the future,with its problems and fears,it is hard. I am not there.

My name is not I Will Be.

When you live in this moment,it is not hard. I am here.

My name is I AM.

Source: Found in The Silence of Unknowing by Terence Grant

Getting on our knees

Lent is marked by a time of prayer and preparation to celebrate Easter.

Since Sundays celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, the six Sundays that occur during Lent are not counted as part of the 40 days of Lent, and are refered to as the Sundays in Lent. This I did not know until I started actually questioning what Lent really is.

The number 40 is connected with many biblical events, but especially with the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness, I think I knew that one.

Lent has traditionally been marked by prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. By the way, what exactly is almsgiving? To be honest I had not even heard that term until I was sitting in a Catholic baptism this last Sunday. For some reason I couldn't let this term go undefined. According to the Crossmap Dictionay: "Alms" is anything given gratuitously to relieve the poor, as money food, or clothing, otherwise called charity.

God uses all sorts of ways to get our attention, to speak to us, and to teach us - we need to listen.

To put it in simple terms (because I usual need the simple version) Lent is the preparation to celebrate God's wonderful redemption at Easter, and the resurrected life that we live, and hope for as Christians.

In her blog Jumping Tandem, Dee asks the question, "So much space between me and the holy. The sacred. How did that happen?" How does that happen I ask? Part of itis the enemy and the busy life we think we must lead - but that's just my opion.

Dee reminds us of the spirtual disciplines - Inward, Outward, and Corporate, holy experiences, and sacred pathways. Folks, it's time to unplug, yes enven from blogging for a while, to shut off the cells phones and Ipods, the television, and other distractions in our lives. It's time to get on our knees and give thanks to The Holy One, the one who offers grace and forgiveness when we don't derserve it. The one who gave his only Son so that we may have eternal life. To the one who made the ultimate sacrifice.

It's time we stop making excuses and narrow that gap between ourself and the holy, the sacred and it all starts with getting on our knees.

We are never alone

I believe this cartoon says it all.......

We are never alone.

Merry Christmas

Like everyone else, it seems like there is more to do then there is time to do it. But as of today there is no swimming practice/meets for a week, my dh's company is on shut down until after the first of the year and I actually have a chance to take a deep breath. Even though I have to work the day before Christmas I am thankful that my family is at home taking care of the last minute Christmas preparations. Thank you guys for picking up my slack today.

I want to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas. As I have said in an earlier post, it has been a different holiday season for me and still holds true today, but I feel warm inside and a little teary thinking about Joseph's and Mary's experience all those years ago at this time. I know God is working on great things for me and my family. Now is the time for me to put aside the confusion in my life and concentrate on the true meaning of the season, the birth of our Lord and Savior and all that comes with it.

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2: 11-14 NIV

Peace be with you and your family this holiday season.

We are never alone.

An Interview With God

Click here to read an "Interview with God."