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04
Jan
Morning Work Prayer
1151807_to_doMay the Three who created,
   The Father who thought it,
   The Word who spoke it,
   The Spirit who danced over it,
Move in and through me this day,
   To think as He thinks,
   To speak as He speaks,
   To dance as He dances,
Throughout my chores and business,
   In the duties that are so ordinary—revealing the Faithful One.
   In the demands of those I serve—mirroring the Servant.
   In my cleaning and my cooking—echoing the Song.
This day and everyday,
May I be a reflection of the Three-One,
Who created all and sustains all.

              © 2008 by Susan Gaddis

I share this simple example of a Celtic Trinity prayer as a way of introducing this week’s focus on Celtic Christianity. Next week I will be conducting a three part interview with Liz Babbs, author of Celtic Treasure and an authority on Celtic Christianity. I invite you to journey with me over these next two weeks into one of my favorite realms of discovering the Holy in the daily.

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

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28
Dec
Cleanup Ritual

1029014_stripedglasCleanup is not my favorite Christmas ritual. Twenty-five big and little people make lots of messes, so I cleaned the kitchen six times on Christmas. Tom took the last shift. He also bagged wrinkled wrapping paper and vacuumed before I tided up the house.

I decided this year to approach the obvious with an attitude of ritual. The seasons, patterns, and decor of holidays vary, but the ritual of cleanup remains. Recognizing it as part of the holy in the “holyday” creates a place for honoring Christ in the mundane part of the celebration.

A. W. Tozer once said, “It is not what a man does that determines whether his work is sacred or secular, but why he does it.” Approaching the kitchen sink as holy ground cradles my work in a positive perspective. Sitting to rest my back every so often also helps.

I don’t know what my job assignment will be in the new heaven or new earth, but my resume will definitely list: “Exceptional Maid, Cook, and Bottle Washer.” I hope it also notes, “Works with a positive attitude.”

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

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Category: Advent, Daily chores, Spirit Rituals  Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
18
Dec
News Flash! God Becomes Man!

1111928_baby_hand_2Contrary to popular religious thought, man does not evolve into godness over the course of several, rightly-lived lifetimes. This fable was securely put to rest when the reverse happened—God became a man.

Some 2,000 years ago a baby was born as God incarnate. Once grown, he went around healing people, raising the dead, helping the poor, and turning the crazies into law abiding citizens. His actions rattled the local authorities who didn’t like to see God messing up their social structure. So they killed him.

Yep, they killed God. Only as a human could God be killed. God, as God, could not die. Birth as a human allowed God to take upon himself the injustices of mankind and bear the punishment for those wrongs, which was death.

But, here’s the catch, God Who Became Human rose from the dead. Death bit the dust. The God-man tells folks that, as his followers, they will live forever; his death and resurrection renders null and void all the injustices and wrongs they commit.

Millions of people find this story easier to believe than the idea of man expanding into deity. Too much wrongness exists in humanity to be eradicated by personal effort. Individuals need God Who Became Human to change them from the inside out. His death becomes their death and his promise of resurrection power transforms their lives now and in the future.

Continuing story: The Stable Born God Lives.

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

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07
Dec
What We Do

616842_clothesFinding the Holy in the daily isn’t always inspirational. Sometimes it is just what we do.

A man named Cornelius lived in the first century as a centurion with the Italian regiment stationed in Caesarea. His reputation among the Jews of the area was that of a righteous man who prayed and gave to the poor.

Even better, Cornelius had the reputation in heaven of being a man of prayer who gave to the poor. An angel told Cornelius that his actions of prayer and helping the poor had come before the Lord as a memorial.  This  is rather surprising because Cornelius wasn’t Jewish; yet, he had a wonderful reputation in heaven—a memorial, if you will.

Here’s the catch—do I have a reputation of being a praying person who gives to the poor? Is that my reputation in heaven? Do I have a memorial there? Do you?

Jesus said that we would always have the poor with us—they are a daily part of our lives, whether we acknowledge them or not. They are also where we can find the Holy on any given day.

It seems to me that giving to the poor might be a good idea for those desiring to be well spoken of in heavenly places as well as on earth—take it from Cornelius, a man who helped change the world. (You can read about him in Acts 10.)

What practical things have you found to do that help the poor?

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

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Category: Mission, My village  Tags: , , , , , , , ,
25
Nov
Gratitude In the Right Direction

1104975_branchI sometimes wonder if our gratitude is headed in the right direction. Thanksgiving Day encourages gratefulness; the majority of which is directed towards friends, family, or some unnamed source. People express what they are thankful for, but neglect to point that thankfulness in the right direction.

“I’m thankful for my family,” sounds great, but who are you thankful to?  God rarely is on the receiving end of the thanks giving that occurs.

I like greeting cards, both the reading and the sending. I seldom shop at Target without including a side trip down the card aisle to glance at some of the humorous cards; my laughter eruptions startle anyone standing nearby and embarrass me in the process.

The other day I sifted through the sentimental cards. They focused on thankfulness for family, friends, or the season. A few cards, placed in the religious section, offered a simple prayer. You can learn a lot about our society by reading greeting cards. It seems that God is noticeably absent for Thanksgiving, at least in the card section of Target.

Compare this lack of God in Thanksgiving to the first official Thanksgiving Proclamation on November 1, 1777 by Samuel Adams: “It is therefore recommended . . . to set apart Thursday the eighteenth day of December next, for solemn thanksgiving and praise, that with one heart and one voice the good people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts and consecrate themselves to the service of their divine benefactor.”

George Washington said this in his first Presidential Proclamation on October 3, 1789: “It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor.”

We won’t find these types of sentiments in the card section of Target! Modern society needs a healthy dose of praise to the “divine benefactor,” our ”Almighty God,” on this day of proclaiming thanks.

I’m curious—what have you observed about people expressing thanks during this season? How much of it has focused on God and how much has been directed towards others?

Have a Christ focused Thanksgiving, Susan Gaddis

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Category: Lent, Thanksgiving, worship  Tags: , , , , , , ,
20
Nov
Laughter In the Moment

943263_turkeyLaughter is a holy moment shared—even God loves to laugh. He keeps a scrapbook of memories recalling the things we say and do that delight His heart (see Malachi 3:16).

One of the joys of Thanksgiving is recalling those holy laughter moments that bind us closer as a family and friends. Recently our son, Daniel, told his college group the story of when we served a four-legged turkey for Thanksgiving dinner.

For the last fifteen years of my mom and dad’s life, the family gathered at my house for the big Thanksgiving feast. My folks would arrive several hours before dinner, which provided Dad plenty of time to “oversee” my turkey roasting (and everything else.)

One year I decided I’d had enough. I sewed two extra legs on a turkey and roasted it as usual. The family kept Dad busy with other things he could “oversee” whenever I had to baste the turkey. But when it was time to carve the turkey, the honor went to my dad. He fell for it—hook, line, and legs.

“Oh my gosh! Look at this turkey.” Dad exclaimed as he gathered the family around. “I’ve never seen a turkey like this before. I can’t believe they didn’t catch it in the meat processing plant.”

Hearing our giggles, Dad’s eyebrows went up. Enlightenment dawned on his face. We devoured our four-legged bird, and Dad never bossed me around in the kitchen again.

What holy moments of laughter do you recall from Thanksgivings past? Click on “comment” at the very bottom of this post to share your tall tale.

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Category: Humor, Relationships, Thanksgiving  Tags: , , , , , , ,
18
Nov
When Appreciation Isn’t On the Agenda

1059429_pensive_homeless_portraiture_iiThanksgiving is that time of year when we focus on gratitude, but giving thanks and experiencing appreciation are not necessarily on the same serving dish.

Ever had a rough year—one where the negative events and emotional drama of life is best left unstated and forgotten? Welcome to Jeremiah’s life.

Jeremiah was a prophet. In Kingdom terms, he was a successful prophet—that is, he sacrificed everything and had nothing to show for it in his generation.

Jeremiah was born during the reign of one of the most horrible kings in history. The people he served rejected him. His prophecies were burned by the king. His own brothers attacked him. A fellow priest put Jeremiah into the stocks, and the city officials threw him into a deep cistern. His reputation was that of an emotional mess—the “Weeping Prophet.”

I have yet to read a Christian’s job description that states, “Expect to be appreciated, validated, and thanked for your labors.” It just isn’t in the contract. Scripture emphasizes our role of giving thanks, not receiving it.

Jeremiah died, unknown and unappreciated; yet, we are still reading his words and learning from his prophecies 2,600 years later. This prophet had a bigger picture then just the dreams of this life. He fulfilled the call of God in his generation because he knew the call was one that carried on over into eternity future.

An old story is told of Henry C. Morrison who became sick after serving forty years in Africa and had to return home to America. There was a great crowd gathered as the mighty ocean liner docked in New York Harbor. Morrison watched as President Teddy Roosevelt received a grand welcome-home party after his African safari.

Fighting resentment, Henry turned in discouragement to God. “I have come back home after all this time and service to the church and there is no one, not even one person to welcome me home.”

Then a still, small voice whispered in Morrison’s ear, “You’re not home yet, Henry.”

We are not home yet, friends.

Only when we are truly home will we hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

  • How important is appreciation to you?
  • Can you live without it?
  • Does our culture help or hinder an attitude of gratitude? Why?

Join the conversation in the comment section below.

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16
Nov
5 Ways to Encourage Gratitude Moments
Adelaide Ayers

Adelaide Ayers

Although this time of year lends itself to gratitude moments, I still find it necessary to encourage thankfulness in myself and in my family. Here are five ways to enrich your Thanksgiving season.

1.  Create a gratitude basket.Every year before Thanksgiving dinner Tom asks the folks gathered for prayer to share one thing for which they are thankful. The answers are usually slow in coming and are much the same year after year. Not that we aren’t thankful for many of the same blessings every year, but I have the feeling that not much thought has gone into the comments. The aromas of the meal are interfering.

This year I placed a wire basket in the dining room. Next to it I added a pen and some cards I created with my scrapbooking supplies. Each of our children, and anyone who stops by to visit, is encouraged to write down something they are thankful for and place it in the basket. This is an ongoing activity until Thanksgiving when Tom will read the cards before dinner. Part of the fun will be guessing who wrote each comment. Then we can thank the Lord of Blessing.

2.  Show gratitude for the servants in your life. Thank someone for their service to you throughout the year. Send the people who make your life a little more meaningful a note of appreciation–the person who styles your hair, the nice clerk who always bags your groceries, the greeter at church who always remembers your name. Even better, send a copy of your note to their supervisor!

3.  Gratitude with a smile and a visit. Use the season to plan and prepare a gift basket for an elderly person in town who might not have family nearby. Include an extended visit when you deliver the gift basket. Take your kids. You’ll be delighted at how much older folks enjoy visiting with children. It puts “life” back into their day.

4. Start a gratitude journal. This is an unique way to compile a record of your family’s growth in gratitude. During the month of November and throughout the year, ask each person at dinner what they are grateful for that day. Write their comments in a journal.

You can also create a gratitude journal on your own. Recently I found my gratitude journal from 20 years ago. I had forgotten so many of the blessings written there. What fun to read them again and remember the circumstances where the holy touched my journey.

5.  Basic gratitude: call your mom and dad. Both my folks are gone now. I wish I had phoned them more often and thanked them for the wonderful memories they created for me. Although I had a great relationship with each of my parents, talking with them and sending little cards weekly, I don’t think I honored them as much as I could have. Random phone calls of appreciation are one way to honor your parents.

What do you do to encourage gratitude moments in your life and in the life of your family? Click on “comment” below and share your thoughts with us.

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Category: Mission, Relationships, Thanksgiving  Tags: , , , , ,
13
Nov
Sticky Justice
IMG_0920

Dale Dixon

Sometimes justice is sticky.

Hitting the recreation center at a low income housing community was the last thing on my wish list a few weeks ago. I like my Saturday mornings wrapped in one-third coffee and two-thirds quiet.

On this particular Saturday, I adjusted my attitude, grabbed my huge candy bag and headed out to join our latest church Incarnation Project–a mobile Fall Festival. This community center was our morning location; another was chosen for the afternoon.

IMG_0953

Fun games.

It was unusually empty for a play area, but slowly kids arrived to check out the various games and craft activities scattered across the asphalt. The smell of hot dogs and popcorn was a huge draw. Free candy didn’t hurt either.

Single mothers and grandparents accompanied many of the younger children. I interviewed some who could speak English and learned that few fathers lived in the complex.

IMG_0954

The winner!

A single parent on inadequate income will take whatever housing is available. That seemed to be the situation in this location of town.  A welfare check or a low paying job provided little of life’s privileges for these people. Many of the blessings I take for granted were not even on their radar. 

Folks do reap what they sow, but it doesn’t seem fair. Children are not responsible for their parent’s choices or for life’s hardships. Where was the justice for these kids?

A friend commented on how hard it was for him growing up in a poor community and receiving gifts from those who seemed to have so much more then he did. “I loved the candy, but felt shamed. I wanted the gifts, but felt resentful towards those who had so much more then we did.”

I didn’t know how to respond to his statement. In trying to bring a little justice into children’s lives, was I also causing them to feel shame?

I know a small amount of justice was being served that day in the form of candy and games. Yet, in thinking over my friend’s remark, I realized that it was sticky justice. I am still processing the comment; and I still have some leftover sticky candy in my bag.

What do you think?

Click on “comment” at the very bottom of this post to join the conversation.

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11
Nov
Fixed-hour Prayer

430770_be_thou_my_visionFixed-hour prayer comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of praying at certain hours of each day. “Seven times a day do I praise you,” was the heart cry of the Psalmist. Since Jesus and His disciples were Jewish, this was their custom as well.

The hours of six and nine in the morning, noon, three in the afternoon, sunset, and bedtime were when people stopped their activities and prayed. In Acts, when the disciples were gathered for prayer on the day of Pentecost, it was at 9 o’clock or ”at the third hour of the day.” In Acts 3, Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer–at three in the afternoon.

The early church continued the practice of fixed-hour prayer until the “daily office” eventually became the observance of the Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Anglican branches of Christianity. Recently it has been rediscovered by believers from every tradition, including myself.

For several years I have used Celtic Daily Prayer: Prayers and Readings From the Northumbria Community as my prayer book. This two-inch thick book became the anchor in my journey of discovering Celtic Christianity and the love the Celts had for infusing the daily with the holy.

Currently I find that Morning Prayer and Compline (prayer before bed) are my “keeping of the hours.” Sometimes I pause for Midday prayer over a quiet lunch. These prayer times weave a thread of peace throughout my day securing together my to-do list and interruptions. I find them a launching pad for spontaneous worship and intercession when my prayer engines are a little slow powering up.

“My dear ones, O God, bless Thou and keep, in every place where they are,” lends itself to intercession for my family scattered throughout the county.

“Circle me, Lord, keep protection near and danger afar. Circle me, Lord, keep light near and darkness afar. Circle me, Lord, keep peace within; keep evil out,” blankets me on a cold evening before bed.

What routine of prayer marks the hours of your day? I would love to hear from you in the “Leave a Comment” section below.

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