Movies can be powerful. The Guideposts article HERE describes several inspiring movies with 2022 Oscar aspirations for film overall and/or acting [WARNING: you may find that some of their weblinks don’t work – even a big organization sometimes has such problems. 🙂 ]

The movie CODA gets special mention. The extra article HERE share some wonderful information and background, including this description:

This heartwarming family drama about a child of deaf adults, starring Emilia Jones and Marlee Matlin, breaks new ground.

While this movie has some adult themes and moments, it’s an excellent watching experience. As the CODA article mentions, it can also be a learning experience:

 “I want this film to teach the world that laws need to protect and help everyone, not just the majority,” she says. “Procedures can always be adapted to suit people’s needs. You can change and accommodate to better the world.” 

May we be part of the community adapting and accommodating to better the world…

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 27, 2022:

• Exodus 34:29-35 
• Psalm 99 
• 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2 
• Luke 9:28-36, (37-43a)

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The first official response to CP’s favorite songs request arrived from good friend Sheri. A special song she mentions is Sweet, Sweet Spirit by Doris Akers.

This tune shares testimony and requests for the Spirit to fill each of us with love. The praise for this Spiritual revival is substantial in the lyrics and rendition shared HERE.

Of this song Sheri mentions:

This was a favorite of my Grandmother and my Mom. I have memories of both singing in the Baptist church of my childhood. The peacefulness that comes from hearing these lyrics is indeed, sweet.

Thanks for sharing this with us, Sheri!

Details about this hymn are HERE, including other renditions with this commentary

• links to the jazzy quartet version by Australia’s The Idea of North (HERE)
• cover by Korean family group Ruah Worship (HERE), with close harmony that savors the intimate rub of Akers’s striking three-chord progression spotlighting the word “place.”
  

POTENTIAL ACTIONS:

• Spend time with the Sweet, Sweet Spirit renditions in the references above – you won’t be sorry as they are energizing!
• Want a little more uplifting music today? Check our CP playlist HERE

As we continue this favorite song series, the results will reside HERE for your listening pleasure! 🙂

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 27, 2022:

• Exodus 34:29-35 
• Psalm 99 
• 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2 
• Luke 9:28-36, (37-43a)

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According to the Xavier.edu webpage HERE:

The Daily Examen is a method of prayer that Ignatius of Loyola taught in his Spiritual Exercises. He considered it the most important thing a person could do each day.

Would such an effort these 400+ years later still be relevant? Here are the five steps (as presented by Creighton University theologian Dennis Hamm, S.J.) on that same webpage:

1. Pray for light to understand and appreciate the past day.
2. Review the day in thanksgiving.
3. Review the feelings in the replay of the day.
4. Choose one of those feelings (positive or negative) and pray from it.
5. Look toward tomorrow.

Seems mighty relevant still! 🙂

Some additional opportunities for Daily Examen experiences include:

• the Xavier.edu webpage HERE provides dozens of topical approaches
• here is a 4-minute video in case you want a quick AV overview

Enjoy the day – maybe with the Daily Examen? – filled with the Spirit!

P.S. Have a good experience with the candle from last time? Some visuals below. Interesting to note the directions of the light depending on the perspective…

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 20, 2022:

• Genesis 45:3-11, 15 
• Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40 
• 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50 
• Luke 6:27-38

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After the Even If posting from Monday, what should show up a day or two later but the pertinent message HERE including the lines

Once you’ve heard a child cry out to heaven for help,
and go unanswered,
nothing’s ever the same again.
Nothing.
Even God changes.

Reminders of Bart’s message in Even If?

That prose by William Brodrick concludes with this hopeful commentary

We have to be candles, burning between hope and despair,
faith and doubt, life and death,
all the opposites.

 It Is Well With My Soul! May it be so…

POTENTIAL ACTIONS:

• Find a candle and lighter/match and carry them to a room you can darken. Spend a few minutes in the darkness, allowing your mind to settle in to the setting. Then light that candle. Settle in. Take a few minutes to thank God – – for the darkness, for the light, and for whatever AHA experiences this brings
• Perhaps time for another listen to the song Even If? (HERE)

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 20, 2022:

• Genesis 45:3-11, 15 
• Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40 
• 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50 
• Luke 6:27-38

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The song Even If by Mercy Me provides testimony about bad days. Bart Millard shares at the beginning of this video (HERE) about a well-meaning comment and how it frustrated him.

Bart then shares a wonderful message about “getting it” even in the midst of challenges including

I know You’re able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don’t
My hope is You alone

Full lyrics of the song are HERE.

The conclusion of this song is a wonderful reminder of an aspirational goal – and another touching tune – It Is Well With My Soul! May it be so…

POTENTIAL ACTIONS:

• When hitting a tough moment, maybe an Even If reminder will be helpful? (HERE)
• Want a little more uplifting music today? Check our CP playlist HERE

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 20, 2022:

• Genesis 45:3-11, 15 
• Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40 
• 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50 
• Luke 6:27-38

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When have you found yourself in nature’s beauty and felt God’s call?

Guideposts shares 7 Spiritual Sights in Nature and today’s focus is on Fingal’s Cave,  pictured HERE

Some of the commentary about Fingal’s Cave:

The cave’s mysterious nature has created a divine spark in the minds of many famous artists. Romantic composer Felix Mendelssohn was so in awe of the cave, it inspired him to write the Hebrides Overture.

POTENTIAL ACTIONS:

• Step outside your door today and find your own “Fingal’s Cave moment” like so many famous artists have experienced, in the small or larger aspects of nature around you…
• Have a listen to the Hebrides Overture by the London Symphony HERE

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 13, 2022:

• Jeremiah 17:5-10 
• Psalm 1 
• 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 
• Luke 6:17-26

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“encourage one another and build each other up” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Who has been an encouraging presence in your journey of faith? Frequently the answer is minister, parent, grandparent, other relative or friend. In some cases the presence certainly comes from more serendipitous encounters with “strangers.”

This Our Daily Bread devotional (HERE) shares some historical examples of encouragers. It’s wonderful perspective as we consider spurring ourselves on to be encouraging to others.

POTENTIAL ACTIONS:  Who will you see today who might use a word or act of encouragement?

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 13, 2022:

• Jeremiah 17:5-10 
• Psalm 1 
• 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 
• Luke 6:17-26

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The number of neighbors experiencing dementia is growing. The great news? These precious ones can continue enjoying quality of life.

Many of us who are willing to help just need a little assistance on how to effectively visit those experiencing dementia. Maybe a song would help? Enter the tune “Demon Dementia & Adaptive Angels” (on the webpage HERE).  That webpage includes a rendition of the song, the song lyrics/outline plus the 1-pager of visiting tips.

Among the key song messages for dementia friends:

• Using inventive “Yes and” approaches enhances conversation
  
• Avoiding “No” helps conversation flow
  
• Don’t worry when confabulation (fact vs. fiction) creeps in
  
• Enjoy the experience!

POTENTIAL ACTIONS: Let it be our goal today to

• share a HELP prayer moment with God for a friend or family member experiencing dementia
• add a HELP prayer for strength when opportunities arise to be a helper in a difficult situation
• identify a WOW moment and share THANKS to God

PRAYER: Great Creator, we all need help, even in the midst of showers of blessings. May we feel a stirring to experience you in wonderful new ways by reaching out to someone experiencing dementia or with other needs that may be a stretch for us to meet. Help. Thanks. WOW! Amen.

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 6, 2022:

• Isaiah 6:1-8, (9-13) 
• Psalm 138 
• 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 
• Luke 5:1-11

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Love Your Neighbor – No Exceptions is a statement seen on the St. Timothy’s Episcopal (SE Cincinnati, OH) electronic sign. The number of neighbors experiencing dementia is growing and the great news is these precious ones can continue enjoying quality of life. Yet, many with willingness to help also need assistance to overcome self-imposed obstacles to visiting those experiencing dementia.

Enter groups like Dementia Friends and Alzheimer’s Association. These organizations provide wonderful materials and human resources to help us love these neighbors.

Know someone in your midst who might be experiencing dementia? Not quite sure how to start visiting? The 1-pager HERE provides helpful details on these 5 steps:

• CONSIDER INVITING/TAKING A FRIEND ALONG
• STEP INTO THEIR REALITY
• GO WITH THE FLOW
• MINIMIZE COMPLICATIONS
• COME PREPARED BY CREATING, ASSEMBLING AND TAKING A “MEMORY CAREBAG”

Why choose today to do this particular post? It’s the birthday of brother Andy, who was a “dementia friend” to our Aunt Eleanor well before most of us had all these resources available. Thanks, Andy, for being such a good example of a dementia friend, and in many other ways too (oh, and Happy Birthday!)

POTENTIAL ACTIONS: Let it be our goal today to

• include a HELP moment with God for a friend or family member experiencing dementia
• add a HELP prayer for strength when opportunities arise to be a helper in a difficult situation
• identify a WOW moment and share your THANKS to God

PRAYER: Great Creator, we all need help, even in the midst of showers of blessings. May we feel a stirring to experience you in wonderful new ways by reaching out to someone experiencing dementia or with other needs that may be a stretch for us to meet. Help. Thanks. WOW! Amen.

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 6, 2022:

• Isaiah 6:1-8, (9-13) 
• Psalm 138 
• 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 
• Luke 5:1-11

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In her book Help, Thanks, Wow, Anne Lamott describes three essential prayers. As Lamott tells NPR

“Prayer is not about saying, ‘Oh, I think I’m going to pray now.’ Or, ‘Oh, I see I’ve made a notation here to pray at 2:15.’ It’s about getting outside of your own self and hooking into something greater than that very, very limited part of our experience here — the ticker tape of thoughts and solutions, and trying to figure out who to blame. …

Listening to a “Singing Sister song” – Ten Lepers (HERE) – is a reminder of Anne’s book. How often do our Help prayers result in Thanksgiving and/or WOW at a later time? With the Ten Lepers story in mind, maybe one in ten? Maybe less?

POTENTIAL ACTIONS: Let it be our goal today to have

• one HELP moment with God
• one THANKS moment with God
• one WOW moment with God
• time for listening to Ten Lepers (HERE)

PRAYER: Great Creator, the songs of the birds and other creatures can inspire. We need help. We are blessed. May we feel a stirring to worship you in wonderful new ways. Help. Thanks. WOW! Amen.

Enjoy the day, filled with music and the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 6, 2022:

• Isaiah 6:1-8, (9-13) 
• Psalm 138 
• 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 
• Luke 5:1-11

Know someone who might like receiving Christian Playbook messages like this?  If so, please forward this message and they can sign up WITH THIS LINK

CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK HUMOR – regular updates, including toonfever.com

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CLICK ON ICONS BELOW FOR LINKS TO CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK PAGES ON DEVOTIONALS, PRAYERS, MUSIC, STUDY AND LOVE