Have you heard of Loving-Kindness Meditation? The webpage HERE (Greater Good in Action) shares one example of the practice: “This exercise draws on a guided meditation created by researcher Emma Seppala, Science Director of Stanford University’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education.”

Compelling aspects include:

• thinking of mentors – even those who have passed – and including them both as blessing of loving-kindness and recipients now
• “Sending Loving-Kindness to All Living Beings (picture the whole globe in front of you as a little ball:) … Just as I wish to, may you live with ease, happiness, and good health” 

In these times of uncertainty and challenge, it can feel empowering to envision our loving-kindness going to all our earth [including the challenging nature of showing love to our enemies (thoughts from Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II HERE) ]

POTENTIAL ACTIONS

Consider spending 15 minutes on the webpage HERE (Greater Good in Action)

• • read and do a few elements of the meditation
  • listen to the audio (less than 14 minutes!)  It is effective and allows you to get directly into the meditation (ahhh….)

See additional Christian Playbook thoughts on this practice HERE . If you have suggested alterations/improvement, please send them along (salong_now @ yahoo.com)

Enjoy the day, filled with loving-kindness shared with you; may that loving-kindness ooze out of you to others (possibly even heaven- & earth-wide via meditation,) spurred by the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, March 13, 2022:

• Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 
• Psalm 27 
• Philippians 3:17-4:1 
• Luke 13:31-35 or Luke 9:28-36, (37-43a)

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The hymn “God of Grace and God of Glory” has been a favorite for many. As we read HERE:

“God of grace and God of glory” was written while the United States was in the throes of the Great Depression between the two World Wars. Fosdick was a champion of the social gospel, a movement that recognized the plight of the poor, especially in the urban Northeast during the Industrial Revolution.

The need remains for the social gospel these 90+ years later. We still beseech God for many of the same issues, as mentioned in the website:

The language of the hymn is ultimately that of petition. “Grant us wisdom, grant us courage” concludes each stanza with the effect of a refrain. A petition begins stanza three with “Cure thy children’s warring madness,/ bend our pride to thy control.” The final stanza, equally prophetic, begins with “Save us from weak resignation/ to the evils we deplore.”

During this active conflict in Ukraine and so many other evils in our world we can use this song (HERE is one version) for support as we pray: “Dear God: Grant us wisdom, grant us courage!”

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit and petitions/actions for the social gospel, peace on earth, and more!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, March 6, 2022:

• Deuteronomy 26:1-11
• Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16
• Romans 10:8b-13
• Luke 4:1-13

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Today’s devotional comes from our friend Toni in Cincinnati. It’s a re-posting of a guest column she shared several years back.

Toni writes…

Many of us consider with gratitude a special teacher that we have had in
our lives. A teacher who had a profound impact on me was the Rev
Dr LP Jones. In preparation for this Lenten season, I found myself
returning to words that he had written in preparation for Ash Wednesday.
Though they do reflect the practice of ashes, they are useful and
helpful words for any time – not just during Lent.

LP said “We are dust. Our bodies are made of earthly elements and will
return to the earth. It is always the right time to make the best of the
time we have.”

So, I encourage you to think with gratitude of a teacher who impacted
you; and to honor their influence and the memory of LP, to “accept the
gift of life with gratitude and live it with courage.” (LP Jones).

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, March 6, 2022:

• Deuteronomy 26:1-11
• Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16
• Romans 10:8b-13
• Luke 4:1-13

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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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