iandthoureflections

When We Prepare Our Heart

A Series of Sacred Belonging

Scripture for Today:

Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.

— Luke 3:4

Questions to Ponder:

How might you prepare your heart for the Holidays?

Reflection:

Thanksgiving invited us to gather.
To remember.
To give thanks.

Now, we must prepare our hearts for what is to come.

A time to wait.
To wonder.
To give.
To receive.

We must enter this season with a new perspective.
One that is kind.
Full of compassion.
One willing to honor the wishes of others.

Let’s turn inward this holiday season.
Inward to our hearts.
And the hearts of others.
Because that is where love is.

Let’s not get sucked into the secular world.
The world of ostentatious decorations.
Outlandish gifts that soon fall apart.

Let’s do it differently.
Let’s make something this year.
Cook a meal.
Put together a soup jar.
Knit a scarf.
Write a poem.
Whatever it is, create gifts from the heart.

When Christmas arrives,
it’s not about the presents.
It’s about the presence.
Of our loved ones.
In our homes with us or in our hearts.
Because home is where the heart is.

When we prepare our hearts,
We make room for the light that breaks through the darkness.
We pour our love into others.
We find hope that meets us right where we are.

As we close out this series of sacred belonging, we reflect on the past few weeks.
We created space
We welcomed the stranger.
We received grace—and now offer it more freely.
We rose.
We gathered.
We gave thanks.

And now, we prepare.
Not just for a holiday, but for a holy arrival.

One that is of Sacred Belonging.

#SacredBelonging #Faith #SpiritualJourney #Grace #Thanksgiving #ThankfulHeart #Spirituality

When We Rise

A Series of Sacred Belonging

Scripture for Today:

You are no longer strangers and foreigners – Ephesians 2:19

Reflection:

Have you ever felt you were a stranger in a foreign land? And, I don’t mean traveling to another country, state, or down the block.

It’s that feeling that you wake up one day and feel that you don’t belong. You feel rejected. Abandoned. Like a failure.

It could be due to a job loss.
A home.
A friend.
A pet.
A partner.
A child.

Most of us have felt this way at some point.
Some many times over the years. And some just once or twice.

But once the feelings of loss begin to settle, we begin to get our footing.
We rise.
We overcome.

When we rise, it’s not always noticeable.
Sometimes it’s quiet.
Sometimes it’s radiant.
Sometimes it’s slow.
Sometimes it comes out of nowhere.

The strength.
The courage.
The grace.
The depth.

But it’s real.
It’s sacred.

When we rise, we gain clarity.
We begin to see differently.
We listen to the gentle nudge-
The Spirit within-
so we can move forward.

It is when we accept the circumstances for what they are,
and not what they aren’t,
that we can envision the purpose of it…
Which is to bring us into a new light of understanding.

One that is of Sacred Belonging.

#SacredBelonging #Faith #SpiritualJourney #Grace #Thanksgiving #ThankfulHeart #Spirituality

When We Give Thanks

A Series of Sacred Belonging

Scripture for Today:

Give thanks in all circumstances…

— 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Question to Ponder:

How do we give thanks when we don’t feel very thankful?

Reflection:

The season of thanksgiving calls us to stop and pause.
To reflect on what we have.
And when we do, sometimes it stirs up what we may have lost.

God did not promise us rainbows and puppy dogs.
Nor did He promise us a trouble-free life.

So, no matter where you are in life, you can be thankful.
Thankful for being alive.
Thankful for what you do have.
Even if it isn’t much.

Remember that God loves a cheerful giver.
A person who gives thanks.
Day after day.
Even when they don’t feel like it.

When we give thanks,
We are honoring God, others, and ourselves.
Being thankful draws us near to God.

Let’s be thankful for memories.
Let’s be thankful for what is good.
Let’s be thankful for the journey.
Let’s be thankful for where we may go next.

Thanksgiving is not just a day.
It’s a way of being.
A way of seeing.
A way of belonging.

One that is of Sacred Belonging.

#SacredBelonging #Faith #SpiritualJourney #Grace #Thanksgiving #ThankfulHeart #Spirituality

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

When We Gather

A Series of Sacred Belonging

Scripture for Today:

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people
live together in unity.

— Psalm 133:1

Questions to Ponder:

Who do you choose to gather with?
What extraordinary grace has come from it?

Reflection:

We gather in homes, in the workplace,
in places of worship, and at community events.

When we gather, extraordinary things happen.
We reminisce.
We share stories.
We learn new things.

We sing.
We dance.
We make music.
We celebrate—
milestones, traditions, and ordinary days.

We gather to belong.
To be seen. To be heard. To be valued.

Gathering is communion.
It is Sacred belonging.

But let’s be real.
Sometimes, when we gather, we hurt.
Unkind words are spoken. Personalities clash.
We feel sad.

Gathering is hard work.
But worth the time and energy—
because we become better.

We learn to give one another space.
To listen more than we speak.
To adjust. To filter our speech with grace.

Because gathering isn’t just about showing up—
it’s about showing up in love.

And God?
God shows up when we ask.

So if you need extra comfort as we gather for Thanksgiving,
ask God to lead you through it.
To meet you right where you are.
To carry you through.
To take you where you need to be—

A Place of Sacred Belonging.

#SacredBelonging #Faith #SpiritualJourney #Grace #Thanksgiving #ThankfulHeart #Spirituality

When We Give Grace

A Series of Sacred Belongings

Scripture for Today:

From His fullness we have all received,
grace upon grace.

— John 1:16

Questions to Ponder:

How often do you need a bit of grace?
And more importantly,
how often do you give grace to others and yourself?

Reflection:

Some might say that only God can give grace. Yet, I don’t think that.

When we receive God into our hearts and daily lives, we are given grace. And it is that grace, the grace from God, that we can choose to offer others.

Grace is a beautiful gift.
We give grace to those whose hearts may feel sad.
Those who feel empty inside.
Those who pour themselves into caring for others.
Those who grieve.
Those who are struggling.

When we give grace, we must follow God’s lead.
To give it freely.
Without expectation.

When we do that, we start to see the light.
It flickers from the soul.
A kind word.
A soft smile.
A quiet nod.

Grace fills us up.
It makes us whole.
It makes us seen.
Affirmed.
Valued.

Grace is abundant if we want it to be.

God wants us to receive his grace—
So we can pour it out to others.
For us to shine the light…
On the path where we were always meant to be.

One that is of Sacred Belonging.

#Grace #Faith #SpiritualJourney #ThankfulHeart #Thanksgiving #Spirituality

When We Are Chosen

A Series of Sacred Belonging

Scripture for Today:

I have called you by name; you are mine.

— Isaiah 43:1

Reflection:

There’s something special about being chosen. It’s not about anything we did or didn’t do. Nor is it how smart we are or how well we do something.

But simply because we are who we are.

God’s choosing is relational.
Eternal.
Love.

Yet there is an element of transaction.

God gives.
Freely.
Still, we must do something.
And that is what we must receive.

We must consciously accept God’s gift.
When we do, we become treasure—
like the woman who searched for the lost coin,
rejoicing when it was found.

We are cherished.
Even when we feel forgotten.
Even when we feel unworthy.
Even when we feel like we don’t belong. We do. We belong.

We belong to the One—
The One who calls us by name.

One of Sacred Belonging.

#Faith #Grace #SacredBelonging #ThankfulHeart #Thanksgiving #Spirituality

When We Create Space

A Series of Sacred Belonging

Scripture of Today:

You will make known to me the path of life;
in Your presence is fullness of joy…

— Psalm 16:11

Questions to Ponder:

Where in your life do you need more space?
What might you need to release to make room?

Reflection:

Who couldn’t use a little more space?
Or a snow day in the middle of summer?

We live in a world that fills quickly.
Calendars.
Closets.
Conversations.
Even our hearts can feel crowded.

But sacred belonging begins with space.
Space to breathe.
Space to listen.
Space to be.

Creating space is not just about clearing clutter.
It’s about intention.
It’s about making room for what matters.

For God. For others. For the quiet parts of ourselves.

Sometimes we create space by saying no.
Sometimes by saying yes. Or simply by pausing.

When we create space, we invite presence.
Presence of the Divine.
So the door to connection can open.
With family.
With friends.
With ourselves.

Which leads us to a sense of belonging.

One that is of Sacred Belonging.

#Faith #Grace #ThankfulHearts #Thanksgiving #SacredBelonging #Spirituality

When We Welcome The Stranger

A Series of Sacred Belonging

Scripture for Today:

I was a stranger and you welcomed me.

— Matthew 25:35

Questions to Ponder:

Who have you kept at a distance?
What would it look like to welcome them?

Reflection:

Sometimes the stranger is someone we’ve never met.
Sometimes it’s someone who has removed themselves from our lives that we wish hadn’t.
Sometimes it’s someone we’ve known but forgotten.
And sometimes, the stranger is a part of ourselves.

So, what are we to do?

We are to welcome the stranger.
No matter who it is.
No matter when it is.
No matter the reason.

Why?

God invites us to welcome.
Because we are all brothers and sisters.

God made us in His image.
And we ought to love one another.
Friends and strangers alike.

When we welcome the stranger,
We open the door.
We make space.

We say, “You are seen. You are safe. You belong.”

And in doing so, we welcome Christ Himself. Not in grandeur, but in gentleness. Not in certainty, but in love…

One that is of Sacred Belonging.

#SacredBelonging #Faith #Grace #SpiritualJourney #Thanksgiving #ThankfulHeart #Spirituality

When We Open The Door

A Series of Sacred Belonging

Scripture for Today:

Behold, I stand at the door and knock…

— Revelation 3:20

Questions to Ponder:

Have you ever expected a guest to arrive, only for someone else to knock on your door instead?
Or doesn’t arrive at all?
How does that make you feel?

Reflection:

Sometimes we extend an invitation to a special guest.
One that we have been wanting to spend time with.
One that we haven’t seen in a while.
Or someone that we want to get to know better.

We look forward to that appointment.
We anticipate.
We lean into the preparations.
We might even get lost in the excitement.

Then, the doorbell rings.
And no one is there.
Our hearts sink.
We are disappointed.
But what if it were God who knocked?

Would you still feel disappointed?

Christ doesn’t barge in.
He knocks.
He waits.
In the hopes of being welcomed.

And sometimes, we’re too busy.
Too distracted.
Too unsure of what to say.

Sometimes the most important guest is the one we don’t see.
Because they arrive quietly.
Without fanfare.
Without demand.
Without expectations.

This season, may we listen for the knock.
May we open the door.
May we welcome the guest—the One we may not see.

One Who Leads Us to Sacred Belonging.

#SacredBelonging #Faith #SpiritualJourney #Grace #Thanksgiving #ThankfulHeart #Spirituality

When We Wander

A Series of Sacred Belonging

Scripture for Today:

Even if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me…

— Psalm 139:9–10

Question to Ponder:

Have you wanted to run away from God,
yet still want to be in reach?

Reflection:

Sometimes we wander through life with conflicting purposes.
We think we want one thing, yet we feel steered toward something different.

We wander away from God at times, too.
The days we forget to pray.
Or we don’t have time for a quiet meditation.
Our relationship with God seems to fall off course.
We feel far from God.
Far from others.
And far from ourselves.

Why?

We’re tired.
We’re hurt.
We’re searching for something – we often don’t know what.
It is that sense of belonging we want to get back.

When we are ready, God will be there.
Even when we lose our way…
Follow the light.
It will lead to divine presence.

One of Sacred Belonging.

#SacredBelonging #Faith #SpiritualJourney #Grace #Thanksgiving #ThankfulHeart #Spirituality