#Spirituality – Page 2 – I and Thou Reflections

Sacred Belonging

A Series for November

We all long to belong.
Not just to fit in, but to be known.
To be received.
To be held in the quiet spaces of grace.

This series was born from that longing.

It’s for the scattered heart, the questioning soul, the weary caregiver.
It’s for those who have wandered, waited, and wondered.
It’s for those who are seeking.
Those wishing to open the door.

Each reflection is a gentle invitation—
to pause, breathe, and listen.
To create space.
To welcome the stranger.
To receive grace and offer it freely.

You won’t find quick fixes here.
But you will find:
Presence.
A sacred space.
Scripture.
Questions that stir.

Because sacred belonging isn’t earned.
It’s received. It’s the place we were always meant to be.

One of Sacred Belonging.

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

Finding Calm in a Chaotic World – Part 5 : Mountains

*Image Credit: Creative Commons: “Color Landscape – Grand Tetons”* *by fortherock (see below for details)*

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2

The Struggle of the Climb

Life can feel overwhelming at times. Sometimes, it is like climbing a mountain. Days feel overwhelming. We feel exhausted. And we ask ourselves if we will ever reach the top.

Decades ago, I had the opportunity to hike The Tetons. It was a three-day hike. Thirteen miles each day with a heavy backpack. It was overwhelming, for sure! At times, I thought I would die.
I couldn’t take another step.
I was exhausted, and my muscles ached.

At that moment, when I felt I couldn’t take another step, I surrendered to God.
Right there.
Right then.
God placed a song in my heart. And for the rest of the hike, I “sang” Oil in My Lamp (author unknown) in my head.

A Higher Perspective

It was at that moment that my perspective changed. It wasn’t about the struggle. It was the peace that I found in the struggle.

It was the peace in the chaos.

For me, The Tetons was my place of perspective.

Where is your place of perspective?
A place where you can rise above the noise?
Where the chaos fades?
Where do you find a stillness that speaks to you?

Next time, we will lift our eyes to the heavens as we calm the chaos of the mountains in our lives.

Image details: “Color Landscape – Grand Tetons” by fortherock is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by-sa/2.0/?ref=openverse.

#April #StressAwarenessMonth #Calm #GodsPeace #Nature #Water #Trees #Mountains #Wind #Gardens #Sunlight #Stillness

14 Days of Love: Love Deeply – Day 14

Valentine’s Day is a great reminder of how much God loves us. Call someone you love who you haven’t chatted with in a while. Tell them how much you love them.

Love makes my world go round. How about you?

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:8

*Image Source: Generated* with AI (Bing)

Prayer

God,

I love you, God! I love how you speak to me when I’m alone with my thoughts. Thank you.

Let me love and forgive with the grace that You have shown me, each and every day for the rest of my days.

Amen

Reflective Question

What steps can I take to cultivate a more profound sense of love and forgiveness for those around me?

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY

#ValentinesDay #14DaysofLove #TheBible #Meditation #Spirituality #Love #Forgiveness

14 Days of Love: Love Endures Forever – Day 13

Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.
Psalm 136:26

*Image Source: His Love Endures* *Forevers – Experience Love Instrumental on YouTube*

Prayer

Lord,

Thank you for your eternal goodness and kindness.

Amen

Reflective Question

How can I express gratitude for God’s enduring love in my life?

#14DaysofLove #Love #Meditation #TheBible #Spirituality #ValentinesDay

14 Days of Love: Love Your Partner – Day 12

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
Ephesians 5:25

Prayer

Lord,

Please help me affirm my partner more and reveal to me how to love more selflessly.

Amen

Reflective Question

What little acts can I do each day to show my partner how much they mean to me?

#Love #TheBible #Valentine’sDay #Spirituality #Meditation #Relationships #14DaysofLove

14 Days of Love: Love is Rejoicing -Day 11

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

Prayer

Lord of Heaven and Earth,

Thank you for being my Mighty Warrior who shows me everlasting love. May I delight in the songs you sing in my heart.

Amen

Reflection Question

What are some ways in which God delights in me?

#Love #TheBible #ValentinesDay #Spirituality #Meditation #14DaysofLove #Rejoice

14 Days of Love: Love Mercy – Day 9

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Michah 6:8

*Image Source: Generated by AI (ChatGPT)*

Prayer

Almighty God,

Help me to discern your voice among the many distractions of this world. Show me how to live more fully with you walking beside me.

Amen

Reflection Question

How can I differentiate your will from my own?

#Love #TheBible #ValentinesDay #Spirituality #Meditation #14DaysofLove #Mercy

14 Days of Love: Love in Devotion – Day 8

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Romans 12:10

Prayer

Almighty Father,

Teach me how to love and honor my family and friends more fully.

Amen

Reflective Question

What can I do to honor those around me?

#Love #TheBible #ValentinesDay #Spirituality #Meditation #14DaysofLove

January is for Joy – Part 5

Joy in the Journey

How often have we been so focused on reaching a goal that we missed the little joys along the way?

So far, in our January is for Joy series, we have explored:

Joy in New Beginnings
Joy in The Present
Joy in the Deeper Meaning of Life
Joy in Relationships

If any of these were missed, now would be a great time to check them out. Each one is a quick two-minute read.

To recap, we’ve learned to jot down daily joys, ground ourselves with the five senses, connect spiritually through prayer, and cultivate joy through kindness and presence. Today, as we wrap up the series, let’s discuss finding joy in the journey.

Think about a road trip to the mountains. It’s a two-hour drive, but along the way, there’s an antique store that catches our eye. We could rush to our destination or stop, browse, and maybe find a hidden treasure.

Which choice brings more joy?

The adventure itself.
Each step forward. (And even backward, at times.)
Every small victory.
The lessons learned along the way.

James 1:2-4 reminds us,

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Stepping Stones

James says triumphs and trials are opportunities to shape our character and draw us closer to God. We can now see our experiences as stepping stones toward more joy. Wow! That is good news.

Here are a few simple ways to nurture joy:

* Celebrate small milestones – progress is progress, no matter how small.
* Be curious and open-hearted – view each new experience as an opportunity to learn.
* Reframe setbacks—treat them as stepping stones that build resilience and grace.
* Savor the process—reflect daily on the moments that make the journey meaningful.

This January, let’s take a moment to find the joy in our journey. It’s easy. Grab a journal each evening, and write down one moment that brought joy. It could be an act of kindness, a lesson learned, or a small win. It may even set us up for a year of abundant blessings.

Remember, joy isn’t just found at the end of the road. It is in every twist and turn along the way.

So, let the joy of new beginnings warm your heart. Let it fill you with hope and inspire you to embrace the journey, one moment at a time.

#January #Joy #NewBeginnings #BeinthePresent #TheDeeperMeaningofLife #Relationships #Journey #LifeJourney

Unwrapping the Gifts to Eternal Life: Frankincense, The Gift of Worship

Prepare Ye The Way

As we continue to unwrap the gifts the wise men brought to Baby Jesus, we travel into the deep woods of significant treasure. In our last post, we explored the first gift of gold, a gift fit for a king!

The Gift of Frankincense

Today, we turn our noses to frankincense—a fragrant resin from trees that typically grow in dry mountain regions of India, Africa, and the Middle East.

Join us as we unwrap how it reveals the eternal gift of life.

Let’s see how frankincense, given with reverence and love, connects us to the enduring message of Christmas.

Why Frankincense?

Frankincense is known for its sacred tradition and profound meaning.

It’s woody.
It can be inhaled.
It can be absorbed by the skin.
It can be taken as a supplement.

This precious gift perfectly symbolizes Jesus’ spiritual nature.

Throughout history, frankincense has been central to religious ceremonies. Think about incense in the church. It carries a sacred aroma that lingers in the air, transcending our spirits to another world.

It is quite an experience. Don’t you think?

Frankincense: The Gift for a King

This gift calls us to reflect on Jesus’ divine nature and His role as a great High Priest. It reminds us of the bridge between heaven and earth. And how our prayers, like incense, rise to God.

Every day we are reminded of God’s omnipresence. Let’s take a deep breath and say “Yah” as we inhale and “Weh” as we exhale. Feel it? THAT is the presence of God.

The sacred syllables of “Yahweh” remind us that every breath is a gift from God, connecting us to His presence.

As we prepare for Christmas, let the gift of frankincense invite us into worship. Just like the hymn, We Three Kings...

Frankincense to offer have I.
Incense owns a Deity nigh.
Prayer and praising all humans raising,
Worship Him,
God on high.

May we follow the wise men to Jesus. There, at the manger, we can worship the King of Kings.

In the next post, we unwrap the third and final treasure of the wise men and see how it adds to the layers of the divine birth of Baby Jesus.

#TheThreeWiseMen #Gifts #Gold #Frankincense #Jesus #Isaiah #Prophecy #Hope&Redemption #12DaysofIsaiah #Christmas #ComfortOneAnother #IandThouReflections