#SpiritualJourney – I and Thou Reflections

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 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 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 Have Doubts

A Series of Sacred Belonging

Scripture for Today:

Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.

— Mark 9:24

Questions to Ponder:

How do you deal with doubt?
Do you carry them in darkness?

Reflection:

Doubt is something we all feel from time to time.
It sneaks in.
Quietly.
In the middle of the night.
In the middle of a prayer.
In the middle of a conversation.

Doubts often lead to questions.
Sometimes, the more questions we have, the more doubt there is.
Sometimes, we feel paralyzed.
Afraid of what others may think.
Afraid that our doubts might keep us from doing the right thing.
Or worried that God will leave us.

But Scripture tells a different story.
A father cries to Jesus,

“I believe—help my unbelief.”

And Jesus responds with healing.

God accepts the doubting heart.
He meets it.
He holds it.
He helps it believe again.

Faith is not the absence of doubt.
It’s the courage to bring our questions to the One who understands.
To where we belong.
To the place where even doubt is welcome.

One Where There is Sacred Belonging.

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

When We Feel Scattered

A Series of Sacred Belonging

Scripture for Today:

He gathers the lambs in His arms and
carries them close to His heart…

— Isaiah 40:11

Reflection:

Some days, we feel scattered.
Due to demands.
In the workplace and at home.
Too much stress.
Too much on our plates to juggle.
Too much change in a short time.
Disconnection from others.
Or ourselves.
Ambiguous loss or grief.

We may not even know what scattered us.
A conversation that left us uneasy.
An uninvited memory.
A season of time.
Sometimes we just don’t know.
And yet—God gathers.
Because He knows.

He gathers us with tenderness – not force.
With compassion – not shame.
We who may have gone astray.
He gathers us all.
The weary.
The wandering.
The souls who feel they are far too gone.

God carries us.
When we can’t carry ourselves.
You are not forgotten.
You are not too far.
You are not alone.

God scoops us up.
And in His arms, we remember who we are.

One of Sacred Belonging.

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

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

Cranberry Lemonade: Faith & Transformation

Introduction

Life often hands us challenges—those sour, difficult moments that can leave us bitter or discouraged. But just as we can transform tart lemons into refreshing lemonade, faith has the power to transform our lives in profound ways. Through faith, we become new creations, shedding the past and embracing a future full of hope, reconciliation, and renewal.

In this three-part series, Cranberry Lemonade, we’ll explore how faith can lead to transformation, reconciliation, and new beginnings. We will discuss how faith can lead to personal transformation, turning us into new creations with the courage to move beyond our past. Then, explore the natural outcome of this transformation—seeking reconciliation in our relationships and finding peace with others and ourselves. We will complete this series by considering how divine intervention and reconciliation lead to new beginnings, not just in our spiritual lives but also in our connections with family and community.

A New Creation in Faith

“…Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation…And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” – 2 Corinthians 5:16-19

Faith is a trust or belief in something, whether it’s nature, the Universe, or Mother/Father God. This belief is deeply personal and shapes us into who we are. Some may adapt to fit their circumstances like chameleons, while others stand firm on their principles. But when faith takes root in our hearts, we undergo a transformation—a rebirth into a new creation. This change can come through various actions, whether connecting with nature, attending church, or exploring biblical prophecy.

The Lemonade Analogy

You’ve likely heard the phrase, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” It encourages us to stay optimistic, even when life presents challenges. With their sourness, lemons symbolize life’s difficulties, while sweet and refreshing lemonade represents the positive outcomes we can create.

But what if we take this a step further? Imagine adding cranberry juice and stevia to plain lemonade. This new combination is something wonderfully different, just as we can be transformed when we embrace reconciliation.

If your life were a glass of lemonade, what ‘cranberry juice’ (new element) would you add to make it even more refreshing?

It could be forgiveness, understanding, or a new perspective. Consider what you can add to your life to make it more refreshing and transformative.

Transformation Through Faith

When we accept faith and become a new creation, we experience a profound sense of freedom. The past no longer holds us back, and we are empowered to move forward with courage and strength. This transformation naturally leads us to consider our relationships—especially those needing mending.

Can you recall a time when you experienced a significant transformation?
How did faith play a role in that change?
What old habits or mindsets have you let go of since embracing your faith?

Next time, we’ll look at the power and peace of reconciliation as a symbol of newness in this journey of life.

#Faith #Transformation #SpiritualJourney #Reconciliation #Relationships #NewCreation #Reflections

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