Glimpses of God...In You and Me

Several years ago I was on my way to give a talk that would begin a Lenten Retreat. The reflection was on the opening Gospel of the season, Luke 4: 1–13, the Temptation in the Desert. My reflections had been well pored over the week before as I contemplated the whole scene: Jesus, going out into that wilderness, besieged by one demon after another. My meditations on this Scripture text examined each temptation individually. They were the old favorites—wealth, power, and prestige. In the talk I had prepared there were some examples which I hoped would show that there are contemporaryapplications for the Lenten journey for today’s Christian. The church was a half-hour drive from my home and I remember it being a sunny morning, so I relished the time to enjoy God’s beauty along the way. The distance also allowed me time to go over the talk in my head. Usually when I address a group I put a few words of the outline on a tiny 2” x 2” sheet of paper to make sure I do not go off on a tangent, which can easily happen. I had plenty of extra time, having left the house early, and I was calm because my talk was well prepared. Just as I was about to review the temptations of Jesus in the desert, this wave of insight washed over me from someplace outside of me, or from deep within me. I felt an urgency to go back and look over the earlier chapter of Luke, to open and read Luke 3. “Why? I am already prepared,” I thought. “This is crazy.” The message continued: “Stop and read Luke, chapter 3!” The voice was too strong for me to ignore. Now I was chiding myself for having left the house so early. See! You’ve got too much time! Now you’re imagining things! With reluctance I pulled the car over to the side of the road and reached for my Bible. I opened to Luke 3:31. Jesus had just been baptized and was at prayer when the sky opened and a voice was heard: “You are my beloved Son, on you my favor rests.” The beginning of Luke 4:3 quotes the devil as saying to Jesus: “IF you are the Son of God” then the food, material possessions, and power will follow if the evil is worshipped. Why didn’t I see that before, that great big “IF”? The connection was made. This experience on the road that day led to a theme which has found itself woven in all my musings, readings, lectures, and searches for truth. It has been key to my own understanding of who we are and how we are to move in this world. The Good News is even better than we could ever imagine! You are “the beloved!” You reflect God’s infinite faces of goodness when you act out of your true loving nature. The stories in this volume give us glimpses of how that wonderful mystery of God welling in us pops out into clear sight, most just happen to take place in a home where people are dying —Francis House. It is a place where the truth of God’s existence can be a little louder than in other places. Francis House is a home and extended family for those who are terminally ill. It is a loving environment in which people can live their last days in dignity surrounded by the unconditional love of God. In that eleventh-hour light, truth sits on the bed of each dying person, available for all of us to take notice. The reflections in this book are offered to open your mind, whet your spiritual appetite, and give you a desire for the “more,” the more of who you really are beneath the crust of your being, and the goodness that lies within. One thing is for sure, the most important part of this book comes after you read each chapter, the part not written. It is what happens in the time and space you give to just sitting with God. If you’re a risk taker, and if you desire God, be faithful and allow time for God to break into your story. Be generous enough to give yourself a routine of daily quiet time spent just sitting with the Spirit of God—your Spirit!
ASIN: B095557PMW
VSKU: BVV.B095557PMW.G
Condition: Good
Author/Artist:Osbelt, Kathleen
Binding: Paperback
Note: Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.
Condition Notes: The item shows wear from consistent use, but it remains in good condition and works perfectly. All pages and cover are intact including the dust cover, if applicable . Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May NOT include discs, access code or other supplemental materials.