Quiet Centers
“God leads me beside still waters, restoring my soul.”
From Psalm 23
One aspect of our spiritual journey during chaotic times falls into the area of self-care. “Come and Find the Quiet Center” is a wonderful hymn that expresses feelings related to this subject. The last two days we focused on the first two verses of the hymn. Today, verse 3:
“In the Spirit let us travel; open to each other’s pain,
Let our loves and fears unravel, celebrate the space we gain:
There’s a place for deepest dreaming, there’s a time for heart to care,
In the Spirit’s lively scheming there is always room to spare!”
Take a few moments and find the restoration your soul deserves.
Have a great day!
A prayer: Gentle God, lead me to places where I can care for my soul. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
03.22.12
Showing posts with label Self-care. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Self-care. Show all posts
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Daily Devotion - Wednesday, March 21
Finding our Quiet Center
“God leads me beside still waters, restoring my soul.”
From Psalm 23
One aspect of our spiritual journey during chaotic times falls into the area of self-care. I’ve discovered a wonderful hymn that expresses feelings related to this subject. In yesterday’s devotions we focused on the first verse of “Come and Find the Quiet Center”. Today, verse 2:
“Silence is a friend who claims us, cools the heat and slows the pace,
God it is who speaks and names us, knows our being, touches base,
Making space within our thinking, lifting shades to show the sun,
Raising courage when we’re shrinking, finding scope for faith begun.”
Take a moment or two (three or four…) and find the restoration your soul deserves.
A prayer: Gentle God, lead me to places where I can care for my soul. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
03.21.12
“God leads me beside still waters, restoring my soul.”
From Psalm 23
One aspect of our spiritual journey during chaotic times falls into the area of self-care. I’ve discovered a wonderful hymn that expresses feelings related to this subject. In yesterday’s devotions we focused on the first verse of “Come and Find the Quiet Center”. Today, verse 2:
“Silence is a friend who claims us, cools the heat and slows the pace,
God it is who speaks and names us, knows our being, touches base,
Making space within our thinking, lifting shades to show the sun,
Raising courage when we’re shrinking, finding scope for faith begun.”
Take a moment or two (three or four…) and find the restoration your soul deserves.
A prayer: Gentle God, lead me to places where I can care for my soul. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
03.21.12
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Daily Devotion - Tuesday, March 20
Our Quiet Center
“God leads me beside still waters, restoring my soul.”
From Psalm 23
One aspect of our spiritual journey during chaotic times falls into the area of self-care. I’ve discovered a wonderful hymn that expresses feelings related to this subject. For the remaining devotions this week we will look at each of the verses from "Come and Find the Quiet Center".
“Come and find the quiet center in the crowded life we lead,
Find the room for hope to enter, find the frame where we are freed:
Clear the chaos and the clutter, clear our eyes that we can see
All the things that really matter, be at peace, and simply be.”
Take a moment or two (three or four…) and find the restoration your soul deserves.
A prayer: Gentle God, lead me to places where I can care for my soul. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
03.20.12
“God leads me beside still waters, restoring my soul.”
From Psalm 23
One aspect of our spiritual journey during chaotic times falls into the area of self-care. I’ve discovered a wonderful hymn that expresses feelings related to this subject. For the remaining devotions this week we will look at each of the verses from "Come and Find the Quiet Center".
“Come and find the quiet center in the crowded life we lead,
Find the room for hope to enter, find the frame where we are freed:
Clear the chaos and the clutter, clear our eyes that we can see
All the things that really matter, be at peace, and simply be.”
Take a moment or two (three or four…) and find the restoration your soul deserves.
A prayer: Gentle God, lead me to places where I can care for my soul. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
03.20.12
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Daily Devotion - Monday, July 20
Living Your Feelings
“Therefore, when the Lord heard, he was full of rage;
his anger mounted against Israel because
they did not trust in God’s saving power.”
--From one of the songs
Psalm 78: 21
Every so often it is good to be reminded about the significance of self-care. One of the more challenging parts of self-care is taking time to “live your feelings.” Take anger, for example. Healthy self care when you are angry means that you will allow yourself to feel the anger. Having felt it you can then decide what you want to do: maybe you will just feel it, maybe you will express it, and maybe you will take some action. Today’s verse from the sacred writings demonstrates what “living your feelings” is all about.
Take the feeling of hurt. If you keep it inside, the hurt will grow but when you talk to the person who hurt you, you move towards resolution. If you feel tears, cry your tears. Living your feelings is the healthy thing to do.
We cannot be anything for anyone else unless we learn to take care of ourselves. By demonstrating the importance of self-care we can and will become the caregivers that we have the potential to be. Have a good day living your feelings, another part of being good to you.
Prayer: God who was full of rage, help me to live my feelings. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
07.20.09
“Therefore, when the Lord heard, he was full of rage;
his anger mounted against Israel because
they did not trust in God’s saving power.”
--From one of the songs
Psalm 78: 21
Every so often it is good to be reminded about the significance of self-care. One of the more challenging parts of self-care is taking time to “live your feelings.” Take anger, for example. Healthy self care when you are angry means that you will allow yourself to feel the anger. Having felt it you can then decide what you want to do: maybe you will just feel it, maybe you will express it, and maybe you will take some action. Today’s verse from the sacred writings demonstrates what “living your feelings” is all about.
Take the feeling of hurt. If you keep it inside, the hurt will grow but when you talk to the person who hurt you, you move towards resolution. If you feel tears, cry your tears. Living your feelings is the healthy thing to do.
We cannot be anything for anyone else unless we learn to take care of ourselves. By demonstrating the importance of self-care we can and will become the caregivers that we have the potential to be. Have a good day living your feelings, another part of being good to you.
Prayer: God who was full of rage, help me to live my feelings. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
07.20.09
Daily Devotion - Friday, July 17
Be Good to Yourself
“Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, ‘Father?’
‘Yes, my son?’ Abraham replied.
‘The fire and the wood are here,’ Isaac said, ‘but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?’”
--An old faith story
Genesis 22: 7
“Be good to yourself” is an activity that we all should remember and practice far more than we do. Today’s tip would go something like this: If you have a question or if you want something from someone, ask.
Keeping the question inside will never yield an answer, only possible answers. Generally we can be perfectly OK with an answer of “No.” If we fail to ask, we are not being true to ourselves. The old faith story of Abraham and Isaac is a good example. Isaac understood the whole idea of burnt offerings, knowing a “sacrifice” was necessary. The more they journeyed, the more curious he became. It looked like the only sacrifice available was Isaac or his father (and he was pretty sure it couldn’t be dad). He kept asking questions.
Learning to ask questions allows you to release the desires of your heart without fear. Have a good weekend. Ask the questions. Receive the answers. Be true to yourself and you will be practicing the art of being good to yourself.
Prayer: God, will you please keep watching over this world (and me)? Amen.
--Ben Keckler
07.17.09
“Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, ‘Father?’
‘Yes, my son?’ Abraham replied.
‘The fire and the wood are here,’ Isaac said, ‘but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?’”
--An old faith story
Genesis 22: 7
“Be good to yourself” is an activity that we all should remember and practice far more than we do. Today’s tip would go something like this: If you have a question or if you want something from someone, ask.
Keeping the question inside will never yield an answer, only possible answers. Generally we can be perfectly OK with an answer of “No.” If we fail to ask, we are not being true to ourselves. The old faith story of Abraham and Isaac is a good example. Isaac understood the whole idea of burnt offerings, knowing a “sacrifice” was necessary. The more they journeyed, the more curious he became. It looked like the only sacrifice available was Isaac or his father (and he was pretty sure it couldn’t be dad). He kept asking questions.
Learning to ask questions allows you to release the desires of your heart without fear. Have a good weekend. Ask the questions. Receive the answers. Be true to yourself and you will be practicing the art of being good to yourself.
Prayer: God, will you please keep watching over this world (and me)? Amen.
--Ben Keckler
07.17.09
Daily Devotion - Thursday, July 16
Living in the Present
“So do not worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will bring worries of its own.
Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
--From one of Jesus’ sermons
Matthew 6: 34
Every so often it is good to be reminded about the significance of self-care. Last night I spoke in Cincinnati, Ohio at the Joubert Syndrome Foundation Conference about how essential self-care is for people who are either delegated or attracted to the caregiving field. Every caregiver, including the support services needed for the delivery of quality care, needs to be reminded about this important attribute for daily living.
There are times when we jump into the future rather than living in the present. When we start to worry or feel anxious, it is good to remind ourselves that we have moved away from the present moment. Today’s verse from Scripture is significant. We are reminded to stay focused, focused on whatever is happening at that moment. By dedicating all our energy to the present, we will demonstrate the importance of self-care that might also be known as “Be good to yourself therapy.”
Prayer: God of all time and space, keep me in the present and nudge me when I have moved too far into tomorrow. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
07.16.09
“So do not worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will bring worries of its own.
Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
--From one of Jesus’ sermons
Matthew 6: 34
Every so often it is good to be reminded about the significance of self-care. Last night I spoke in Cincinnati, Ohio at the Joubert Syndrome Foundation Conference about how essential self-care is for people who are either delegated or attracted to the caregiving field. Every caregiver, including the support services needed for the delivery of quality care, needs to be reminded about this important attribute for daily living.
There are times when we jump into the future rather than living in the present. When we start to worry or feel anxious, it is good to remind ourselves that we have moved away from the present moment. Today’s verse from Scripture is significant. We are reminded to stay focused, focused on whatever is happening at that moment. By dedicating all our energy to the present, we will demonstrate the importance of self-care that might also be known as “Be good to yourself therapy.”
Prayer: God of all time and space, keep me in the present and nudge me when I have moved too far into tomorrow. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
07.16.09
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Daily Devotion - Tuesday, March 31
Finding a Quiet Center
“God leads me beside still waters, restoring my soul.”
--From Psalm 23
One aspect of the spiritual journey during chaotic times is self-care. I’ve discovered a wonderful hymn that expresses feelings related to this subject, “Come and Find the Quiet Center.”
“Come and find the quiet center in the crowded life we lead,
Find the room for hope to enter, find the frame where we are freed:
Clear the chaos and the clutter, clear our eyes that we can see
All the things that really matter, be at peace, and simply be.”
Take a moment or two (three or four…) and find the restoration your soul deserves.
Prayer: Gentle God, lead me to places where I can care for my soul. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
03.31.09
“God leads me beside still waters, restoring my soul.”
--From Psalm 23
One aspect of the spiritual journey during chaotic times is self-care. I’ve discovered a wonderful hymn that expresses feelings related to this subject, “Come and Find the Quiet Center.”
“Come and find the quiet center in the crowded life we lead,
Find the room for hope to enter, find the frame where we are freed:
Clear the chaos and the clutter, clear our eyes that we can see
All the things that really matter, be at peace, and simply be.”
Take a moment or two (three or four…) and find the restoration your soul deserves.
Prayer: Gentle God, lead me to places where I can care for my soul. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
03.31.09
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