Soul Sister Time

          God moved heaven and earth to get me into this wait-listed, 10-day silent retreat.  It had taken me eleven years to arrive. Why do I have to have a lingering cough from a cold that began over a week ago when I am sharing a room with a roommate who needs to sleep, and I must be quiet during prayer?  Why? After waiting all those years to get here, why would I be banished like this?  I returned to my silent room and sat down in the most comfortable chair you can imagine and began my private session—no one could hear my coughs.  I did okay but mainly I discovered that the God of all comforts had something to show me through this seeming disaster.  It’s not so bad to pray in your room overlooking the beautiful lush green Rockies with snow tipped peaks (this was before the 3-5 inches of snow that began that afternoon).  I wiped my tears and enjoyed my setting.           Things were looking better as I got back on track with the schedule and walked down to the morning church

              Spiritual depletion is an epidemic that most people aren’t even aware they are suffering.  The way I recognized it in myself after this succession of events—one mission trip detoured by an extra 31 hours of airport crazies, back to back with another international travel with its own insane story, home for a few days, catching a nasty cold, and a wonderful weekend with a purposefully planned, unrelenting schedule that ended in a 1-hour traffic jam—equaled spiritual depletion for me.  I would not have even known it was spiritual depletion except that I was scheduled to teach a Bible study lesson that was titled: Spiritual Depletion .  I think I would have labeled it: you are not handling life’s demands very well.                However, it does have a real name, and I’m not alone in suffering from it.  I am reminded of Elijah, who, after the greatest spiritual victories of his life, sat down under a Broom Tree to die.  I didn’t get that bad, but it’s comforting to know

              For over decade, I have wanted to take a 10 Day Silent Retreat.  I knew where I wanted to go.  I knew where I wanted to be.  I just couldn’t find the 10 days to get away from my busy work, mothering, responsibility life.  Well, the kids are grown and the stars aligned and this week I will follow my yearning to attend a 10-day Silent Retreat.               I’ve read about others who have attended this retreat.  I have good friends who have gone, and had a wonderful experience.  I love Silent Retreats and look forward to them more than a trip to Hawaii.  Yet, the couple of weeks preceding the retreat I began to feel a little uneasy.  I began to question my preparedness for the retreat.  As I explored my soul more God helped me to identify that I was afraid.  I was afraid that God would not be enough.  I was afraid that I would feel miserable, rather than the bliss I had been anticipating.               I know that sounds absurd.  But it is just the diabolical scheme

              I am writing this week’s Tea Time devotion from the airport in Houston, Texas.  When I set out my travel plans months earlier, I never expected to use the Houston International airport at all.  I’ve been here two times in the last three days, and the last time it was for about six hours due to weather at my destination!  In fact, for the last four days I have been traveling back and forth from two different Central American countries, and only one of my four days of flying proceeded as planned.  I’ve had a lot of time to ponder airline practices; and I can come up with a multitude of suggestions for what they could do better, but that is not my job.  The long, strenuous, and unexpected travel has driven home the instructions Peter gives to Christians in his two letters:   But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: Be holy, because I am holy . (1 Peter 1:15-16) So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make

              On the night before Jesus died on the cross, He began talking to the disciples about peace.  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (John 14:27). The first words out of his mouth when He appeared to them about the resurrection was the word Peace .  While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, Peace be with you (Luke 24:36). Peace , not love—the new commandment He gave to them.  No, Jesus said Peace .               The peace Jesus speaks about is no ordinary peace.  This peace is an extraordinary peace.  It is a peace that is only available to Christians. The world cannot know this peace.  It is through this peace that Christians are able to forgive the most heinous acts against them.  It is this peace with which the early Christians shielded themselves from the torture and brutality of the persecution by the Romans in t