Month: July 2012

• Let’s Celebrate!

  To forget to celebrate is to forget to imitate the God who created us and then relaxed and said, “that’s Good.”[Joan Chittister, OSB, “The Monastic Way,” July 2012] The theme of Joan Chittister’s little devotional pamphlet, “The Monastic Way,” for the month of July has been “celebrating life.” When I first pulled the pamphlet out…

  Marian

  July 30, 2012

  Celebrations, God’s Love, Music, Nature, Reflections

  anniversary celebration, Bible Camp, celebrations, daily devotions, Edith Kenseth, Edith Kenseth Chapel, God’s love, Gospel pianist, hymn sing, Joan Chittister, Lake Ripley, Monastic Way, Naked Ladies, nature, Organ for Eight, reflections, Resurrection Lily, Sinsinawa, spirituality, whispering winds, Willerup, Willerup Park Bible Camp

• Playing Games with Chip and Randy

    Chip, the chipmunk, and I have been playing a game lately. It’s a combination of “Hide & Seek” and “Cops & Robbers.”  I’m undoubtedly dating myself, but my brother and I used to play both games with our cousins when we were kids. We chased each other and hid all over the farm –…

  Marian

  July 23, 2012

  Gardening, God’s Love, Life’s Challenges, Nature, Reflections

  cherry tomatoes, chipmunks, cops and robbers, don’t worry, garden, gardening, God’s love, hide and seek, life challenges, nature, rabbits, reflections, share, trust God, trusting God, whispering winds

• Getting Together with God and Some Friends in Jail

  Last Thursday I had a glimpse into some of the unfairness and viciousness experienced by the women spending time in the county jail. As usual, I went through security to get into the jail and walked down the long hallway to the chapel to play the piano for the women’s worship service. Chaplain Julia was…

  Marian

  July 15, 2012

  God’s Love, Jail Ministry, Life’s Challenges, Music, Reflections

  balm in gilead, fairness, God’s love, hymn sing, jail life, jail ministry, life challenges, reflections, religion, singing behind bars, singing in jail, spirituality, tears in her eyes, there is a balm in gilead, violence in jail, women’s worship service, worship in jail

• The EXPECTED and the SURPRISES

  Last week I wrote about the “Great Expectations” I had for the week. Just as I expected, all 7 of them were met. It was a great week. But there was something more. There was a big surprise. As I was scanning through Facebook on Tuesday, I came across an announcement for a concert called…

  Marian

  July 9, 2012

  Celebrations, God’s Love, Music, Nature, Reflections

  4th of July, Fourth of July, God’s love, God’s surprises, great expectations, nature, organ concert, Organ for Eight, reflections, spirituality, whispering winds, wild flowers, wildflowers

• Great Expectations for this week – 7 of them!

  For several weeks now, a friend of mine has been posting a list of three things she’s thankful for each day. Usually the lists are just that – three words or short phrases in a simple list format – just a quick statement of things she’s particularly thankful for that day. That practice got me…

  Marian

  July 2, 2012

  Blogs, Celebrations, Jail Ministry, Music, Reflections, Uncategorized

  blogging, church music, getting organized, goals, God’s love, great expectations, great-great-nephew, jail ministry, life challenges, life changes, Messiah Lutheran Church, monday mornings, past and future, personal retreat, pipe organ, reflections, retreats, safe travel, website changes, weekend guests, whispering winds, writing retreat