Tag: angels

• “It Came upon the Midnight Clear”

  I’m having the time of my life during this “Safer at Home” interlude in our lives. I average about eight hours a day on writing my newest book, Talking with God through Music: Seasonal Hymns. I’ve written a dozen reflections on Advent carols, and thirteen reflections on Christmas carols, with eight more to go. Then…

  Marian

  May 12, 2020

  Life’s Challenges, Music, Reflections

  angels, books, controversial hymn, Edmund Sears, It Came upon the Midnight Clear, Peace on Earth, reflections, Richard Willis, Seasonal Hymns, slavery, Talking with God through Music, Unitarian minister, writing

• Christmas in Jail

  

  “This is the first time I’ll be in jail over Christmas. I’ve been in jail a couple times before, but never over Christmas. I feel so bad for my family. Being in jail hurts my family more than it hurts me. I feel so bad for my kids. I’m really hurting my family by not…

  Marian

  December 22, 2015

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

  angels, caroling, christmas, Christmas Carols, Gloria in Excelsis Deo, God’s love, in jail over Christmas, jail, miracle in jail, mom in jail, shepherds, wise men

• A Litter Reunion

  

  “What’s on your mind, Floey? You’ve been staring off into space for a long time,” I asked. “Oh, hi, Mom. I didn’t notice you come into the room. I’ve been thinking about tonight.” “Oh, yeah. Tonight’s your big night. You’re going to see all your litter mates again for the first time since your adoptions.…

  Marian

  September 15, 2015

  God’s Love, Life’s Challenges, Reflections

  angels, dog reunion, eye for eye, Floey, Jimmy Carter, litter mates, littermates, love one another, love your enemies, Mama Dog, mean dog, play date, siblings, The Message, Through the Year with Jimmy Carter, tooth for tooth

• Shhh. I’m Trying to Quiet My Mind.

  It’s hard to be quiet in today’s culture of constant stimulation. Worse yet, we take pride in being really busy, and we brag about our ability to multi-task. So how can we possibly shut out the noise and concentrate on just one thing for ten minutes, or half an hour, or even an hour? How…

  Marian

  July 21, 2015

  Goals, God’s Love, Life’s Challenges, Music, Personal Retreats, Reflections

  angels, Be still, call to worship, candles, church music, church organist, cloud of love, crystal angel, daily devotions, distractions, Holy Ground, holy place, Holy Spirit, introit, Jesus Calling, Lanny Wolfe, prelude, Quiet my mind, retreat center, sarah young, Surely the Presence of the Lord is in this place, This is holy ground, Whispering Winds Retreat Haven

• Fluffy Clouds, Still Goldfinches, and Dirty Windows

  Up in heaven, a new angel must have been assigned to weather control for southern Wisconsin last week. As a newbie, he’s not quite sure how to maneuver all the clouds and keep the seasons in line. We’ve been covered by some of the biggest, fluffiest clouds I’ve ever seen in my life for the…

  Marian

  July 29, 2013

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

  1 Corinthians 13, angels, complete truth, dirty windows, fluffy clouds, God’s love, goldfinches, kindness, life challenges, life changes, listening for God, love your neighbor, Marcus Aurelius, nature, October weather, perception, perspective, reflections, see things clearly, spirituality, talking with God, weather

• Angels Among Us

  The past three weeks have been quite strenuous for all of us at Country Comforts Assisted Living. One of our residents was living through his last days in this life. Abbey is always a really big comfort to our residents as well as to their friends and family during this time of life transition, but…

  Marian

  June 10, 2013

  Assisted Living, God’s Love, Life’s Challenges, Reflections

  Abbey, angels, assisted living, bear you up, cloud of love, Country Comforts, Country Comforts Assisted Living, end-of-life care, family portrait, friends, God’s love, God-given gifts, guardian angel, heavenly guests, hospitality, kindness, life calling, life challenges, life changes, listening for God, love your neighbor, Psalm 91, reflections, spirituality, talking with God

• “I Saw Jesus”

  Early one morning a few days ago, I walked by Emma’s* room on my way to the kitchen to make a pot of coffee. I heard Emma talking, so I stepped inside her room to be sure she was okay. Emma is one of our two assisted living residents. She is 91, has dementia, and…

  Marian

  February 20, 2012

  E-Retreats, Lent, Music, Reflections

  angels, assisted living, e-retreats, God’s love, gospel songs, hymns, Lent, reflections, retreats, spirituals, The Scandal of Lent, visitors from heaven