Looking Out From God Instead of at God

I am currently reading a book called "Immortal Diamond" by Richard Rohr. The book is deepening my faith and making me look at some things differently. Both are good. He says many eye opening thoughts that have left me gobsmacked. Be prepared for future posts on this book. :)

One of things he said was, "We must return to practice based spirituality where the vantage point switches from looking at God to looking out from God." I figuratively smacked my forehead! How simple and yet how profound. How would the world change if we practiced this? If we started looking at people, places, events, all things "from God's vantage point?" I'm thinking the world would change in ways we can't even imagine.

He also says, "Spirituality tends to be more about unlearning than learning." I believe this with all my heart. I've had it happen over and over. We learn, we grow, we learn some more that enhances or changes our previous way of thinking.  Every time I read the Bible I learn something new, something I didn't understand the first time through or didn't apply yet.

God continues to lead me in new directions to help me grow closer to Him. It's an exciting journey. I'll follow Him anywhere He leads.

Psalm 118:1
Give thanks to the Lord,
for He is good;
His love endures forever.

Gratitude List (prompts from aholyexperience.com)
3 Gifts Moving
1. My car
2. My journey
3. The clouds

Phil 1:4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy.

Blessings, Deborah

A Depressed Christian?

https://thecontemplativewriter.com/2016/04/23/saturday-prayer-the-prayer-for-spiritual-freedom/

Today's prayer comes from the Ignatian  Spirituality website:

O Spirit of God, we ask you to help orient
all our actions by your inspirations,
carry them on by your gracious assistance,
that every prayer and work of ours
may always begin from you
and through you be happily ended. Amen.

A depressed Christian? Now there's  an oxymoron for you. How can a Christian, who really believes in God be depressed? Well, I suffer from depression and I am a Christian.

Last week I was sitting on my couch, again and wondered about my depression. What was it all about? Why was I depressed? Yes, I have childhood issues. Yes, I live in a world of chaos, just read the news. Yes, I have survived cancer twice. One just last month, but both were caught early and required no chemo or radiation. Praise God! I live in a gorgeous area with God's mountains and beauty surrounding me. I am loved by family and friends. So why was I depressed? I thought to myself is this depression real or habit? EPIPHANY!! I realized my depression was coming from the dark side of thoughts, making me believe I was not worthy or loved by God, when He had proved so many times that He did. My depression had become a habit. What freedom for my soul!! There were things to be sad about, but depressed....no. There is a difference and anyone suffering from depression knows this.

Depression is hard. Believers get depressed. Bad things happen. All these things are true, but I am trying to remember Who is in charge and that I am loved. I fall back into old habits and start to slip into depression, but today I am taking a new path. Sometimes I sing "This is the Day That the Lord Has Made".....LOUDLY. My goal is to get off my meds and live in God's Light. I am focusing on a new direction for my prayer life (Contemplative and Centering Prayer), God's Word through Bible study and journaling my faith.

Life is a journey full of good and bad, ups and downs.
God IS there through it all.
God IS in everything.
God IS everything.
There IS nothing without God.

Psalm 40: 1-3
I waited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of mud and mire;
He set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord
and put their trust in Him.

Gratitude List (prompts found on A Holy Experience.com)
3 Gifts Fragile
1. Life
2. A plant from a dear friend
3. A mug from a student

Phil 1:4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy.

Blessings, Deborah

New Post Coming Soon

I am currently reconstructing this blog and will return soon.
Blessings, Deborah