General

Creating Space for Hope Within the Season

Posted by Merrill on Nov 27, 2009 | 0 comments

Ready set go! The Season has started…..For some, Christmas is a time of joy and celebration for others it will be difficult to find the joy, much less the meaning. This year I want to challenge myself and others to be INTENTIONAL. Today, put your heads together as a family and start to think about what will make this Christmas a Gentle, Meaningful Christmas. If you don’t make it a priority it won’t happen, the season takes off like Santa’s Sleigh and before you know it you are toasting in the New Year! Just think of three things that you can do to keep it simple, then remember that self care the best gift you can give yourself! List three things...

Advent Class starting Monday Nov. 30th!

Posted by Merrill on Nov 23, 2009 | 0 comments

FUMCWP’s 3rd Woman’s Advent Study Finding Holy days within the Holidays There is a striking contrast between the frantic activity of preparing for the “Holidays” and the quiet reflection and joyful, patient waiting of the “Holy days” of Advent. Join us for one or all three classes where we will take a loving look at the realities of the holiday season while discussing keeping balance, meaning, health and joy within the HoHoHo. Whether decorating, wrapping, cooking, shopping or entertaining love ones we can still find deep and meaningful spirituality in the Advent and Christmas season! Starting Monday November 30 Monday December...

“Just Christian”

Posted by Merrill on Nov 22, 2009 | 0 comments

My friend said “You haven’t posted anything lately?” You know some weeks just fly by and before you know it it’s been 10 days….So my friend here are my ponderings of the last blog-less days. I was having a conversation with an acquaintance and they mentioned they had someone that they wanted me to meet, of course I said sure! The next line is the one I have pondered, she said “They are Christian, but you know not a Heavy Duty Christian.” My response, embarrassingly was, “Oh, I know what you mean.” But this stayed with me, I woke up thinking about it and have chewed on it for days. Does being fun mean you can’t...

Riding the rapids …..

Posted by Merrill on Nov 11, 2009 | 1 comment

It seems like these last few weeks I have been swimming up a strong current. You know the kind you see on a river when the current is ripping along so fast and with incredible strength that whatever goes in it is taken quickly out of sight. Fighting a current so strong can be exhausting, and can make you weary. Just standing in it you can lose your footing, slip and be pulled along. Swimming against it can seem like you are getting no where at all, wasted energy with no forward movement….Ugh! Everyday life can feel this way at times. It is hard to fight the current, especially the strong currents of a secular world. There seem to be so many worries and concerns,...

Everyday Choices

Posted by Merrill on Nov 5, 2009 | 0 comments

Herni Nouwen…… ( I love the guy!) The important thing to remember is that we might not have a choice in regard to the circumstances of our life BUT in regard to the way we respond to these circumstances. Some people become bitter as they grow old….while others grow old joyfully. It doesn’t mean that the life of those who become bitter was any harder or more difficult that the one who is joyful. It means different choices were made. Everyday we always have a choice to live the moment as a cause for resentment or joy, unforgiveness or grace, anger or peace. Life has many sides to it and can be difficult but as Viktor Frankl says…..” Everything...

Jobs, bras and weeds!

Posted by Merrill on Nov 2, 2009 | 1 comment

I was talking to a friend the other day about how she left an old job and started a new one. She is so happy with her new position and glad that she had the courage to made the jump…. you know it is a jump when you leave something familiar and take a risk into unknown. As we were talking it became very apparent that for some of us when we make the leap we find ourselves saying, “I would have done this sooner if I had know how unhealthy the last place was!” It’s not until we are in a new environment that we can see what a productive and healthy place looks and feels like. For girls it is like getting a new bra after wearing the old one for so long...