MY BLOG IS MOVING!

IT'S TRUE!!!!

So this has been a hard decision but due to the features that are offered on another blog page maker.......I will be moving my blog. Don't worry.....it can only get better from here =). The site will be easy to remember because it is the same as this but with a different ending.

www.pagesofthesoul.wordpress.com

SEE YOU OVER THERE! PLEASE COME AND VISIT!

Ending the War in Iraq?

I came across this very interesting proposal to end the war in Iraq in an 'ethical way.' The bottom of the ad reads, "When Jesus said 'Love your enemies,' we think he probably meant: Don't kill them." To those who are interested, check out the link. In my opinion, it is a practical way to possibly end our stay in Iraq. Will the President get wind of it? What, if any, will be his response? Lord have mercy on us all, save and heal the nations!

http://www.tikkun.org/iraqpeace

Oh, BTW, you might view this proposal as liberal......if you do that's ok with me. LOL.

church or personality cult?

Over the years, I have been struck by how much power a person in a position of authority/respect can have. I have had much personal experience with the effects of this when it deals with a pastor. What I find so interesting is that there are many churches out there that seem to be surrounded on the personality of the pastor. Call it marketing--- the pull being 'we've got the dynamic pastor' or 'our pastor knows a lot' or ' our pastor.....' fill in the blank. I am amazed though that this is promoted by making the face of the church the pastor's, literally speaking.

There is a church nearby my house that split from another church and started their own church. The new 'church' had a banner on the outside of it with a picture of the pastor and his name....just in case you didn't know where to find him.....oh I mean it. Every time I drove by it, it sickened me. Every time I see a vehicle from the church and it has his name printed on it, again sickening. When I go to the movies and an ad for a church pops up while waiting for the movie to start.....ok bothersome.....but more bothersome.....it is advertised with a picture of the pastor and his 'sweet, ideal' family. Since when has it been all about the pastor? Possibly this is an age old problem. We're always looking for something to idealize, to give us hope. We want to idealize the pastor and his family, giving us hope that ours will be better. . . .or at least a hope that there's better out there somewhere. Well, the problem is that this idealization leads to dangerous levels at times. Then when one has theological views to reinforce it, it becomes even stronger. I know this first hand unfortunately since I've experienced a church where the pastor beat down, broke down, people and then manipulated them....putting himself in the place of God, since he had a 'special anointing' or he was God's 'anointed', 'ordained', 'appointed' one. He did much damage to people in the name of God.

The epitome of this is those who bring this even into theology. I know of a denomination (they don't think they're a denomination) that teaches a theology known as the Mosaic view of leadership(yes you guessed right, a.k.a. calvary chapel). You see Moses led the people of Israel, i.e. the pastor is the new Moses. Dangerous,dangerous,dangerous! Basically, this puts all the stock in the pastor and encourages the people to, 'cuz after all he's 'appointed by God, speaks for God.' This takes the church to the level of personality cult in my mind. It puts the power in the hands of pastors who may or may not be good people. It makes a top heavy leadership with the wee little people below. Let's see I will show a chart.....maybe you can see the danger of this. This is the view.....as Moses was to God and over all, so is the pastor now in the New Testament. Scary to me! What to you?

This reflection of mine is not to say it is an isolated problem within calvary chapel. It is true that this is a problem in many other forms of Christianity as well. The bottom line, I'm beginning to wonder why very few people see the danger of making Christianity a Kingdom of personality cults?

Happy Earth Day!

Tomorrow is officially Earth Day and I thought it would be appropriate to reflect on our Heavenly Gardener and Creator on this day. Below is a poem by Amy Carmichael, a protestant Christian missionary who lived in the 1867-1951 who worked faithfully in India to stop child prostitution. I thought her poem was fitting for earth day.

LISTENING by Amy Carmichael
I sat in a greenwood. A foaming torrent drummed, “The Lord is great!” “And He is good,” A tiny insect hummed.

A wild bird sand, “And kind, Oh, we have found Him so.” And then a soft and pleasant wind Sang, “Kind,” as he did blow.

The young leaves whispered, “Yes.” The mosses by the mere murmured, “We love His gentleness.” A fern said, “He is dear.”

A little flower looked up, A smilet on her face; Sweet food lay in her open cup. A butterfly said grace.

The good sun clouded o’er–Birds, butterflies withdrew; The wind shook leaves down on the floor; The sky hid all her blue.

Mist lay upon the hill; Sharp rain the river smote; But on its glancing surface still I saw bright bubbles float.

They caught the fading light that was so fain to go; The waterway was as the white of moonbeams upon snow.

And as they shone and broke in simple gaiety; I was aware of One who spoke by bubbles unto me.

What will become of Rome's view of Original Guilt?

Time will tell what the theological implications for the Roman Catholic Church in the future. Some might see this decision by the Pope as insignificant. But many others, who are aware of the theological issues involved, know it is not. What will the Romans Catholics do with Augustine? What of the issue of original guilt? What of the doctrine formed as a result of Augustine's doctrinal 'discovery' the immaculate conception of Mary? This could pose some very interesting discussions and ramifications for the Roman Catholic Church.

Pope Reverses Vatican Stand on Babies Not Baptized
(http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=nation_world&id=5230555)

VATICAN CITY (AP) - April 20, 2007 - Pope Benedict XVI has reversed centuries of traditional Roman Catholic teaching on limbo, approving a Vatican report released Friday that says there were "serious" grounds to hope that children who die without being baptized can go to heaven.

Theologians said the move was highly significant - both for what it says about Benedict's willingness to buck a long-standing tenet of Catholic belief and for what it means theologically about the Church's views on heaven, hell and original sin - the sin that the faithful believe all children are born with.

Although Catholics have long believed that children who die without being baptized are with original sin and thus excluded from heaven, the Church has no formal doctrine on the matter. Theologians, however, have long taught that such children enjoy an eternal state of perfect natural happiness, a state commonly called limbo, but without being in communion with God.
"If there's no limbo and we're not going to revert to St. Augustine's teaching that unbaptized infants go to hell, we're left with only one option, namely, that everyone is born in the state of grace," said the Rev. Richard McBrien, professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame.
"Baptism does not exist to wipe away the "stain" of original sin, but to initiate one into the Church," he said in an e-mailed response.

Benedict approved the findings of the International Theological Commission, a Vatican advisory panel, which said it was reassessing traditional teaching on limbo in light of "pressing" pastoral needs - primarily the growing number of abortions and infants born to non-believers who die without being baptized.

While the report does not carry the authority of a papal encyclical or even the weight of a formal document from the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, it was approved by the pope on Jan. 19 and was published on the Internet - an indication that it was intended to be widely read by the faithful.

"We can say we have many reasons to hope that there is salvation for these babies," the Rev. Luis Ladaria, a Jesuit who is the commission's secretary-general, told The Associated Press. He stressed that there was no certainty, just hope.

The Commission posted its document Friday on Origins, the documentary service of Catholic News Service, the news agency of the American Bishop's Conference.
The document traces centuries of Church views on the fate of unbaptized infants, paying particular attention to the writings of St. Augustine - the 4th century bishop who is particularly dear to Benedict. Augustine wrote that such infants do go to hell, but they suffer only the "mildest condemnation."

In the document, the commission said such views are now out of date and there were "serious theological and liturgical grounds for hope that unbaptized infants who die will be saved and enjoy the beatific vision."

It stressed, however, that "these are reasons for prayerful hope, rather than grounds for sure knowledge."

No one can know for certain what becomes of unbaptized babies since Scripture is largely silent on the matter, the report said.

It stressed that none of its findings should be taken as diminishing the need for parents to baptize infants.

"Rather ... they provide strong grounds for hope that God will save infants when we have not been able to do for them what we would have wished to do, namely, to baptize them into the faith and life of the church."

Vatican watchers hailed the decision as both a sensitive and significant move by Benedict.
"Parents who are mourning the death of their child are no longer going to be burdened with the added guilt of not having gotten their child baptized," said the Rev. Thomas Reese, a senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University.

He said the document also had implications for non-Christians, since it could be seen as suggesting that non-baptized adults could go to heaven if they led a good life.

"I think it shows that Benedict is trying to balance his view of Jesus as being central as the savior of the world ... but at the same time not saying what the Evangelicals say, that anyone who doesn't accept Jesus is going to hell," he said in a phone interview.

The International Theological Commission is a body of Vatican-appointed theologians who advise the pope and the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Benedict headed the Congregation for two decades before becoming pope in 2005.

On the Net: Document is at www.originsonline.com
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

an ordinary day

I guess you could say today was just an ordinary day. Nothing stands out as significant or special. I got up,did my morning routines, ate breakfast on the way to work, took the 55 to work. Then, I worked with the kids all day, came home, visited cyberspace, talked a friend on the phone, text messaged a bit, ate dinner, and watched a movie. Nothing out of the ordinary. It was a nice, calm, relaxing Thursday. Sometimes the ordinary is nice. Today it brings me a sense of rest from the craziness of this life. I'm sure my life will have many more of them to come. Just thought I'd stop in my blogspot on this very ordinary day. Till the next one. . . .

A Book to Recommend...

I've just started this book that I got from my friend for Pascha. I can tell already how amazing it is! It is Father Arseny: Priest, Prisioner, Spiritual Father (SVS Press). I'm sure some of you have already read it, but if you haven't then order your copy soon. I will keep you updated I'm sure of my further thoughts on it but I can tell already it is deeply impacting! There was a story about a nun who was said that read this book before bed, turned out her light, and when she looked back at the book it was glowing. I know I can be a skeptic but I'd believe it so far from the richness of the story of Father Arseny. Pray for us, Father Arseny! Lord have mercy!

The Angel Cried

I love this Paschal hymn directed to the Theotokos:

The angel cried to the Lady full of grace: Rejoice, O pure Virgin.Again I say: Rejoice. Your Son is risen from His three days in the tomb. With Himself He has raised all the dead. Rejoice, all ye people.
(Irmos) Shine! Shine! O new Jerusalem! The glory of the Lord has shone on you. Exult now and be glad, O Zion. Be radiant, O pure Theotokos, in the resurrection of your Son.

If you click on the link below and find #18 you can hear it. It is beautiful!

http://orthotracts.org/music/stjohnoftheladder/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=40

Christ is Risen!

I just woke up. It is Easter morning...well now afternoon. It's one o'clock in the afternoon to be exact. I think this is latest I've woken up in years. Well, that's not true because I'm sure I woke up this late on Pascha last year too. I got home at four in the morning from the Paschal service and celebration. We broke the fast last night after 50 something days. How refreshing it was to actually celebrate the Risen Christ and not just talk about it!!!! We Orthodox fast a lot but one thing I notice about the Orthodox is then we FEAST! What a feast it was!

Christ is Risen!

Cristos Anesti!

Indeed He is risen!

Awaiting Pascha....literally

So here I am, waiting for the Pascha celebration tonight. My stomach is growling and I just finished making ambrosia fruit salad for tonight's celebration. It was an interesting experience to make food and be surrounded by food being cooked without being able to taste it, not even a morsel due to the fact that we Orthodox traditionally do a whole fast before the Paschal service, to prepare ourselves for the partaking of the Eucharist. I was thinking about how different this year's approach to Easter has been then in year's past. The benefits of being a newly Orthodox is to see this difference. Years past it seemed that Easter came like a lightning bolt, so fast I almost didn't notice, and left just as quickly. This year I feel ready. This is it!! The climax of the season of Lent and repentance, Christ is risen! We will say it over and over tonight. We will sing it over and over and we will tell each other over and over for the next 40 days.

So today I finished making the last minute preparations for our Pascha basket of the things we've fasted from and some special luxuries/goodies to celebrate and share. Here I sit at the computer, trying to blog my last minute thoughts until I go ready myself to leave.

Christ is risen! Indeed He is risen! Christ is risen from the grave, trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!

what makes me to cry....

"To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you."
-C.S. Lewis


Honestly, when I hear quotes like the one above, it makes me feel like crying. It makes me feel like crying because I hear how hard it is to live this out. I feel like one of my biggest 'crosses' to carry so far in my life has been to learn how to forgive. I have been through things that feel like forgiving a person would feel as though God were asking me to rip my heart out. I know that sounds dramatic but it is true for me. I have been there in prayer, lamenting to God, 'it's too hard....help me. I feel You are asking me to do the impossible. Please forgive me....help me.....help me to do this." It seems God takes me through situation after situation these last few years where I have to learn to forgive. I have to learn to forgive when forgiving doesn't make sense. I have to learn to forgive in the face of pain,betrayal, loss, and lack of understanding. I am still learning this and when I think about--which is just about every day, I hear my heart cry, "Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy." I pray one day I will be able to fully pray with confidence "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."

Akathist Hymn to the Sweet Lord Jesus Christ

Today I read "The Akathist to the Sweet Lord Jesus Christ." It is a prayer that is usually said standing (as the word infers in the Greek, so I hear)in honor, a prayer of praise. I put some parts below that stuck out to me. I would love to hear the whole thing chanted but don't know when in the Church calendar that happens. Until then, I try to reflect on the words and to mean them with sincerity.

Eikos 4
When the blind man heard You, O Lord, passing by, he cried: Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! And You called him and open his eyes. Therefore, by Your mercy enlighten the spiritual eyes of my heart as I cry to You and say:

Jesus, Creator of those on high.

Jesus, Redeemer of those below.

Jesus, Vanquisher of the nethermost powers.

Jesus, Adorner of every creature.

Jesus, Comforter of my soul.

Jesus, Enlightener of my mind.

Jesus, Gladness of my heart.

Jesus, Health of my body.

Jesus, my Saviour, save me.

Jesus, my Light, enlighten me.

Jesus, from all torment deliver me.

Jesus, save me who am unworthy.

Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me.

Eikos 6
When the light of Your truth shone in the world, devilish delusion was driven away; for the idols, O our Saviour, have fallen, unable to endure Your power. But we who have received salvation cry to You:

Jesus, Truth dispelling falsehood.

Jesus, Light transcending every light.

Jesus, King surpassing all in strength.

Jesus, God constant in mercy.

Jesus, Bread of life, fill me who am hungry.

Jesus, Well-spring of knowledge, refresh me who am thirsty.

Jesus, Garment of gladness, clothe me who am naked.

Jesus, Haven of joy, shelter me who am unworthy.

Jesus, Giver to those who ask, grant me mourning for my sins.

Jesus, Finder of those who seek, find my soul.

Jesus, Opener to those who knock, open my hardened heart.

Jesus, Redeemer of sinners, wash away my sins.

Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me.

Eikos 12
Whilst hymning Your Incarnation, we all praise You, and with Thomas we believe that You are our Lord and God, Who sits with the Father, and shall come to judge the living and the dead. Grant that I may then stand at Your right hand, who now cry:

Jesus, King of peace, bestow Your peace upon me.

Jesus, sweet-scented Flower, make me fragrant.

Jesus, longed for Warmth, warm me.

Jesus, eternal Temple, shelter me.Jesus, splendid Garment, adorn me.

Jesus, Pearl of great price, enrich me.

Jesus, precious Stone, illumine me.

Jesus, Sun of Righteousness, shine on me.

Jesus, holy Light, make me radiant.

Jesus, deliver me from infirmity of soul and body.

Jesus, rescue me from the hands of the adversary.

Jesus, save me from the everlasting torments.

Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me.

Kontakion 13
O most sweet and tender-loving Jesus, receive this our small supplication, as You received the widow's mite; and preserve Your inheritance from all enemies, visible and invisible, from invasion of aliens, from disease and famine, from all tribulations and mortal wounds, and deliver from future torments all who cry to You: Alleluia.

Ending With:

Creator of Angels and Lord of Hosts, as of old You opened the ear and tongue of him that was deaf and dumb, so now open my perplexed mind and tongue to praise Your most holy Name, that I may cry to You:

Jesus, most wonderful, Astonishment of Angels.

Jesus, most powerful, Deliverance of Forefathers.

Jesus, most sweet, Exultation of Patriarchs.

Jesus, most glorious, Dominion of kings.

Jesus, most desired, Fulfillment of Prophets.

Jesus, most praised, Steadfastness of Martyrs.

Jesus, most gladsome, Comfort of monastics.

Jesus, most compassionate, Sweetness of presbyters.

Jesus, most merciful, Abstinence of fasters.

Jesus, most tender, joy of the righteous.

Jesus, most pure, Sobriety of virgins.

Jesus, pre-eternal, Salvation of sinners.

Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me.

AMEN.

A Sunday to Cherish the Cross Approaches

This last week I have begun to really 'feel' the fast of Lent. I've been told that actually that is normal. This is the week, half way mark of Lent, that most begin to really "feel" the fast and begin to tire, experiencing many cravings and temptations. Interesting that this is exactly why the half way mark of Lent, the 3rd Sunday of Lent, is the veneration of the Cross. The Cross is what we need. The Cross reminds us. In Lent, we embrace the cross. As we embrace it we partake in the sufferings of Christ. Oh so much greater the joy of the Resurrection after embracing the suffering and sacrifice of the Cross!

"The Cross, is wood which lifts us up and makes us great ... The Cross uprooted us from the depths of evil and elevated us to the summit of virtue". St John Chrysostom

"Shine, Cross of the Lord, shine with the light of thy grace upon the hearts of those that honor thee. With love inspired by God, we embrace thee, O desire of all the world. Through thee our tears of sorrow have been wiped away: we have been delivered from the snares of death and have passed over to unending joy. Show us the glory of thy beauty and grant to us thy servants the reward of our abstinence, for we entreat with faith thy rich protection and great mercy. Hail! life-giving Cross, the fair Paradise of the Church, Tree of incorruption that brings us the enjoyment of eternal glory: through thee the hosts of demons have been driven back; and the hierarchies of angels rejoice with one accord, as the congregations of the faithful keep the feast. Thou art an invincible weapon, an unbroken stronghold; thou art the victory of kings and the glory of priests. Grant us now to draw near to the Passion of Christ and to His Resurrection. Hail! life-giving Cross, unconquerable trophy of the true faith, door to Paradise, succor of the faithful, rampart set about the Church. Through thee the curse is utterly destroyed, the power of death is swallowed up, and we are raised from earth to heaven: invincible weapon, adversary of demons, glory of martyrs, true ornament of holy monks, haven of salvation bestowing on the world great mercy. Come, Adam and Eve, our first father and mother, who fell from the choir on high through the envy of the murderer of man, when of old with bitter pleasure ye tasted from the tree in Paradise. See, the Tree of the Cross, revered by all, draws near! Run with haste and embrace it joyfully, and cry to it with faith: O precious Cross, thou art our succor; partaking of thy fruit, we have gained incorruption; we are restored once more to Eden, and we have received great mercy. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages, Amen."

Great Vespers on Saturday Evening before the Third Sunday of Lent, The Adoration of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross

The Lenten Journey

Lent has begun for both Eastern and Western Christians. I found this video on Youtube that I thought was a beautiful prayer for the Lenten journey. May God bring us to greater depths of repentence and love during this season!

Lenten Prayer of St. Ephraim

O Lord and Master of my life,

Take from me the spirit of sloth,

faint-heartedness, lust of power, and idle talk.

But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility,

patience and love to thy servant.

Yes, O Lord and King,

Grant me to see my own sins

and not to judge my brother.

For Thou art Blessed unto ages of ages.

Amen.

my first visit with the Bishop

A Visit from Bishop JOSEPH

A couple of weeks ago, I had my first encounter with Bishop JOSEPH, Diocesan Bishop of Los Angeles and the West, in the Antiochian Archdiocese of the Orthodox Church. He came to visit the church that I attend, St. Barnabas. It was a unique and memorable experience. Bishop JOSEPH seemed to radiate with a love for Christ and genuine care for His Church. This made a deep impression upon me. In the liturgy that morning, I sensed the presence of God like I never have in my life. There was no doubt that Christ was in our midst! As I was in the liturgy, I began to reflect on how different my experience was of the Christian faith in that moment. There were no guitars, no drums, not even a variety of 'worship' expressions going fourth. There was no one who was shaking or having any physical manifestation of the 'holy spirit' as I had witnessed other places. Interestingly enough, however, the Holy Spirit was there. As I was there, I sensed a communion with the faithful saints that have gone before me. I sensed the spirit of the apostles in our midst. I felt the affirmation of God and the affirmation of the Holy Apostles that I was indeed right where I was supposed to be. There was nothing sensational about the moment but rather it was utterly divine. I began to weep and was overwhelmed with emotion--not because of any particular musical tone (though I'm not saying that is bad) but overwhelmed that God was there and there was such a safety in His arms.

I'm not sure if any of what I have said makes sense but I just didn't want to let this experience pass without making note of it on my blog.

class trip to the farm

The other day my class and I went on a field trip. We went to the Centennial Farms at the Costa Mesa fair grounds. If you ever have a chance, take your little ones there--it's free. Here's some pictures from our adventure.

my geetar

My geetar a.k.a. "guitar" but added the "gee" to emphasize the accent below. =). Today I decided to pull out my lovely Gibson and play her. She hasn't been played in awhile. It reminded how much I loved the sound of an acoustic guitar. It made me miss the many, many times I've played her as "unto the Lord" as I sang with my Christian brethren songs as prayers. It made me sad in some ways because I'm no longer in that time in my life. It made me doubt whether I should have given it up or given up such a place in Christendom. I have to remind myself today that my idea of church was never what was the idea of church for the first 1,000 years of Christianity. I have to remind myself that I'm small and a tiny piece of the big puzzle and that God honors humility. I pray He will give me new and creative ways to integrate my geetar into the stage of life that I am now in.

So for those who have never witnessed the beauty of her......here she is: Gibson Songwriter Deluxe.

one of those days

Today was just one of those days.....you know the kind where you just plopp yourself down on your bed in exhaustian kind. The kids at school seemed hard today, teaching seemed hard today, everything just seemed a little harder today. My nose is stuffy and my throat hurts--seems like a cold is coming on or it is just the result of physical tiredness. So on this day, just I just stop by the blog world and have little to say but "it's just one of those days." We all have 'em. So I say a prayer, lay my head on the pillow to wake up tomorrow and do it again. Tomorrow my mole hill will not seem like the mountain it does this eve.

(my hair by the end of the week =) LOL)

pj day at school

Today was pajama day at school. My first graders loved it of course! They looked sweet in their pajamas. I joined in with the school spirit. No other job is it "appropriate attire" to wear pajamas to work......except when teaching little ones! For those who know the story of some, in the ladies category, top row, second on the left is cassidycat. In the gentlemen category, bottom row, first on the left, is daddy dadee, you know who! =)

Ladies first! Gentlemen

little space for prayer

So I decided to keep on this theme of photographs again for today. Here is a picture of one of my little spaces for prayer.

a new year with friends

Wendy and Lady V at the fun progressive dinner! Thanks Brauns and Berry's!

my day at the park

So most you might not know that taking pictures is a hobby of mine. I don't do it that often and think I have much room to improve but am trying to start taking them more often. If you've ever been to my house, you will see many of my framed photographs from various parts of the world. There is a local nature center that I love to go to so I decided that this would be where I would try the sport of photography. Some of the pictures aren't so great but each one reminds me so much of the peace of God.

Enjoy!

A Word of Wisdom from Tertullian

"a controversy over the Scriptures can produce nothing more than. . . a headache and a stomachache"

-Tertullian

Oh how true this is!

Just For Laughs!

To Know God

Christ is born! Glorify Him!

I love how the greetings of the Church change according to the calendar. Even these greetings changing are to me a reminder of Christ. Just one more reminder, that has been given to me by the wisdom of saints of old. I know that I need all the reminders that I can get to remember God. I am so thankful in this new year that I have so many tangible reminders at my finger tips of God's presence. I have the nave and the narthex of the church building. I have the icons that remind me that my faith is alive and it is bigger than me. I have the icons also to remind me that I am never alone in my Christian struggle. Many saints have gone before and many will follow. The candles lit before them remind me that the light of Christ shines in them and that same Light shines in me through the Holy Spirit. I have the sweet smell of incense reminding me that God hears our prayers that rise to Him like the incense rises to my nostrils. The vestments and even the colors of them remind me to remember the life of Christ and of His saints. I have the Holy Scriptures--I can read them and I can hear them. I am reminded of God's presence every time I see a human being. We are the living icon of God. We were made in His image. When I see people, I also am reminded of God. Of course I always have the witness of creation to remind me again of the Divine Presence.

Today I find myself so thankful that I have been given so many ways, so many helpful tools, to know God and experience Him. May this new year be filled with greater depths into God!