The one who prays never prays alone.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together

When Jesus taught us to pray, he did not teach us to pray “My Father” but “Our Father.” Why? The reason is as powerful as it is simple: Because when we pray, we never pray alone. It is almost a certainty that whenever we pray the Lord’s Prayer there is someone in the world praying it with us, even if we happen to be praying it alone. And there is great comfort in this knowledge. Whenever we pray, there are others praying with us, “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name …” We are part of a community of Christians around world, praying for us and with us, even as we pray for them and with them. 

But there is another important reason why Jesus taught us to pray “Our Father”…

[AD] There are times when you feel like you are so tired that you can’t do anything. It happens to everyone and during those times, the only thing you want to do is stay in bed. There are so many reasons why you feel tired, it might be due to burn out, overworking or even due to stress and anxiety. If you feel tired as soon as you wake up, that’s your body telling you that you need to take a rest and aren’t doing enough or are doing something completely wrong. In order to find the reason, you need to assess what causes you to feel tired in the first place.

Il y a des moments où vous vous sentez tellement fatigué que vous ne pouvez rien faire. Cela arrive à tout le monde et pendant ces périodes, la seule chose que vous voulez faire est de rester au…

I’ve been reading my morning devotional, and jotting down whatever jumps out, or resonates. Here’s this week’s favorite.

When things seem all wrong, trust me anyway. I am much less interested in right circumstances than in right responses to whatever comes your way.

Jesus Calling-1/26/2021

I’ve had 5 days that feel like Monday with a client at work. I really want it to feel like midweek, so I’m just gonna settle in here with you for a moment. You know, I can take happy clients all day long, and that’s the fun part of the job, but the ones who are high strung and relentless are the ones who make me better.

The circumstances were all wrong, but I believe God handed me the right responses every time.

I was able to practice listening and could hear what was really fueling his anger. It wasn’t this situation at all.

This…

31 January 2021

Collect

Creator God,
who in the beginning
commanded the light to shine out of darkness:
We pray that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ
may dispel the darkness of ignorance and unbelief,
shine into the hearts of all your people,
and reveal the knowledge of your glory
in the face of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The First Reading: Deuteronomy 18: 15-20

The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. This is what you requested of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said: ‘If I hear the voice of the Lord my God any more, or ever again see this great fire, I will die.’ Then the Lord replied to me: ‘They are right in what they have said. I…

Learning new things in art is always fun, and today I came across the term achromatic color scheme. Now, for starters, that’s definitely a contradiction in terms, or what is known in popular parlance as an oxymoron. If something is achromatic it lacks color, so how can you have an achromatic color scheme?

Well, as my husband always says, if you look at things differently, things look different, so let’s look at achromatic from another angle. Basically, achromatic means black and white. Again, lacking in color.

Of course, we can get technical here and turn to the scientific use of achromatic. It refers to a specific type of lens that is designed to minimize chromatic aberration, and if that means anything to you, great. It means very little to me.

For purposes of art, achromatic refers to our basic black and white, with a few grays thrown in if we…

After my discouragement yesterday, it was hard to come back to the studio today. I knew that awful acrylic pouring would still be there. The disappointing art journal pages would still be on my work table, and as for the scary skull — well, it’s easy enough to simply close the sketchbook so I don’t have to look at it. Not that it’s really so bad as far as drawing goes. It’s just depressing, I guess.

But we have to face up to our art demons. If we don’t we’ll never move beyond them. So, I came into the studio this morning with a better attitude, an attitude of “Some days are better than others,” and a determination to make sure that this was one of those better days.

I began by looking at the acrylic pour and having a good laugh. It didn’t make the pouring look any better…

For those who have not read the previous chapters, clickHERE for chapter 1, click HERE for chapter 2, and click HERE for chapter 3.

I am Mashie Niblick. I was not born with the name, but I like it. I can identify with it. I might just keep it. I am on a mission to save my girlfriend. Poached Yeggs may claim that she is not my girlfriend until I have kissed her, but I think saving her life is more important.

Deviled Yeggs dropped me off at a Self-Storage place in Stout County and I returned to Tracy in a ten-year-old American-made family sedan – white, with a dent in the bumper. I would have preferred no identifying marks at all, but a ten-year-old car without a scratch might draw attention. That might sound like I overthink things but thinking of such things might save…

In memory of Papa

My first ghazal

I remember his toolboxes, table vice, hand sander
Still remember foul humor, impatience, frank candor

I remember clever math tricks and right-wing politics
And sultry actresses at whom he would gander

I remember him sitting, reading, problem solving
Frustrated, resigned, when his mind would meander

I remember long summers he nannied my daughter
Love all-consuming, warmed bottles he'd hand her

I remember brilliance; I remember his strength, God
Deep in principles anchored; never able to pander

I remember no bullshit and deep disappointments
Because and regardless no one ever stood grander

I remember a young David who worshipped his Papa
None could ever replace him, not one ben Alexander

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”
So we say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?”
Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of…

Today is the Feast of Saint Thomas Aquinas. Years ago, we belonged to a parish that had the tradition of handing out small loaves of dark bread at the end of Mass in honor of Saint Thomas Aquinas. Tucked inside the wrappings were quotes from Saint Thomas Aquinas. I miss that tradition.