Surrender

I'm not even at the retreat yet, and God is showing me all the ways I need to surrender...my will, my wants, my hunger, my home. It's all His to start with and it's all His in the end. In between, an incredible gift for us to enjoy. A surrendered life yields real living.

Moving to Facebook

Hi friend! In a move to simplify my live, I'm moving all communications to Facebook. Look me up and join my new group.

Eternity Begins Today

Why is worship so important? I had a conversation with a gal who believes there might be a God, but feels she can handle life OK on her own. That troubled me and I pondered why for a long while before I realized why. She's thinking of God as some kind of cosmic handyman, someone to help in times of need. Not that God won't help, but that's not the deal at all.

The issue here is whether there is a Creator who rules over this earth and eternity. If there is, I sure want to be on His side when this world ends. I don't have any question about my future in that regard, but someone jolted my world with this: eternity doesn't begin when we die. It begins today!!!

Jesus says in John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." That means now! Are you living a full life, a whole life now? I've found that if I'm burdened with this life and not experiencing eternity, the solution is to lose myself in worship. This doesn't require a five peice band. It might require just an iPod and a place where you can blast your lungs to the heavens.

We worship in Holy Yoga class, but don't wait until Mondays and Wednesdays. If your spirit is not experiencing eternal life today, find a worship CD or turn on WAY-FM and let the spirit use the gift of song to direct your heart to heaven!

Do Less, Be More

God has been teaching us more about the wealth that's found in the stillness of the soul. Quiet meditation can accomplish WAY more than a glass of wine (which is pretty tasty, you must admit) or a box of chocolates (ditto). Seriously, read the new article posted in Resources on What Yoga Teaches About Love. It will transform more than just your love life. (Yoga, that is, not the article.) I just finished a study on the fruits of the spirit. At first I thought it would just heap on the guilt about all the times I'm NOT filled with the spirit. Just the opposite is true. Study and reading are good, but if we can just BE STILL a few moments in the morning and invite the Spirit into our lives, the rest of the day is remarkably better!

The Hidden Key to Happiness is Not to Seek It

Judging by our natural impulses and desires, it's easy to believe we might be born for happiness. Aren't we just oriented to satisfaction - that warm cup of coffee, a seat by the fire, a great workout, a warm shower? Have you ever filled up with all the good things at your fingertips and yet turned up hollow inside?

The 90th Psalm provides us a great clue in our pusuit of true joy and satisfaction: "O satisfy us in the morning with Thy lovingkindness, Oh Lord, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days." Is it possible that if we set aside our cravings and drink to our fill of God's presence that we will experience true satisfaction, true joy? Happiness is fleeting. Happiness is what we get when we consume good things, when we experience pleasure.

If instead we seek joy, there is a complete recipe in God's word. Once we are filled daily (read morning) with His presence in worship, the outcome is joy. What is worship but giving God the glory for being worthy of our praise? Also worship prepares our hearts and minds for living a life worthy of being called His.

Seeking happiness? Seek God early in your day. Give him the first fruits of your day, of your heart, of your soul, mind and strength. Watch what He gives you in return!

Simplify Christmas

At Holy Yoga we are focusing the entire month on honoring the reason for Christmas. History cannot verify that Jesus was actually born in December, but because of all the holidays designed to brighten winter solstice somebody decided we would celebrate the birth of Christ in December. Our worship this month ends with one simple thought: "don't save it all for Christmas Day." We are committed to honoring the name of Jesus in our lives every day.

In the midst of that, we have to make sense out of the pagan part of the holiday season for young minds. My friend Meredith has the perfect policy concerning gifts: Something you want, Something you need, Something to Play with, Something to Read!

Ah! I love that. Gives me license to put socks in the stocking as long as we manage that new video game or Polly Pocket accessory. And new Bibles for everyone! Well, or Nancy Drew books, Junie B. Jones, Hannah Montana, but you get the drift.

Love your holiday. Love the Lord with all your heart. You are loved here at Holy Yoga!

Thanksgiving

What comes to mind when you hear the word? Turkey? Stuffing? Pie? In Holy Yoga this month, our emphasis will be on giving thanks - a great follow on to our series on loving God. Our ability to love is contingent on the Holy Spirit. When our well runs dry, His resources are full.

If we can manage a measure of thanks from our lips, even when things don't go the way we ask, then we are ripe for God's power to work through us. A thankful heart will yield a loving spirit and there's no more important thing these days, when our beliefs are in stark contrast to those of some very public people. If we have not love, we are a clanging symbol.

Let's love greatly, and be thankful that God is not only with us, but preparing a place for us in eternity.