5th Sunday in Lent. John 11:1-45, Ezekiel 37:1-14, Psalm 130 Jesus Raises Lazarus 38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead…
Look at the Heart
4th Sunday of Lent. 1 Samuel 16:1-13 The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. I Samuel 16:7 NIV “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” These are the words of the Lord to the prophet Samuel about David, the youngest of eight sons…
Celebrate the Voices of Women
Third Sunday in Lent International Women’s Day You can never tell to what untold glories any little humble path may lead, if you only follow far enough. Lilias Trotter, Diary and Painting, 1899 Celebration is central to all the spiritual practices because without joy and festivity in community our spiritual lives would become dull and…
Temptation to Triumph
First Sunday in Lent Take the very hardest thing in your life—the place of difficulty, outward or inward, and expect God to triumph gloriously in that very spot. Just there He can bring your soul into blossom. Lilias Trotter, Parables of the Cross. Gorse is a yellow-flowered dark green bush that grows in Europe and…
Ash Wednesday
Preparing for Lent “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Joel 2:12 “I am crucified with Christ” — I myself in the very essence of my being, I let myself go to that death, and by the mysterious power with which God meets faith, I find that He has made it true:…
Half-Eared Listening
Answering before listening is both stupid and rude. Proverbs 18:13 MSG Half-eared listening is the kind that “presumes already to know what the other person has to say. It is an impatient, inattentive listening…and is only waiting for a chance to speak and thus get rid of the other person.” This kind of poor listening diminishes…
Ring in the New
Rule of Life O, Begin! Fix some part of every day for private exercises… Whether you like it or no, read and pray daily. It is for your life; there is no other way; else you will be a trifler all your days… Do justice to your own soul; give it time and means to…
Ring Out the Old
Year End Examen Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky, The flying cloud, the frosty light: The year is dying in the night;Ring out, wild bells, and let him die. Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow: The year is going, let him go;Ring out the false, ring in the true….
COME O COME IMMANUEL
Fourth Week of Advent Isaiah 7:10-16; Matthew 1:18-25 Joseph: A Just Man of Honor 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her…
Make Your Way Home
Third Sunday of Advent Isaiah 35:1-10 There will be a highway called the Holy Road.No one rude or rebellious is permitted on this road.It’s for God’s people exclusively— impossible to get lost on this road. Not even fools can get lost on it.No lions on this road, no dangerous wild animals—Nothing and no one dangerous or threatening. Only the redeemed will walk…
Rest on Me
2nd Sunday of Advent Isaiah 11:1-10 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—3 and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.5 Righteousness will be his belt and…
The Mountain of the Lord
First Sunday of Advent Isaiah 2:1-5 The word that Isaiah the (prophet) saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2 It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lordshall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills;and all the nations shall flow to it,3 and many peoples shall…
Climb a Tree
Zaccheaus in the Sycamore Tree I am drawn to the story of Zacchaeus, a well-loved children’s Bible Story, because he climbed a tree to get a better view of Jesus above the crowds. When I was a kid, my brother Bruce and I played outside all day and climbed many trees. Bruce was small…
Light a Candle
And Look into Your Heart When we look into the heart,May our eyes have the kindnessAnd reverence of candlelight. For Light, John O’Donohue Lighting candles has been a wonderful morning practice to intentionally open my day and spirit to the sacred place of connection with God. I love candles, so I thought, why not try…
Fall Habits: Life in the Presence
Rhythms, Resources and other Holy Habits, Part 2 In my sorrows, Lord, walk with meIn my sorrows, Lord, walk with meWhen the shades of life are falling LordI want Jesus to walk with meAll along my pilgrim journeyI want Jesus to walk with me African American Spiritual There are days that all of us wake…
Fall Practices: Put your Boots On
Rhythms, Resources and other Holy Habits, Part 1 Autumn has caught us in our summer wear.–Philip Larkin, Poet Fall is here with mostly welcome changes in daylight time, weather, foliage, schedules, holidays, and rhythms of life. If we pay attention to the migrating birds, the color of leaves on the trees, and the arrival of…
Slow Down and Sploot
It’s splooting season in the squirrel world, and it’s not just laziness, but nature’s way of cooling down since squirrels don’t sweat or pant. I found “my” backyard squirrel splooting on my concrete bird bath. Turns out that splaying on a cool surface acts as “heat dump” as the heat moves from the hotter surface,…
Driver Attention Low
My car of choice has always been a Honda Accord, except that time I came back from living in Asia and could only afford a Honda Civic. I mean the Bible even says we all need to be in one Accord! Now we drive a Honda CR-V, a sensible choice with many safety features. On…
Two ARE Better than One
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? … Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Early one morning, I interrupted my bike ride…
I Remember You, Dad
1949. Walgreens Drug Store on 8th and Congress AvE, Austin, TX. An 18-year-old tall, skinny, Air Force corporal named Charlie, comes in to his night job as soda jerk. At the cash register is Marian, a beautiful, blue-eyed, dark haired, high school senior. The first chance he gets to speak to this goddess, his opening…
Come Holy Spirit
Pentecost Sunday Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed…
Poisonous Irritants
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13 As a volunteer at a retreat…
What Washes Up?
Our family often escapes to the Texas coast. Even though it is not a European riviera or a Caribbean island, it is just a half day’s drive for fresh seafood and “ocean” waves. Long walks in the surf as the sun rises or sets offer beauty, release, and cleansing. As the spring winds and high…
Behold My Servant
Holy Week Meditations All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,…
Restore My Soul
A Lenten Journey thru Psalm 23 RESTORE MY SOUL, A LENTEN JOURNEY, is a sensory and imaginative look at Psalm 23. It begins with Ash Wednesday, followed by four Sunday reflections, Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. BEHOLD MY SERVANT, Holy Week Meditations follow the Lectionary readings for Holy Week from the Servant Songs…
Touch Me and See
Story 10: Sharing Breakfast in Jerusalem In this series, Every Meal is a Story, we are looking at stories in the Gospel of Luke where Jesus breaks bread with all sorts of folks where they live in order to teach simple truth. In stories 8-10, Jesus reveals his true identity through the symbol of sacrifice in…
Stay with Us
Story 9: Breaking Bread at Emmaus In this series, Every Meal is a Story, we are looking at stories in the Gospel of Luke where Jesus breaks bread with all sorts of folks where they live in order to teach simple truth. In stories 8-10, Jesus reveals his true identity through the symbol of sacrifice in…
Prepare a Place
Story 8: Sacrifice in the Last Supper In this series, Every Meal is a Story, we are looking at stories in the Gospel of Luke where Jesus breaks bread with all sorts of folks where they live in order to teach simple truth. In stories 8-10, Jesus reveals his identity through the symbol of sacrifice in…
Choosing Welcome
Story 7: Hospitality at Zacchaeus’ House In this series, Every Meal is a Story, we are looking at stories in the Gospel of Luke where Jesus breaks bread with all sorts of folks where they live in order to teach simple truth. In stories 4-7 Jesus addresses the tension between faith and culture by challenging his…
Choosing Humility
Story 6: Seat of honor at a Sunday Dinner In this series, Every Meal is a Story, we are looking at stories in the Gospel of Luke where Jesus breaks bread with all sorts of folks where they live in order to teach simple truth. In stories 4-7 Jesus addresses the tension between faith and culture….
Sacred Spaces
Creative Wintering Finding the will or way to practice our spirituality in the winter months can be a challenge, especially without sunshine, and the inclination to stay under the warm covers. Maybe boredom and probably laziness can cause us to abandon the very practices that connect us to the God we love. Try creating and…
Wintering Together
With Soul Friends and Gratitude One of the coldest adventures of my life was visiting Stonehenge in the winter while traveling with fellow team members. We didn’t want to miss this monumental encounter, but we were woefully and inadequately layered for freezing wet wind. So we literally ran around the circle of stones, grabbed a…
Winter Practices
Great Annual Examen 2021 This week between Christmas and New Years is a perfect time of reflection using a tool called The Great Annual Examen, developed by Stephen W. Smith. For years I have gone through the Annual Examen with a group of soul friends. It is a great way to encourage our shared humanity…
Choosing Holiness
Story 5: Eating with an Insulted Host In this series, Every Meal is a Story, we are looking at stories in the Gospel of Luke where Jesus breaks bread with all sorts of folks where they live in order to teach simple truth. In stories 4-7 Jesus challenges cultural tensions that helps us choose to follow…
Choosing the Good Part
Story 4: Hospitality at Martha’s Home In this series, Every Meal is a Story, we are looking at stories in the Gospel of Luke where Jesus breaks bread with all sorts of folks where they live in order to teach simple truth. And the truth is that we will experience and understand more of who…
You Feed Them
Every Meal is a Story Story 3: An Invitation to Mission at Bethsaida’s Miracle Meal Read Luke 9:10-17 Jesus took (the apostles) with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed…
Reclining at the Table
Every Meal is a Story Story 2: An Invitation to Forgiveness at Simon the Pharisee’s Dinner. Read Luke 7:36-50 We are looking at 10 meals shared around the table in the Gospel of Luke. Jesus breaks bread with all sorts of folks where they live in order to teach simple truth. For a deeper experience…
EVERY MEAL IS A STORY
Breaking Bread with Jesus in the Gospel of Luke As the holidays approach, Adventurous Obedience will look at meals shared around the table, inspiring both ordinary and sacred connections. Jesus breaks bread with all sorts of folks where they live in order to teach simple truth. And the truth is that we will experience and…
Ignatian Pilgrimage Spain 2021
For as long as people have searched for God, they have been drawn to the beauty and wonder of nature. The wisemen followed the star, the Desert Fathers found solitude in the wilderness, and Ignatius of Loyola changed his heart and history on pilgrimage in the depths of a cave and on the heights of…
Keep Company
Let me keep my distance, always from those who think they have all the answers. Let me keep company always with those who say “Look!” and laugh in astonishment, and bow their heads. Mysteries, Yes. Mary Oliver Keep company with those who cheer you on in days of celebration and gladness and allow you tears of sadness…
Waiting In-Between
“We are good at starting and we are good at finishing. But we don’t know what to do with ourselves in the in-between.” Mari Andrew, My Inner Sky. Navigating life in-between loss and recovery is a challenge that reveals the frailty of our humanity and the deep longing for divine hope in the space of…
Let Your Mercy Flow
MERCY. A blessing or act of divine favor or compassion. I invite you into Musica Divina, or hearing God speak through music and lyrics. Listen to the song and read the reflections. Allow Mercy to flow. The goodness of the Lord is the kindness of the Lord. With every breath we take, the gift of…
My Goodness! Mercy!
First Week of Easter Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6 A flock of sheep that have been well cared for and loved will clean up and restore a piece of unproductive land as no other animal…
Anoint Me
Good Friday April 2, 2021 You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows. Psalm 23:5 Hair products have always been very personal and cultural as well as specific to hair type and style. While living in S. Asia, I saw the benefits of coconut oil for friends with thick dark hair. And I enjoy hair humor, especially…
Holy Week
BEHOLD MY SERVANT Holy Week Meditations follow the Lectionary readings from the Servant Songs in the book of Isaiah. They are designed to be used the week of Palm Sunday through Easter. Download the pdf here: https://robbijames.com/resources/ A Caregiver’s Look at Psalm 23 continues here: March 28, 2021 Palm Sunday You have set me a…
Allow Me
March 21, 2020 Fifth Sunday of Lent You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 The Lord is my Shepherd and he comforts with the “rod and staff,” the tools of caregiving and guidance . As a city dweller, the closest I have come to truly understanding this metaphor…
Shadowy Path
March 14, 2021, Fourth Sunday of Lent Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 Shepherd me, O God, beyond my wants, beyond my fears, from death into life. Marty Haugen Let your darkness touch someone…
This is the Way
March 7, 2021 Third Sunday of Lent The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures.He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:1-3 He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Psalm 23:3 The Path of Righteousness. The sheep have been…
Soul Rest
Feb 28, 2021 Second Sunday of Lent The Shepherd makes me lie down in green pastures.He leads me beside still waters.He restores my soul. Psalm 23:1-3 This beloved Psalm’s promise of rest and restoration is a lifeline for weary souls. Hear also this word of God as encouragement for our times: “All of you who are surviving…
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