Arise Blog

Dwelling places: Grace upon grace
Is there something more for us in Grace?
Charis
Greek for “grace” its meaning releases a beautiful clarity of ways to see God’s grace and the transformation we are welcomed into through Jesus.
charis meaning:
“that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech
good will, loving-kindness, favorof the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in…

Dwelling places: Rejoicing Roots (pt II)
What are you noticing in your life of staying with what God is doing in you or through you?
After writing last month’s posting on Finding Your Roots, I began pondering the path forward. In my plan to share the second half of what was shared at the retreat (I will include this) I have shifted and find myself drawn to share some of my present life with God. He has been encouraging me to not only share some on listening and silence but also to draw attention to the vitality of “rejoicing” in the midst of the hard things we encounter in our daily life. The hard things: …

Dwelling places: Finding Your Roots (part I)
Have you ever watched the PBS program “Finding Your Roots”?
The host (Henry Louis Gates Jr.) invites celebrities to the program to discover portions of their past, their family lineages. Throughout the program, he often points out and speaks of where they came from and how the celebrity is where they are now. He guides them on a journey of…

Dwelling places: Writings by the Pond
Grief, grieving, lament, suffering and joy “full” life.
As I walk the usual path of my local park there’s a tug inside calling me to sit by the pond. Gaze. Reflect. Be with God.
While sitting and gazing out at the ducks and geese, the water fountain bubbling, the epiphany of today targets my finger to my phone to write by the pond—these glowing reflections on grieving…