From the category archives:

Connect with God

“Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith”

September 6, 2010
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Book Review: Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamott Just reading other reviews of this book took me on an emotional roller coaster–since I agreed with much of the praise as well as the criticism–so you can imagine what reading the book did. Anne Lamott is one of the most gifted writers I’ve known, [...]

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Mindfulness leads to Wisdom

August 22, 2010
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Book Review of Jack Kornfield’s The Wise Heart You don’t have to be a Buddhist to love The Wise Heart: A Guide to the Universal Teachings of Buddhist Psychology. In this truly wise book, clinical psychologist and Buddhist monk Jack Kornfield weaves together real-life stories with spiritual insights to show how to live with greater [...]

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Musical Visions of the Land

August 10, 2010
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Connection Messengers: Matthew Lyon and Christine Dickinson… “Earthpassage” My friend Mimi Meredith sent me a beautiful gift last winter to thank me for being part of her blog community. It was a wonderful CD called “Quiet Paths: Journeys Through the Forest,” by Matthew Lyon and Christine Dickinson. As soon as I heard it, I was [...]

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Prayer offers a less busy heart

June 30, 2010
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BOOK REVIEW: A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World by Paul E. Miller I wish I had read this book 30 years ago so that by now I would have re-read it several times. As faithful as I have tried to be to my spiritual habits, personal prayer has often eluded me [...]

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When you want to give up…don’t

June 21, 2010
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There are times in our lives when we’ve got to summon untapped reserves of strength, courage, and resolute endurance in the face of adversity. If we’re lucky, these times are few and far between, but sometimes we face a chronic or long-term situation–terminal illness or disability in ourselves or a loved one–in which these reserves [...]

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My attitude informs my actions…

June 17, 2010
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Heartspoken is an attitude…a frame of mind…an inclination of the spirit. I’ve found that when I can be Heartspoken in the essential connections of my life…Connection with Self, Connection with Others (personal and professional), Connection with Nature, and Connection with God…these connections are nurtured, sweetened, and strengthened. It’s not always easy; it doesn’t always come [...]

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Book Review: The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer

June 16, 2010
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I read The Pursuit of God on my Kindle, and my 14 pages of highlights and notes are testament to the fact that I found it highly interesting and helpful in my understanding of how to have a personal relationship with a living God. According to the book description, Tozer was so inspired that he [...]

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Exercise yourself unto godliness

June 13, 2010

Let any man turn to God in earnest, let him begin to exercise himself unto godliness…and the results will exceed anything he may have hoped in his leaner and weaker days. A. W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God I don’t know about you, but I’m really bad about making things harder than they need to [...]

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I am a Seeker

May 26, 2010

On my Facebook profile under Religion, I call myself a Seeker. This does not mean that I am trying to be politically correct or afraid to use the more specific words Christian or Episcopalian. It simply reflects my deep interest in–and respect for–all religions and anyone’s genuine journey of faith and seeking a better understanding [...]

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All you need to know is already inside you

May 26, 2010

Some well-meaning friends have warned me about getting into the topic of spirituality…”It’s controversial.” “It’s personal.” “It’s too broad.” Well, yes, these are all true, but if this is to really be a Heartspoken site about essential connections, I cannot in good conscience omit a part of life that, for me and for many of [...]

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A Way Through the Wilderness…

May 26, 2010
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Introducing Connection Messenger: The Rev. Alexander D. MacPhail Life does seem like a wilderness sometimes, doesn’t it? We’re blown by winds that are beyond our control. We’re scratched and bloody from making our way through thorny issues and prickly people. Sometimes we hear siren songs. Sometimes we hear banshees. When we’re genuinely seeking God, why [...]

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In the dark, the tiniest light is visible

May 8, 2010
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“But if my fire is not large, it is yet real, and there may be those who can light their candle at its flame.” A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God It’s easy to think that we’re failing God if we don’t do impressive things…if our sacrifice isn’t great enough…if our commitment isn’t passionate enough…if our [...]

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