Blog - Page 8 of 14 - Listening Hearts

April 1, 2023April 1, 2023

Group Confession

My church has a confession that we read aloud near the start of our services.

“Most merciful God, we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought,word and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved out neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.”

During the moments of silence, I try to itemize my sins of the week. Sometimes, I can’t think of any while I remember getting angry with someone on some weeks. I appreciate the fact that my church encourages me and other members to reflect on their past week for moments when we fell short of the glory of God.

This is followed up by my pastor reading a statement forgiving us of our sins. I know that a pastor can’t forgive sin. Only God can forgive sin. It is a great reminder of how forgiving God is due to the sacrifice that Jesus made for all of us regardless of our church affiliation.

“In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” (Evangelical Lutheran Worship, 2006)

What sins do you feel the need to confess?

If you feel very guilty and have repeatedly confessed and repented, consider having a one-on-one confession with a pastor. Sometimes, another person re-assuring you that you are forgiven can help you to let go of the guilt. Carrying guilt around can be too hard for you to carry. Trust me, I sometimes joke that I am a walking guilt trip.

March 31, 2023March 31, 2023

Hymn: When Our World is Rent by Violence

“When our world is rent by Violence and our lives are marred by grief, when our songs of calm assurance turn to cries of unbelief: God, we raise our lamentation seeking refuge and relief. “

This first verse makes me think of Nashville and the active shooter at the Christian school. That community is crying out in grief and anger similar to what my city did after Mr Darrell Brooks Jr drove in our parade.

“When our cities stand forsaken and the poor must beg for bread, when the pris’ner sits forgotten and the homeless find no bed, God, we raise our lamentation: waken justice from the dead!”

The third verse looks at the struggles of the individual rather than groups or communities like in the previous verses. “When our lives are burnt to ashes and our hopes fade like a dream, when our stories lose their meaning and despair becomes their theme, God, we raise our lamentation: Come, Lord Jesus, to redeem!”

I can relate to some of this verse. I remember being unable to feel happy or hope. The sky would be blue on a sunny warm day and I couldn’t enjoy it.

The last verse feels like a prayer to me. “Raise up beauty from the ashes; end our violence; tend our peace, Give us visions of a future where all captives find release, where oppression is evicted, and all works of hatred cease.”

This hymn is in All Creation Sings (ELCA hymnal) as hymn number 1052. The lyrics were written by David Bjorlin.

March 28, 2023March 28, 2023

Serenity Prayer

God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed,

Courage to change the things which should be changed,

And the Wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.

Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,

Taking as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it, trusting that You will make all things right,

If I surrender to Your will, so that I may be reasonably happy in his life, and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen. Dr. Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971)

I had heard the beginning of this prayer read aloud at support groups. Then, I joined overcomers’ outreach which is a Christian twelve step group. I was shocked when I heard the whole prayer.

March 26, 2023

The love of Jesus is with us

Sometimes, I feel like Sunday has a theme to it. I was thinking about today’s theme on the way home from church.

I read a devotional (Chris in Our Home) that my church keeps by the information desk. Here is a quote from today’s entry (March 26th).

“I am moved by times Jesus himself felt alone and forsaken. These episodes in scripture remind me in my most desperate moments that the triune God is with me, understands me, and accompanies me as I navigate rough terrain”. The writer’s name is Mary Jo Anderson.

This quote filled me with the hope that Jesus will be with me always just as he promised at the end of the book of Matthew. “…I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20, NKJV)

At church, we heard about the pain and suffering that Jesus experienced as He died for us.

May Jesus be with you always. When you need His presence the most, I pray that He will reassure you that He is beside you through his word and the people who love you. For we all need His loving presence to get through the tough times of our lives. Amen.

March 19, 2023December 14, 2023

Prayer for strength and protection

O God, who knowest us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright: grant to us such strength and protection, as may support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Book of Common Prayer, 1662

March 2, 2023

A difficult goodbye

Describe the last difficult “goodbye” you said.

Earlier this week, my cat died. In mid January, I noticed my cat was sneezing like crazy and took her to the vet. They showed me a swollen left cheek. I couldn’t figure out how I never noticed. They gave me an antibiotic. I proved my incompetence by dropping the bottle and spilling some of it. I had to go get more at the vet. Then, I was confused how long to administer it. Usually, I must use antibiotics until you run out. I stopped using it on 11 or 12. I felt guilty for forcing her to drink the the medication. I allowed that guilt to stop treating her. I started trying to make a follow up appointment after work.

In February, I started seeing red marks on my bed sheets. I tried to clean her face and discovered that she was bleeding on her face. I called my vet and got the emergency vet number. I took her to the vet while it was snowing. They told me that she had a serious dental problem and to schedule an appointment with my vet. I called the next morning at work and did that. My vet told me how much wait she had lost. She had always been skinny but now I could feel every part of her spine and ribs.

One of the vest at my clinic was out due to surgery. So, I had to make an appointment a little more than a week out. I was now administering antibiotic and a pain reliever.

Last weekend, I watched my cat get weaker and weaker. I sat with her laying on me for hours I discovered some new ridges on her skull and a tendon on the back of her neck. I told her that I will miss her if she leaves me.

Puffers died on Monday (February 27). Now, I am catless. I am working on decluttering and getting rid of some of the fur all over my apartment. I keep wanting to say,” Puffers, your human is home” when I return from work. I keep thinking that I need to feed her in the mornings and evenings.

I pray that there is a pet heaven like in the rainbow bridge poem.

February 19, 2023

United for Waukesha Resiliency Center

Due to the Waukesha parade tragedy, this center was started. They have support groups and art therapy for anyone that was impacted by the parade tragedy.

United for Waukesha Resiliency Center 2000 PewaukeeRd Ste R Waukesha, WI 53188

February 19, 2023

Prayer from St Luke’s Lutheran Church

My church prayed a prayer that I want to share here.

Send your Spirit of truth, O God;

Rekindle your gifts within us:

Renew our faith, increase our hope and deepen our love , for the sake of a world in need

Faithful to your Word, O God, draw near to all who call on you; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory forever. Amen.

February 19, 2023February 19, 2023

NAMI programs and services in Waukesha

This information is from a NAMI quarterly dated April to June 2022.

NAMI Ending the Silence is an educational program that presents experiences of having mental illness told by people who have mental illness. The target audience is students.

NAMI Family-to-Family offers education and support for family members of people with mental illness. This is an eight week course.

NAMI Peer-to-Peer is an eight week course for people with mental illness that is taught by a person living with a mental health issue.

NAMI basics is a six week course for parents or guardians of children with mental health issues.

There is also peer support groups and family support groups. They also have a training program for police officers and assistance for homeless people.

Namisoutheastwi.org/calendar is where you can see where and when many of these programs are offered.

February 18, 2023February 18, 2023

Ten days of Joy Challenge

A family member challenged me to post ten pictures on Facebook that give me joy. The challenge requests a picture a day. I posted that I’d only be sharing flower pictures because I couldn’t think of anything else. But, I did think of pictures to share.

On day one, I posted a picture of my Petunia growing in my window on a very cold day. The window was totally frosted up. I was thankful for the warmth of my tiny apartment.

On day two, I posted a picture of food. I had just had a colonoscopy and was allowed to eat regular meals again.

My cat was the picture that I posted to Facebook on day three. Some of my family members are doing the challenge too. Two of them shared cat pictures on their posts too.

Sunday was day four. I took a picture of my pastor giving a children’s sermon. While I know that church is boring for children, I think it helps them to see how much we care about worshipping God. I also enjoy watching children sing or play at church. I hope they can create plenty of happy memories.

My love of rock painting was posted for day five. I painted a collection of rocks and put them out before our Christmas parade. I was hoping that it would encourage some of the parade goers.