What Are You Looking For?

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The videos and photos of the eclipse are spectacular. In Northeast Ohio on Monday, in the middle of the afternoon, the sky got dark, the street lights came on, and the birds stopped chirping. In backyards, parks, and stadiums here and around the country, millions of people gathered in watch parties and turned their protected eyes toward the sun. I appreciate the photos and videos that all of you have shared because my husband and I didn’t see the eclipse. We were on our way home from North Carolina after sharing a few delightful days with our daughter and son-in-law. Right when you were seeing the moon block the sun, I was driving on the interstate through a downpour.

“The ends of the earth stand in awe at the sight of your wonders.” – Psalm 65:9

The eclipse got everyone’s attention.To a miniscule degree, the timing of the rain got mine, too. We tend to take for granted the world God created and the people He has blessed us with. The eclipse was a welcome shot in the arm – it awakened our senses of wonder and gratitude. Let’s keep that momentum going. Let’s not only marvel at the science of the eclipse but also look for God, the Creator of the universe, Who’s behind it. Let’s look for Christ in our midst in both the ordinary and the extraordinary:

Imagine God’s hand moving the moon slowly in front of the sun.

Look for Him opening the buds on the trees, gently pulling the flowers up from the ground so they bloom, and changing seeds underground into vegetables in your garden.

Notice how much He treasures you when your friend smiles at you or gives you a hug.

Look at His guiding hand as people and opportunities become available to you in your recovery. 

Look for His grace that gives you the strength to get through your current difficulty, one step at a time.

Look for the people who need to see God’s love through your friendly words or your kind gestures.

Look for Christ at work through your doctor’s kindness that gives you hope and makes your treatment more bearable. 

Look not only at your struggles, but look also outside yourself for something to look forward to. Notice what comes to mind. He may be guiding you toward something you hadn’t considered before.

Look for Christ in the people you love. We didn’t experience the drama of the eclipse but we felt His presence with our daughter and son-in-law as we shared meals, walks, our time, and our hearts. We shared the excitement of the Women’s Final Four and marveled at their God-given talent, their sportsmanship, and their teamwork. 

Let’s keep our sense of awe. Let’s look for Him in the world He created and in the people He put here with us to share it.

“Taste and see how good the Lord is.” – Psalm 34:9

“Lord, let me see Your hand in the wonders all around me.”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2024 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

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P.S.

Pray for peace in Ukraine, Russia, the Middle East, and around the world. Donate toward a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the families around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.

Christ Sees Something in You

 

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When she was in college, one of our daughters was interested in a particular part-time job but didn’t feel qualified for it. “I have no experience!” she said. She applied anyway. During the interview, her potential employer saw some things in her that he knew were valuable assets: her openness to new endeavors, her past accomplishments, and her willingness to learn. She got the job and thrived in it.

In Jesus’ time, women were at the bottom of the social ladder. Yet it was to a woman, Mary Magdalene, that Christ first appeared after His resurrection. (Side note: Mary Magdalene was not a prostitute as some have portrayed her to be. Rather, she became one of Jesus’ constant companions after He cured her of seven demons. See Luke 8:1-3.) Jesus didn’t appear first to Peter, the ‘rock.’ He showed Himself to Mary, a ‘nobody’ in society. Maybe He chose her because He had seen something special in her: love and loyalty, demonstrated when she stayed at the foot of the cross with His mother. 

When Jesus instructed Mary Magdalene to tell the apostles that He had risen, she didn’t say to Him, “But I’m a woman; they won’t listen to me.” She didn’t consider that she wasn’t qualified for the job. She did what Jesus asked her to do: She ran ahead and announced to the apostles that she had seen the risen Christ. She trusted Him to open their hearts to this incredible news. Because of this, Mary Magdalene has been called ‘the apostle to the apostles.’ 

Maybe you’ve had thoughts like, "I would love to ____" or "I wish I could be more ____." If you’ve had an idea of how you could make a positive difference in your part of the world, or how you could be more loving toward the people you encounter every day, trust that Christ has put those ideas in your head. If you’ve come up with reasons why you couldn’t accomplish those things, remember that Christ sees more in you than you see in yourself. He sees your potential. He sees your goodness. He sees your desire for a more loving world. He sees your wanting to be a more loving person. 

Try to see yourself as Christ sees you. Seek Him, as Mary Magdalene did. Ask Him to guide you toward turning your ideas into realities. Be open to something new that He may want to do for you or through you. Do everything, one moment at a time, with love. Trust Him to work in the hearts of those around you to find Him through your actions.  

“Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’ and what he told her.” – John 20:17-18

“Lord, help me see myself as You see me.”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2024 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly to your inbox, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

You can also find my posts on Facebook!

P.S.

Pray for peace in Ukraine, Russia, the Middle East, and around the world. Donate toward a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the families around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.

You Already Imitate Christ

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Holy Week is a time to commemorate and marvel at the power of Christ’s unconditional and self-giving love for all people – His immense, unequivocal, and eternal love for you. 

Christ’s love is uniform and widespread; all people are included. Now, He commands you to do the same: Love your neighbor as yourself, do good to those who hate you, forgive those who hurt you, and pray for those who mistreat you (see Luke 6). While the task to follow Him may be daunting, here are a few examples of how you already do it:

When you’re up in the middle of the night holding a crying child when you need to sleep, you follow Christ:

“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).  

When you hold your tongue instead of lashing out when someone criticizes or mocks you, you imitate Christ:

“And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer” (Matthew 27:12).

When you help someone without judging whether they’re worthy, you imitate Christ:

“If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet” (John 13:14).

When you forgive someone, you imitate Christ:

“He said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’” (Luke 7:48).

When you befriend the ostracized, love the addict, visit the prisoner, or feed the homeless, you follow Christ: 

“Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).

Also, the events of Good Friday assure us that Christ will always forgive us. We’re to do the same:  

“The other (criminal), however, rebuking him, said in reply, ‘Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ He replied to him, ‘Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise’” (Luke 23:40-43).

Christ commands us to love everyone. He’s shown us how to give of ourselves, especially to those we find most difficult to love. You’ve probably already done so, as in the examples above. Ask Him for the grace to continue. Then, pay attention to the sense of peace He gives you when you do these things. His peace and His joy are how He’ll reward you. 

 “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete”

(John 15:11).

May you take time this Holy Week to grasp Christ’s eternal love for you, and may this love inspire you to imitate Him more each day.

“How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good He has done for me?” 

– Psalm 116:12

“Lord, I want to love as You do.”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2024 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly to your inbox, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

You can also find my posts on Facebook!

P.S.

Pray for peace in Ukraine, Russia, the Middle East, and around the world. Donate toward a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the families around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.

Time to Make a Change

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“Life is short, and we do not have too much time to gladden the hearts of those around us. So be swift to love and make haste to be kind…” – From a funeral at Church of Our Savior Episcopal in Akron, Ohio

Mourners filled the pews for Beth’s funeral on Monday afternoon, plus the 30 of us who sang in the choir for her service. It was a blessing to be part of it: her 57 short years on earth had been filled with music, laughter, and love.

If there’s anything that gives us a wake-up call about how we’re spending our time, it’s a funeral. We’re reminded of how quickly the years pass, and it encourages us to examine what we’re doing with the time we have here on earth. 

Holy Week begins on Sunday. It might be a good idea to use these last days before Easter to examine how we’re spending our time, and make changes where necessary. 

We can ask ourselves: 

How do I share God’s love with those around me on a daily basis? 

How, and how often, do I let the people who are important to me know that I love them?

Have I given our Lord time and opportunities through prayer to reach into my heart and make me more patient, compassionate, and generous? 

What concrete steps have I taken during this Lenten season to improve my relationship with God and with the people I care about? What reminders can I give myself to continue these practices after Easter?

In addition to my responsibilities for myself and my family, when was the last time I gave of myself to benefit someone who can’t return the favor or pay me back?

If one of these questions struck a chord with you, remember: it’s never too late to make a change.

Maybe our Lord is asking us to change how we approach the people around us. If we’re habitually impatient, apathetic, or stingy toward others, then now’s the time to ask our Lord to soften our heart and mold it to be more like His. 

Maybe we would benefit from treating ourselves with more kindness. If we think of ourselves as being loving, forgiving, and kind, we’ll eventually convince ourselves of it and live up to our own expectations. And when we’re more loving toward ourselves, we’ll be more compassionate toward others. 

Change takes time. If we don’t use our time to make those changes, and if we always do what we’ve always done, then nothing will change – neither in our hearts, in our relationships, or in our community. Our relationship with God and with others will stagnate.

There’s still time. Take steps toward bringing God’s Kingdom of Love to the people around you. Not just because Easter is coming, but because you still have life to live.

“...make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.” – Ezekiel 18:31

“Lord, help me change my heart and make it more like Yours.”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2024 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly to your inbox, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

You can also find my posts on Facebook!

P.S.

Pray for peace in Ukraine, Russia, the Middle East, and around the world. Donate toward a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the families around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.

Run Your Race Freely

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In my dream, I took my position with the others at the starting line of the 5K. Oddly enough, a drab gray bed comforter was draped over me. When the gun went off I tried to run, but the heavy blanket got in my way. I took it off and held it up high so it wouldn’t drag on the ground. I tried to run again but couldn’t. I hurled the blanket to the side. Someone grabbed my arm; I shook that off, too. Then I could run freely.

In the morning, I understood that the comforter and person grabbing me represented an emotional burden I used to carry; I had put it behind me long ago but something reminded me of it. As I ‘run’ through life, I don’t want it to drag me down any more.

Maybe you’re burdened by something that’s getting in the way of your own ‘race’ – your day-to-day living, your peace of mind, and the joy you so desperately want to feel. 

Is a grudge weighing you down? Or, maybe you need to forgive yourself? Lent is a good time to let Christ take these from you.

They say that forgiving isn’t a one-and-done deal; it’s a process. It takes time. It takes awareness, courage, and prayer. It isn’t easy. Also, It isn’t about forgetting what happened. Rather, it’s choosing to no longer let the actions of someone else control your mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being. 

Forgiving is something you do for yourself.

Set yourself free from the person who hurt you. Whether it happened yesterday or many yesterdays ago, begin the process of forgiving. Talk with Christ about it; He hears you! Acknowledge your experience. Don’t pretend it didn’t happen, but don’t keep hanging onto it, either. Picture Christ’s outstretched arms as you peel off layers of pain and put them in His hands. Believe in His unconditional love for you and the joy He wants you to experience. Try saying out loud, “I forgive ______.”

Remember that you can control only your own actions, not anyone else’s. Others will have to answer to God for what they’ve done, so let Him be their judge. Free yourself from that role. Focus instead on how well you’re loving others. Also, try to see your offender through Christ’s eyes. Try to see how their own suffering may have caused them to do what they did. Pray for them.

You might also seek professional help or confide in a trusted friend. Be your own advocate. Take the steps necessary to rid yourself of the burden that’s holding you back from ‘running your race’ freely and becoming your loving and happy self.

Don’t let yesterday rob you of the joyful freedom Christ wants you to experience today. Let Him transform your pain into peace. 

“Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me; Lord, be my helper.” – Psalm 30:10

“Lord, take this burden from me. I want Your peace. I want to feel happy again!”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2024 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly to your inbox, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

You can also find my posts on Facebook!

P.S.

Pray for peace in Ukraine and Russia, the Middle East, and around the world. Donate toward a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the families around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.

Christ: "Come to Me This Lent"

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The season of Lent starts today. Unlike New Year’s Resolutions such as quitting smoking or losing weight, which focus only on our physical well-being, our Lenten sacrifices are meant to help us grow spiritually. Through our fasting, prayers, and almsgiving we get out of ourselves and our attachment to worldly comforts, allow ourselves to be drawn closer to our Lord, and strengthen us to become more loving and more compassionate people – more like Christ. 

We fast during Lent to create space in our hearts, and time in our day, for God. We fast to remind us how temporary the things of this world are and how dependent we are on Him for all of them. We fast from something good that we’ll joyfully allow again on Easter. What to give up? The suggestions are endless. Some people give up Starbucks and donate to charity the money they save. Some give up listening to music in the car and use that time to talk to, and listen for, God. Some give up using the elevator and think of Christ carrying His cross to Calvary while they climb the stairs. Search your heart; what can you give up that will be meaningful for you?  

Remember, what we do for Lent is less important than what we allow God to do in us. You were created by Love and for love; great potential for loving has been planted in your heart. Christ is always with you, drawing you toward Himself and a deeper experience of His love. Lent is a time for taking steps toward Him. 

Imagine Christ saying to you today:

People in a crowded bus may not have any emotional attachment to each other. They might not even look at each other. I am with you always. I want you to be close to Me.

Set aside your distractions and look for My love inside you. Listen to the loving words I say in your heart.

Let My love influence how you treat the people around you, and how you treat yourself. I want you to know how much I love you and how precious you are to Me.

Come to Me this Lent.

“Rend your hearts, not your garments. Return to the Lord, for He is gracious and compassionate.” – Joel 2:13

On another note… I’m going to take a break from writing for the next couple weeks. I started writing these weekly reflections in December 2020 and sent them out via email. In July 2021 I moved my writings to the blogspot domain and have written a reflection nearly every week since. Thank you for reading them! I’m thankful to God, Who gets all the credit for giving me the ideas and the words; it’s amazing to see how He directs what I write. If something touches your heart, I’m happy to know that I’ve conveyed the message clearly. Some readers have let me know when something struck a chord with them, and others have asked me questions. I appreciate and welcome all your comments! 

Over the next couple weeks, I invite you to go to my blog page at  https://intoflame.blogspot.com.  and search past posts based on topic or date written. Pay attention to which reflections our Lord may be leading you to. To get you started, here are some readers’ favorites from the past three years:

A True Story

https://intoflame.blogspot.com/2022/05/a-true-story.html

The Game of Life

https://intoflame.blogspot.com/2021/07/the-game-of-life.html

Change, Learn, and Grow

https://intoflame.blogspot.com/2021/07/change-learn-and-grow.html

Campfires of Love

https://intoflame.blogspot.com/2022/08/building-campfires-of-love.html

God Needs Us

https://intoflame.blogspot.com/2023/02/god-needs-us-to-work-his-miracles.html

Faith Is Not a Feeling

https://intoflame.blogspot.com/2023/03/faith-is-not-feeling.html

Christmas Is Just the Beginning

https://intoflame.blogspot.com/2023/12/christmas-is-just-beginning.html

“Lord, draw me close to You.”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2024 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly to your inbox, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

You can also find my posts on Facebook!

P.S.

Pray for peace in Ukraine, the Middle East, and around the world. Donate toward a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the families around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.

He Hears You

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The small child grabs a toy off the shelf and puts it in the shopping cart. Dad takes it out and puts it back. The child doesn’t know why, and starts wailing. Maybe the toy isn’t age-appropriate, is too expensive, or will be given to him for his birthday. Dad could be showing his love by not giving him the toy. The child doesn’t know this; he knows only that he isn’t getting what he wants right now. His cries grow louder.

God hears all our prayers, whether they’re whispered or cried aloud in pain. Sometimes we get the answer we hoped for; sometimes we don’t. We might never know, in this lifetime, why God answers the way He does. Sometimes, we look back and thank Him for not giving in to our demands. Sometimes, we realize that our challenge prepared us for something better. When we pray, ‘Thy will be done,’ we trust that whatever God answers will bring about the greater good for ourselves and our loved ones. 

It’s natural to ask, “Why?” when we’re suffering. It’s natural to feel discouraged when the problem doesn't go away.  

“The same everlasting Father who cares for you today will care for you tomorrow and every day. Either he will shield you from suffering or give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, then, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginings.” – Francis de Sales

Remember, God doesn’t give us difficulties and illness, but He does permit them. In His wisdom, He knows that challenges draw us closer to Him. We may be complacent while things are going smoothly and then, when we’re struggling, we call on Him for help. Struggles also tend to bring about our greatest growth: it’s not until after the storm has passed that we see how much we’ve learned by going through it. This experience might help us later. Also, others’ challenges often bring out our most generous selves: We might be the answer to their prayers.

Imagine our Lord saying to you:

You feel anxious and are worried about many things. I hear you and see you. I know what that feels like because I, too, felt agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.

I know what it feels like to be frustrated and discouraged because I felt that when my apostles didn’t understand what I was trying to teach them.

I hear you. I am with you. Come to Me and open your heart to what I want to tell you.

Put your worries on My cross. Let Me share your burden, and then your suffering will have purpose. Let Me use it for a greater good: your salvation and the salvation of the world.

Every prayer you utter, I hear and I answer. Listen in your heart for the answer I’m giving you. 

I love you.

“Listen to the petitions of your servant and of your people… Listen from your heavenly dwelling...” – 1 Kings 8:30

“Lord, I trust in You.”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2024 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly to your inbox, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

You can also find my posts on Facebook!

P.S.

Pray for peace in Ukraine, the Middle East, and around the world. Donate toward a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the families around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.