Monthly Archives: August 2016

Posted on

Taking a Sabbatical

To my dear followers,

I will be taking a sabbatical from writing my blog starting today. It is yet to be determined how long I will be away. I’m fairly certain it will be at least two months.

Why?

I need to rework what I am offering here at A Contemplative Space. I enjoy writing posts and have found it easy to come up with content. Each one comes from my heart and its spiritual concepts are borne out of lessons I’ve learned in life. However, I realize I need to write content that engages readers and in a robust and applicable way.

It is necessary to rethink some of this, and I will be going to Father God for further direction and to seek Him for answers. He will guide me in a certain direction and lead me to where I need to go. I do know I am in need of refreshment and assurance. I continue on in this solo pilgrimage that is leading me in an ever-deepening understanding. Right now centering prayer is becoming a greater part of me. Prayer is truly one of the most astounding disciplines in the Christian life. Some day I wish to lead a prayer retreat, when the time is right. For four years this has been one of my wishes, but I’m not ready.

If you’ve enjoyed these posts or been challenged by them, you may still leave further comment or keep me in the loop about what is happening in your life. I am not sure how long I will be on sabbatical. In the near future I will be heading to Washington and then later to Colorado to see family, which factors in.

Pray for me, I need to be doing what God wants me to do. I may pop in here once in a while to keep you abreast of the happenings.

You are precious to God.

God’s best,

Norma

Posted on

What Adversity Taught Me

We go from one problem to the next problem, one crisis to the next crisis. Just when things are settling down, here comes another one. It’s tough. Problems aren’t my favorite part of life. But, hey, they are teachers. Adversity offers many opportunities to learn. It’s amazing what we will realize after a time of struggle. There are a few reoccurring themes that have held true to the end, that have been my teachers. These are part of what I have learned from my personal journey of loss, pain, discovery, and healing. Feel free make a print copy.

IMG_0122

What Adversity Taught Me

  1. You are stronger than you think.  We don’t think we can make it, but we can. You can.
  2. Every set-back is an opportunity to grow.
  3. Friends walk through a crisis with you.  We wouldn’t get far without friends.
  4. Pain is a teacher.  Let it teach you. Ask yourself, what can I learn from this?
  5. God will not forsake you.  He carries us through, and then some.
  6. The sun will rise again.  There will be a new day. You will get through this.
  7. You can’t change someone else, you can only change yourself.
  8. Healing of damaged emotions is possible with God’s help. We can’t do it on our own.
  9. There is always hope.  No person is hopeless. No situation is hopeless. No trouble is without hope.
  10. You wouldn’t get far without God.  He is in control and we are not.
  11. Life is a gift.  Each one of us is a gift.
  12. Prayers of the wounded touch the heart of God. He responds to our cries. He tenderly loves us.
  13. What we think is the end, is the beginning.  A crisis shuts one door and then another one opens.
  14. You have to let go of doing it your way to start doing it God’s way.
  15. You never know what is down the road and around the bend.
  16. You have something to say that only you can say.  We have a voice and our voice matters.
  17. Nature has healing properties.  It whispers peace to our inner being.
  18. When all is said and done, God is enough.  You wouldn’t get far without God. 
  19. Life is about the journey, not the destination.
  20. What you are going through today has the potential to help someone tomorrow.
What I learned from adversity.
Click To Tweet

Your turn. What is one thing you have learned from adversity?