Thank you so much for this sermon today. It came at the perfect time. I couldn’t even tune into my church’s online service because I’m currently sitting in an exam room, mask on, waiting for them to call me back for a chest X-ray. They just swabbed me with one of the few precious tests they have. I am trying hard not to freak out, but you’ve reminded me that God’s healing is there, if I just relax into it and trust. Thank you, Nadia.
The test they had takes 48 hours. X-ray inconclusive. I know I’ll be fine, it’s just scary. I have two roommates and they’re both really anxious. I’d appreciate any prayers! Thanks to all.
"You have heard it said that water finds it’s lowest point – living water finds your lowest point." Thanks be to God, literally, for that! And thank you for this beautiful sermon.
Yes, yes on the part about relaxing! For years I was so uncomfortable at the conservative church I attended -- I would come home nearly in tears but still I went back. Then I went to a church where grace is the message (it happens to be ELCA) and haven't looked back. I'm still the same person, still a sinner, but now I receive palpable grace instead of shame at church.
Epiphany: my upbringing & childhood were pretty great. So I’ve never had a shit-ton of baggage. What I HAVE done, however, is pick up a shit-ton of empty jars, so I can collect all the joy. Those suckers are cumbersome & can put a serious drag on what coulda been some amazing, spontaneous dance parties...
"Faith is relaxing" that is brilliant and palpable. I can finally relate to the experience of having faith in a way that is repeatable. Thank you James Allison and Nadia for being the channel...
Thank you so much for the most beautiful and comforting sermons on woundedness and shame, I've ever read. I carry a lot of dirt and 'dead weight' around which only the Living Water can dissolve and wash away. And it does - gradually, slowly, gently, unearned and always at totally unexpected hours.
wow, this just blew me away and I had to subscribe, thank you. "True. But not the whole truth. I mean that’s the dirty secret of people who are self-revealing"
It was a amazing day for me when I told my vilest sins to my counselor. A man who loved and knew Jesus in a way I never had. I am so grateful for him. For the way he accepted me where I was at. He was the safest person in my life. And amazing psychologist. I went into psychology because of him.
Nadia, I'm so grateful for your take on this story... It was a profound reminder to me that extraordinary changes can result when we engage in honest, open conversation with the divine... I just love it that the Christ initiated this amazing interaction with someone who is emblematic of every soul who has ever been considered different, odd, "unclean" in our culture or any culture(ie: Gay, Black, Hispanic, immigrant, Jew, Muslim, HIV infected, Corona virus infected, etc., etc.). The Christ's interaction with the Samaritan women reminded me of Moses engagement with divine at Mount Sinai when he stood before the burning bush... When you stand in the presence of God, things changed in the most unpredictable of ways... Brother Moses was physically & spiritually altered by that encounter, image the changes we can all experience if we just got out of the "fracking" way of the Spirit of God who surrounds us continuously.....
Thank you so much for this sermon today. It came at the perfect time. I couldn’t even tune into my church’s online service because I’m currently sitting in an exam room, mask on, waiting for them to call me back for a chest X-ray. They just swabbed me with one of the few precious tests they have. I am trying hard not to freak out, but you’ve reminded me that God’s healing is there, if I just relax into it and trust. Thank you, Nadia.
WhT did you find out?
The test they had takes 48 hours. X-ray inconclusive. I know I’ll be fine, it’s just scary. I have two roommates and they’re both really anxious. I’d appreciate any prayers! Thanks to all.
Hope you are doing well.
Many prayers.
Prayers
Sending you LOVE and Healing energy my friend.🙏❤️
I’ve just been to church! Thank you Nadia. I hope it’s ok to put this here....
Blessing of the Well by Jan Richardson
If you stand
At the edge
Of this blessing
and call down
Into it,
You will hear
Your words
Return to you.
If you lean in
And listen close,
You will hear
This blessing
Give the story
Of your life
Back to you.
Quiet your voice.
Quiet your judgement.
Quiet the way
You always tell
Your story
To yourself.
Quiet all these
And you will hear
The whole of it:
The spaces
In the telling,
The gaps
Where you hesitate
To go.
Sit at the rim
Of this blessing.
Press your ear
To its lip,
It’s sides,
It’s curves
That were carved out
Long ago
By those whose thirst
Drove them deep,
Those who dug
Into the layers
With only their hands
And hope.
Rest yourself
Beside this blessing
And you will
Begin to hear
The sound of water
Entering the gaps.
Still yourself
And you will feel it
Rising up within you,
Filling every emptiness,
Springing forth
Anew.
Amen 🙏
So very beautiful
Wonderful! thank you for sharing this...
"You have heard it said that water finds it’s lowest point – living water finds your lowest point." Thanks be to God, literally, for that! And thank you for this beautiful sermon.
I remember this sermon well and have quoted from it many times this week as we’ve sat in this story. ♥️
Seriously, please do a book (or some kind of collection) of your sermons for the Lectionary years.
YES !!! Agree!!!
Yes, yes on the part about relaxing! For years I was so uncomfortable at the conservative church I attended -- I would come home nearly in tears but still I went back. Then I went to a church where grace is the message (it happens to be ELCA) and haven't looked back. I'm still the same person, still a sinner, but now I receive palpable grace instead of shame at church.
Relaxing in God's presence and love -- what a WORD. This was the perfect sermon to read while quarantined at home. Thank you.
Epiphany: my upbringing & childhood were pretty great. So I’ve never had a shit-ton of baggage. What I HAVE done, however, is pick up a shit-ton of empty jars, so I can collect all the joy. Those suckers are cumbersome & can put a serious drag on what coulda been some amazing, spontaneous dance parties...
"Faith is relaxing" that is brilliant and palpable. I can finally relate to the experience of having faith in a way that is repeatable. Thank you James Allison and Nadia for being the channel...
Thank you so much for the most beautiful and comforting sermons on woundedness and shame, I've ever read. I carry a lot of dirt and 'dead weight' around which only the Living Water can dissolve and wash away. And it does - gradually, slowly, gently, unearned and always at totally unexpected hours.
Bless you, Nadia. 🙏🧡💚
wow, this just blew me away and I had to subscribe, thank you. "True. But not the whole truth. I mean that’s the dirty secret of people who are self-revealing"
It was a amazing day for me when I told my vilest sins to my counselor. A man who loved and knew Jesus in a way I never had. I am so grateful for him. For the way he accepted me where I was at. He was the safest person in my life. And amazing psychologist. I went into psychology because of him.
This sermon was very special and had deep meaning for me
Nadia, I'm so grateful for your take on this story... It was a profound reminder to me that extraordinary changes can result when we engage in honest, open conversation with the divine... I just love it that the Christ initiated this amazing interaction with someone who is emblematic of every soul who has ever been considered different, odd, "unclean" in our culture or any culture(ie: Gay, Black, Hispanic, immigrant, Jew, Muslim, HIV infected, Corona virus infected, etc., etc.). The Christ's interaction with the Samaritan women reminded me of Moses engagement with divine at Mount Sinai when he stood before the burning bush... When you stand in the presence of God, things changed in the most unpredictable of ways... Brother Moses was physically & spiritually altered by that encounter, image the changes we can all experience if we just got out of the "fracking" way of the Spirit of God who surrounds us continuously.....
This was awesome. Tears of relaxation. Thanks
So so good. I needed this. Thank you.