Susanne Timpani's Blog, page 14
January 25, 2016
Song of Songs 30 Day Retreat: Day 26
10 Minute Daily Retreat - Read the Word of God with a prayerful heart.By Susanne Timpani (Day 26)
Beloved: Its flashes are flashes of fire,
a raging flame. SS 8:6
Seemingly random flashes of hardship can throw our life into chaos. They come unexpectedly and test the core of our faith. How difficult it can be to hold fast to our belief in God's love during those times.
When I worked in a homeless centre I had the interesting task of caring for battered feet. As I listened to my client's sombre life stories, my stereotypical view of a homeless person vanished. I discovered that we are all just one step away from experiencing the same.
I imagined being new to town, with no income and my spouse became violent. If I wanted to flee, where could I go? Quite possibly to a homeless shelter - especially if I also had children.
When flashes of hardship halt us in our path, remember that God's love is infinitely stronger than any stumbling block life throws at us. The Word of God is one place where He flashes us those reminders.
I lift up my eyes to the hills—
from where will my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1
What a great and faithful God we have!
Read the scripture slowly.Reflect on its meaning for you. Listen for God's voice in the stillness. Pray for God's blessing upon you.
Beloved: Its flashes are flashes of fire,
a raging flame. SS 8:6
Seemingly random flashes of hardship can throw our life into chaos. They come unexpectedly and test the core of our faith. How difficult it can be to hold fast to our belief in God's love during those times.
When I worked in a homeless centre I had the interesting task of caring for battered feet. As I listened to my client's sombre life stories, my stereotypical view of a homeless person vanished. I discovered that we are all just one step away from experiencing the same.
I imagined being new to town, with no income and my spouse became violent. If I wanted to flee, where could I go? Quite possibly to a homeless shelter - especially if I also had children.
When flashes of hardship halt us in our path, remember that God's love is infinitely stronger than any stumbling block life throws at us. The Word of God is one place where He flashes us those reminders.
I lift up my eyes to the hills—
from where will my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1
What a great and faithful God we have!
Read the scripture slowly.Reflect on its meaning for you. Listen for God's voice in the stillness. Pray for God's blessing upon you.
January 24, 2016
Song of Songs 30 Day Retreat: Day 25
10 Minute Daily Retreat - Read the Word of God with a prayerful heart.By Susanne Timpani (Day 25)
Beloved:
for love is strong as death,
jealousy is cruel as the grave.
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
a most vehement flame. SS 8:6
Twenty two years ago we had a house fire that destroyed a portion of our home and left the rest smoke damaged. To this day I pick up the odd belonging and smell the smoke. Fire has the power to destroy all that is valuable within seconds.
In the height of summer, all Australians are urged to heed fire danger warnings. A single spark can instigate a blaze that wreaks havoc for everything and everyone in its path.
Nothing and no one can survive a fire without bearing the charred scars. Victims mark their life with 'before and after' the fire. Properties require rebuilding, and land replanting.
Fire also results in regrowth.
The Beloved declares that love is even stronger than fire. God's love has the power to bring regrowth into devastated areas of our life, our relationships and our hearts.
Nothing can separate us from the Love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)
Read the scripture slowly.Reflect on its meaning for you. Listen for God's voice in the stillness. Pray for God's blessing upon you.
Beloved:
for love is strong as death,
jealousy is cruel as the grave.
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
a most vehement flame. SS 8:6
Twenty two years ago we had a house fire that destroyed a portion of our home and left the rest smoke damaged. To this day I pick up the odd belonging and smell the smoke. Fire has the power to destroy all that is valuable within seconds.
In the height of summer, all Australians are urged to heed fire danger warnings. A single spark can instigate a blaze that wreaks havoc for everything and everyone in its path.
Nothing and no one can survive a fire without bearing the charred scars. Victims mark their life with 'before and after' the fire. Properties require rebuilding, and land replanting.
Fire also results in regrowth.
The Beloved declares that love is even stronger than fire. God's love has the power to bring regrowth into devastated areas of our life, our relationships and our hearts.
Nothing can separate us from the Love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)
Read the scripture slowly.Reflect on its meaning for you. Listen for God's voice in the stillness. Pray for God's blessing upon you.
January 23, 2016
Song of Songs 30 Day Retreat: Day 24
10 Minute Daily Retreat - Read the Word of God with a prayerful heart.By Susanne Timpani (Day 24)
Beloved: For love is strong as death SS 8:6
I worked in the Mary Potter Hospice in my first position as a Registered Nurse. Initially I felt disconcerted by patients who appeared to 'choose' to die just as their loved one left the room.
I had the honour of holding their hand as they slipped away. I felt like I had somehow cheated the relative of that opportunity.
One of the Sisters pointed out that sometimes patients hang on to life to protect the people they love. When they are left on their own, they can finally let go. That is the power of love.
Even so, the strongest of human love will eventually be overcome by death. What the great Lover offers us is a love that death has no power over whatsoever.
His love brings us to eternal life.
In 1 Corinthians 15:55 Paul quotes this magnificent verse from Hosea 13:14:
55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
Read the scripture slowly.Reflect on its meaning for you. Listen for God's voice in the stillness. Pray for God's blessing upon you.
Beloved: For love is strong as death SS 8:6
I worked in the Mary Potter Hospice in my first position as a Registered Nurse. Initially I felt disconcerted by patients who appeared to 'choose' to die just as their loved one left the room.
I had the honour of holding their hand as they slipped away. I felt like I had somehow cheated the relative of that opportunity.
One of the Sisters pointed out that sometimes patients hang on to life to protect the people they love. When they are left on their own, they can finally let go. That is the power of love.
Even so, the strongest of human love will eventually be overcome by death. What the great Lover offers us is a love that death has no power over whatsoever.
His love brings us to eternal life.
In 1 Corinthians 15:55 Paul quotes this magnificent verse from Hosea 13:14:
55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
Read the scripture slowly.Reflect on its meaning for you. Listen for God's voice in the stillness. Pray for God's blessing upon you.
January 22, 2016
Song of Songs 30 Day Retreat: Day 23
10 Minute Daily Retreat - Read the Word of God with a prayerful heart.By Susanne Timpani (Day 18)
Beloved: Set me as a seal upon your heart,
as a seal upon your arm; SS 8:6
During the 1994 holocaust in Rwanda, Immaculee Ilibagiza hid in a tiny bathroom with nine other women for three months. In her story, 'Left to Tell,' she not only recalls the horrific events, but describes the sustaining impact of her faith.
Although barely able to move from lack of space, or speak for fear of discovery, her spiritual life flourished.
We who are marked with the seal of Christ have a sustaining force that no prison can ever crush. The Beloved wants to bear the seal, or personal watermark, of her Lover, and requests the same from Him. Once the seal is set, it cannot be removed.
This depth of union between ourselves and God is exactly what Jesus prayed for.
26 I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17:26
Read the scripture slowly.Reflect on its meaning for you. Listen for God's voice in the stillness. Pray for God's blessing upon you.
Beloved: Set me as a seal upon your heart,
as a seal upon your arm; SS 8:6
During the 1994 holocaust in Rwanda, Immaculee Ilibagiza hid in a tiny bathroom with nine other women for three months. In her story, 'Left to Tell,' she not only recalls the horrific events, but describes the sustaining impact of her faith.
Although barely able to move from lack of space, or speak for fear of discovery, her spiritual life flourished.
We who are marked with the seal of Christ have a sustaining force that no prison can ever crush. The Beloved wants to bear the seal, or personal watermark, of her Lover, and requests the same from Him. Once the seal is set, it cannot be removed.
This depth of union between ourselves and God is exactly what Jesus prayed for.
26 I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17:26
Read the scripture slowly.Reflect on its meaning for you. Listen for God's voice in the stillness. Pray for God's blessing upon you.
