Today is Fat Tuesday. Tomorrow, Ash Wednesday. As we cross over into Lent, I am remembering our time together during the days of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany. I hope that you all are well, living lives full of grace.

I hope you'll find a way to mark the days of Lent in a meaningful way. I'm intending to join my friend, Pamela Hawkins, in exploring "The Awkward Season." She'll be leading us through these days at her blog: http://www.TheAwkwardSeason.org.

Whatever your path, may your steps be guided in the light of God's love.

Blessings,

Beth

A Note of Thanks from Beth: What an honor to have been with you during these weeks. If you have not yet had a chance to, please take a few minutes take a few minutes to give me some feedback on The Uncluttered Heart. Click here to take the survey. Blessings and thanks, Beth

Prayer

Ever-loving God, thank you for the gift of this pilgrimage of faith through the days of Advent and Christmas. Send me out into your world surrounded by Epiphany light, that I may be your mind, heart, and hands in the world. Amen.

Carry These Words in Your Heart Today

Let me be Christ's hands, heart, and spirit in the world.

Today's Picture

I want to thank you for walking with me on this Advent/Christmas journey. It's been an honor and a pleasure. If you have not already, I hope you'll take a moment to fill out the survey on The Uncluttered Heart. If you are interested in an ongoing online devotional, I recommend Daily Reflections from The Upper Room. Also, you can keep up with my work, writing, and new projects at my website: http://www.betharichardson.com. Let's do this again sometime! Many blessings to you on this day of Epiphany.
-Beth A. Richardson (BTW -- that's me and my camera in the picture.)

Question

Share the prayer of your heart today. Share your prayer, thoughts, and final words.

Book of the Day

A Guide to Prayer for All God’s People
Rueben P. Job and Norman Shawchuck

Rueben Job and Norman Shawchuck's Guides to Prayer have been spiritually helpful and inspiring to many people, including me, through the years. The original book was A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and Other Servants. This second one, All God's People, includes daily prayer, scripture readings, quotes, and an outline for monthly personal retreats.   More about the book.

Sing Your Prayer

Open My Heart - All four verses. Listen.

A Note from Beth: Please take a few minutes take a few minutes to give me some feedback on The Uncluttered Heart. Click here to take the survey. Blessings and thanks, Beth

Prayer

Great God of life, your Spirit flows around me and over me every moment. Help me open myself to your presence, that I may join with you and be carried along in the steady flow of your Spirit. Amen.

Carry These Words in Your Heart Today

Carry me in the steady flow of your Spirit.

Today's Picture

This is Calypso Cascades, a mountain waterfall in the Wild Basin area of The Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. Sometimes being carried along by God's Spirit is a wild, cold ride like this stream. Other times, the God's Spirit is more like the calm meandering of a broad river.

Question

We've nearly come to the close of our journey. What has gone well for you? What has been challenging? Share your thoughts on the question or on today's entry in the book.

Book of the Day

Wrestling with Grace
Robert Corin Morris

The subtitle says it all: "A Spirituality for the Rough Edges of Daily Life." This is Morris' first book with The Upper Room. In it, I learned a lot about Robert Morris; I learned even more about me. This is a book for ordinary Christians who want to learn to be better -- more connected, quieter inside, facing the internal challenges of depression and anger. I'm grateful to Bob Morris for this gift in the pages of a book. More about the book.

Sing Your Prayer

Open My Heart - All four verses. Listen.

A Note from Beth: Please take a few minutes take a few minutes to give me some feedback on The Uncluttered Heart. Click here to take the survey. Blessings and thanks, Beth

Prayer

Creative and creating God, thank you for creating the universe with its vast galaxies. And thank you for creating me, infinitely tiny in comparison but precious in your sight. Amen.

Carry These Words in Your Heart Today

The God of 150 billion galaxies cares about me.

Today's Picture

This was the moon rise in a Washington sky last summer. It reminded me that I'm not the center of the Universe (thank goodness!).

Question

How would your life change if you were able to keep God at the center rather than other things? Share your thoughts on the question or on today's entry in the book.

Book of the Day

Spiritual Preparation for Christian Leadership
E. Glenn Hinson

I got to study under Glenn Hinson a few years ago when he was a presenter at my Academy for Spiritual Formation. I had always loved this book, but hearing him speak brought the pages of the book more alive for me. In this book, he examines the spiritual preparation of the ordinary people who were invited to become Christian leaders and saints. The quote from Spiritual Preparation that we used in The Uncluttered Heart is one of my favorite Upper Room gems. (Today's words for the day come from that quote.) More about the book.

Sing Your Prayer

Open My Heart - All four verses. Listen.

A Note from Beth: Please take a few minutes take a few minutes to give me some feedback on The Uncluttered Heart. Click here to take the survey. Blessings and thanks, Beth

Prayer

Jesus, keep prodding me to follow you, and all else will fall into place. Amen.

Carry These Words in Your Heart Today

Jesus, you are the one I want to love and follow.

Today's Picture

This is the labyrinth at Mercy Center in Burlingame, California. It was in this place that I attended the Academy for Spiritual Formation. I regularly found myself at this labyrinth, walking, meditating, trying to hear what God was saying to me.

Question

How are you being called to follow? Share your thoughts on the question or on today's entry in the book.

Book of the Day

The Way of Transforming Discipleship
Trevor Hudson and Stephen D. Bryant

This book is part of the Companions in Christ series published by The Upper Room. Trevor Hudson has been in the Methodist ministry for over thirty years, spending most of this time in and around Johannesburg, South Africa. I've gotten to know him through his work with The Upper Room. Most recently, I had the honor of introducing Trevor to the strange American tradition of Halloween when he had dinner at my house this past October 31. Trevor is a powerful writer and a humble, authentic leader. More about the book.

Sing Your Prayer

Open My Heart - All four verses. Listen.