Time for a change...

Hey friends... if you are looking for my blog, I've moved over to a new space. You can now find me here:

https://marciaramirez.substack.com/

I hope you'll find me over there, join in the conversations and subscribe to my new newsletter!  

Thanks everyone... 

Love to all

Marcia

How to honor the Sabbath, religious labeling and other thoughts....

Sunday Thoughts:  Nov. 7th, 2021

“‘Sabbath is an expression of faith. Faith that there is a Creator and he’s good…’ says John Mark Comer. ‘So on the Sabbath, we don’t just take a day off from work; we take a day off from toil. We give him all our fear and anxiety and stress and worry.’”* 

———-

I thought about going to church this morning, but I didn’t. My body is still recovering from a few weeks of touring around the country and it was telling me to remain still a little longer. Learning to listen to the cues my body gives me is a relatively new thing in my world - but one that has served me very well lately.

So I had a quiet morning in my sunroom with some prayer/meditation time. I then tried to watch a couple of sermons online, but both irritated me for different reasons. That led me back to a question I’ve been wrestling with for quite awhile now - “Where do I land religiously these days?”  Saying I’m a Christian doesn’t cut it for me anymore because that term can mean many things. A fundamentalist Christian? An evangelical Christian? A modernist? A neo-evangelical? A progressive? A mainline Protestant? …..WHAT AM I?

David French wrote an article a couple of weeks ago about the infighting in Christian circles today that I’ve been hearing many people referencing lately. Here’s the link: https://frenchpress.thedispatch.com/p/evangelical-elites-fighting-each

Then I heard them discussing this idea of “Elite Evangelicals” further on this episode of The Holy Post: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-holy-post/id591157388?i=1000539174931

And finally, I found this interesting breakdown by Phil Vischer (host of the Holy Post, and yes Veggietales creator) about what exactly IS an “Evangelical”.  https://youtu.be/NiiRnO7UTTk

It reminded me that Christianity has changed and changed and CHANGED throughout history. There are certain sects of American Christian churches who claim that their version of Christianity is the “original” one. But when you look back at Christianity before America was even a country, their claims become… well, just silly. Americanized Christianity is just another relatively new version of this religion.  

I still don’t know what to call myself these days, but the urgency of trying to figure it out has subsided a bit. Most days I’m content to just be ME without a religious label. Today, this is who I am: I’m a deeply spiritual woman who believes in a God that created all things (including humans, mother earth and beyond) - and follows the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament. Anything beyond that just gets a shrug from me right now. 

Is the Bible the inerrant word of God?  - shrug

Is Christianity the only way to heaven? - shrug

Is there really a hell? — shrug

I know some of my friends read that with concern, angst, even horror. 

But the good news about the “shrug” is that it is truly freeing. Giving up certainty for me has been awesome! Embracing the mystery of God has been one of the most wonderful revelations in my spiritual journey. It allows God to be God — and takes all the pressure off of me. I don’t have to know it all to love others, and that is what I feel I’m ultimately called to do.

So.. I sit here at home on this GORGEOUS fall Sunday morning, and breathe in the beauty of nature around me. Letting God help me write these words today as I process where I am in my spiritual journey, and smiling as I know I’m closer to where I want to be than I have ever been before. 

I used to feel guilty not attending church on Sabbath - but now, I think Sabbath is about so much more than only attending church.

So…..

Whatever you need to do today to feel closer to our Creator, God - do that. 

Whatever you need to do today to care for your soul - do that.

Whatever you need to do today to honor yourself and others - do that.

When I do those 3 things, I feel God smile at me — and it makes me smile too. And that is my expression of faith today. 

Happy Sabbath, friends. 

— M

*John Mark Comer, Garden City: Work, Rest and the Art of Being Human, 2015 

Challenged

Well friends, this has been a WEEK. 

I have been challenged and I have been changed.

It was a week of growth and education… and like I said - challenge. It was challenging mentally, emotionally and relationally. I’m not kidding when I say I believe I’ve been challenged more this week than I’ve ever been in my whole life… about anything. And although it’s been exhausting, it’s been a good thing.

I have been challenged by conversations with friends, by podcasts, articles, blogs and social media posts. My thinking, my biases, my beliefs and convictions have all been questioned and challenged by both people I agree with and people I disagree with. Some days were hard and heartbreaking. Other days were beautiful and eye-opening. Over-all, I know it’s worth the struggle.

I used to think when someone challenged you on something, it wasn’t good. Now, my eyes have been opened to the benefits of being challenged. It’s really the quickest way towards getting to the truth. And the truth is ultimately what I want to see.

This week I participated in the “I am Muted” pledge, where I didn’t post anything about my own life, instead spotlighting the plight of the black community and supporting the “Black Lives Matter” movement.  It was pretty amazing to see how many white people grew tired of my posts and un-followed me.  Maybe some un-friended me too, I don’t really know. If they did, that makes me sad, because it means they don't want to be confronted with another view other than their own. 

One of the most challenging aspects of growth is being questioned by those you love who deeply don’t agree with you. “You’re posting too much about racial stuff!” said one friend who was clearly uncomfortable with my posts this week. Yes, I know - it’s much more comfortable for everyone if I just go back to posting about my music, or pictures of Charlotte smiling, sprinkled in with a recipe or two.  Trust me, I’d rather be posting about that stuff too. I’d give anything if I didn’t have to post about police brutality and racial injustice because that would mean it wasn’t happening anymore. Sadly, i can’t do that, because it IS happening.

As this week comes to an end, I won’t be posting about racial issues everyday anymore, but I don’t plan on backing down to fight for equality for my black friends. I am committed to doing what I can to stop racial injustice in this country. This has been buried in my heart now and my eyes have been opened. REALLY opened to the systemic injustice going on in our country. And once you finally SEE this, you can’t un-see it. 

Yes, I have been challenged and I have been changed. 

On a positive note, I do believe we are seeing some progress on this. The peaceful protest in Nashville this week, organized by teenagers in this area was nothing short of incredible!  Over 10,000 people peacefully let their voices be heard!  I watched with chills as they marched downtown. And this time it wasn’t just black people marching for their rights. It was black and white and hispanic and asian… a completely mixed demographic of people all fighting for the rights of each other!  It was inspiring and encouraging and makes me think we do have good change coming around the corner.

To end this, I’d like to highlight 3 main ways I have been challenged:

1. As a white woman, I have been challenged. I’ve been challenged to see my whiteness and acknowledge my privileged place in this society.  I’m not quite as privileged as a white male, but I’m second in line and we white women need to understand how we have pushed minorities down so that we can hold onto that 2nd place position.  For a resource  on that, I recommend watching “White Women’s Toxic Tears”, by Lisa Sharon Harper and Jen Hatmaker.

2. As a Christian, I have been challenged. I’ve been challenged to see how the Christian church has failed the black communities. I’ve been challenged to see how the church is still the most segregated body in America today.  In THIS YOUTUBE CLIP, Martin Luther King speaks about how sad it is that the “11:00 hour is the most segregated hour in our country” and what a tragedy that is. This clip was from 1960, and sadly, not much has changed 60 years later. 

I'd also like to say that the silence from so many white Christian leaders on racism has been deafening. White theology is still loud and proud in America. If it wasn't for the black Christian leaders speaking out so eloquently and standing strong in the faith, I might be questioning my own religious beliefs -- even more than I already have been these last few years. I am grateful to them. 

3. And as an American, I have been challenged.  America used to be proud of it’s diversity. On the Statue of Liberty, these words are engraved:

 “Give me your tired, your poor,  your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” 

I pray our country can celebrate it’s diversity again, by truly giving equality to all. By showing human decency, respect and love to each other, no matter what our backgrounds are. No matter what our skin color is. No matter what language we speak. I love this country. I love it so much. THAT is why I’m fighting to make it better. I’m fighting to make it a wonderful place for ALL to live. 

Yes, this has been a challenging week on so many levels. But I have grown and feel like I’m a better person. A stronger person. I pray everyone is taking the time to do the work they need to in order to educate themselves on the truth that is happening in our country. 

If you want to learn more but don’t know where to start, I listed some resources for you at the bottom of this blog. I hope you will take the time to understand… truly understand, what is happening in this country. Don’t let your prejudices and biases blind you from the truth. I can say that because I used to be blinded by my limited perspective… and I would argue with you ALL DAY LONG that I wasn’t. I thought I could see… but i could not.  I didn’t know how to “Weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15).  Now that I understand the real plight of the minorities in this country, I have been weeping. I have weeped all week. I just pray my tears continue to push me to make a difference.

Yes, I have been challenged and I have been changed.

… and I am grateful.

Love, Peace and Blessings,

M

RESOURCES:

A few trusted leaders to learn from :

Latasha Morrison:  https://latashamorrison.com/

Lisa Sharon Harper:  www.lisasharonharper.com

Jo Saxton:  www.josaxton.com  

Kyle Howard: www.kylejhoward.com

Ibram X. Kendi: https://www.ibramxkendi.com/

BJ Thompson: https://twitter.com/bj116

Websites to check out:

www.bethebridge.com 

Colorsofchange.org  

https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/

Books:

White Fragility by Robin Diangelo

Waking up White by Debby Irving

The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander

White Awake by Daniel Hill

Beyond Colorblind by Sarah Shin

Quarantine Cooking 2020... breakfast hash!

Print Recipe

I'll admit it. I'm missing EATING OUT AT RESTAURANTS!!

We never ate out that frequently, but this quarantine has reminded me that sometimes I'm just sick of my own cooking and I need something different on my palate.

So... I've been dreaming about some of my favorite dishes at some of my favorite restaurants and decided to try and recreate them.

Today's attempt was a SMASHING SUCCESS - so I thought I'd share it with you!

I love "First Watch" and especially their Market Hash.  Check out this recipe below and try it out! It was easy and delicious. I'm happy to have a new breakfast recipe that's easy and healthy too!

Blessings... Marcia

Marcia's breakfast hash

This is my new favorite breakfast/brunch item from my 2020 Quarantine Cooking Adventures. It's my knock-off from First Watch's market hash which I LOVE. Mine is a little different but equally as good! The great thing about this is you can substitute any veggies you have in your fridge and it will be FINE. Enjoy!

Source: Marcia's kitchen

Serves: 1

Ingredients

• 1 small potato
• ¹⁄₂ cup chopped onions
• ¹⁄₂ cup chopped green pepper
• ³⁄₄ cup sliced carrots
• 1 cup diced zucchini squash
• 4 cherry tomatoes halfed
• ¹⁄₂ mushrooms diced or sliced
• 1 cup spinach or 1 large handful
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• chicken or veggie broth
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 egg fried
• garlic to taste
• Montery jack cheese or any cheese you like

Directions

1. Microwave potato for about 4 minutes or until softened. Then cut into bite size pieces.
2. In one large skillet, put in olive oil (or avocado oil) until hot.
3. Add onions, peppers, carrots and potatoes and cook until veggies are a bit softened (2-3 mins) Season w/ a bit of salt and pepper
4. Add zucchini and mushrooms... cook for a couple of mins
5. Add Spinach and tomatoes and garlic.... add extra oil or the broth to keep moistened if getting too dry. Cook until they look done and then turn burner to low. Sprinkle the cheese on top and let it melt.
6. In another skillet, fry up an egg to your preferred doneness. I like my over-well.
7. Serve all the veggies in a bowl and top with the fried egg.
8. This is delicious! Can add a side of fruit or toast to go along with it but it's great all by itself.
9. This recipe can be used as a base, but you can throw in ANY leftover veggies you have in your fridge to make this yummy!

If you are on Plan to Eat, just click this button -   to import the recipe right into your own PTE recipe book!  So easy!  ENJOY!

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A different kind of Easter - 2020

Hi friends,

It’s Easter Sunday morning, and for most Christians it’s quite different than usual. No dressing up and going to worship the risen King in the church of our choosing. The virus has changed everything, including us. But I’m actually ok with that. Really.

I’m ok with that for many reasons. Partly because I’m in a very weird place as far as religion goes right now. For awhile I’ve been taking time to work on my personal relationship with my Creator and my Savior, setting aside much of what was taught to me about what I’m “supposed” to believe surrounding the life and death of Jesus, and instead choosing to study the Bible with much research of original Hebrew language and the Holy Spirit to guide me. It’s been enlightening to say the least. I’m still not in a completely comfortable place with religion... but I’m SO much more comfortable with God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit... and myself.

I was actually grateful to have this Easter Sunday, alone on the porch of my cabin in the mountains. I got up early, poured a cup of coffee, and sat down on the porch with a blanket wrapped around me for warmth. I sat looking at the mountains and pondering all the things my Savior has done for me. There is no doubt in my mind or heart that Jesus saved me. He saved me when he died on the cross, He saved me when I let Him into my heart and asked Him to change me and mold me into what He made me to be. And He continues to save me each and every day as I lean in closer and closer to His majesty. 

OH, I could feel His majesty on my porch this morning!  I could feel Christ in the wind blowing on my face. I could taste Him in the warm coffee I was sipping. I could see how God’s finger traced the mountains in front of me and carved out each hill and valley. I found myself grateful that I wasn’t feeling pressured to get dressed up in my “Easter best” and go into a building with a bunch of other people to worship this morning. I didn’t want corporate worship today. I just wanted it to be me and God on this Holy Day. Selfish maybe, but honest. 

I’ve never been more grateful that God meets us wherever we are and we can worship him wherever we are and that Christianity isn’t about following a bunch of rules to me anymore. It’s about connecting with my Creator and my Savior... and letting Him lead me where I need to go, and become who I need to be.

Rohr speaks of the spiritual process of “order, disorder, reorder”. I actually thought I was in my reorder phase, but after crying many tears to my sweet husband this morning, and spilling my guts to him of how confused and disconnected I was feeling about the many religious rituals happening today, he gently informed me that I’m still very much in “disorder”.  LoL. —That man is a GIFT FROM GOD I TELL YOU. He knows how to make me laugh just when I need it the most... and usually it’s by making me stop and see the reality of my situation with perfectly timed levity. I love him so.

If any of you reading this might be feeling the way I am today, I offer this blog post, “On the days when I believe this...”. by Sarah Bessey to you. It brought me much comfort this morning and dried my tears. 

https://sarahbessey.substack.com/

No matter where you are, physically or spiritually today, I hope you are all safe, happy and healthy. I hope you all can take this day to appreciate the blessings around you. Blessings from a God who loves you so deeply it’s mind-boggling. Find the beauty in your current set of circumstances, no matter how dreary they may seem right now. Only God can give us that kind of vision. The ability to see light in the dark. 

I love this quote from the amazing Barbara Brown Taylor in her powerful book, “Learning To Walk In The Dark”:  “New life starts in the dark. Whether it is a seed in the ground, a baby in the womb, or Jesus in the tomb, it starts in the dark.”

So, if you are like me and feel like you are stumbling around in the dark today, it’s ok. It just means new life is around the bend. On this day, I believe.

Happy Easter everyone.

Much love,

M

2019. The good, the bad, the beautiful and the ugly.

Tues. Dec. 31st, 2019

Hello friends,

On this last morning of the year, I woke up early (5:30am), and did my usual routine. I made coffee, turned on the fireplace, and snuggled into my morning prayer chair with Charlie. For those of you that don’t know, Charlie is our rescue dog and he is truly a light in our lives. We have a friend who was struggling with depression last year, and you know what his doctor’s advice was?  Get a dog.  And he did.  And he said it changed everything. 

Dog lovers get it. I mean, I know many who own a dog, but owning a dog and loving a dog are two different animals, right?  (pun intended.) 

Dogs can teach us so much about living life moment to moment. They don’t worry about the future. They pretty much just accept life on it’s own terms and seem happy with whatever is given to them, whether little or much. They don’t hold grudges. They are always happy to see those that they love and don’t hold back on expressing their joy when you walk into a room. I can seriously just run to the grocery store and come back 20 minutes later, and the greeting I get is like I’ve been gone a year.  With all the jumping up in the air, tail wagging, and whimpering with happiness he can muster, Charlie will always make sure I know that someone is glad I just walked through the door. He makes me smile every single day, and he is one blessing I am definitely grateful for in 2019.

I know many of you are taking this day to think back on 2019 and evaluate the good, the bad, the beautiful and the ugly. Was 2019 a good year?  Or was it a bad year?  The truth is, for most of us, it was both.  

Something I have recently come to understand is that more than one thing can be true at the same time.

2019 held tears of joy and tears of sadness. It gave us hellos and goodbyes. It gave us cheers and disappointments, happiness and sadness, clarity and confusion. But that is how life is meant to be, right?  We can hold two truths at once. 

We can feel love and grief.

We can feel joy and sadness.

We can be hopeful and scared.

We can be grateful for every single thing we have around us and wish everything could be different.

We can absolutely love the direction our life seems to be going and miss where we used to be.

We can be 100% sure that God loves us deeply and be completely confused about religion.

Personally, that last statement is where I’ve spent much time in 2019. My faith journey has been almost torturous these last few months.  I’ve spent many days in what Richard Rohr would call the “disorder” phase of my spiritual journey, unpacking so many “truths” that were taught to me by well-meaning, but under-educated Sunday School teachers of my past.  Boy, when you start understanding how many of those “truths” aren’t true, it can make you question everything. I cannot lie… it’s a scary place to be… at first.

But God’s love is liberating. It truly is. And I have found rest in that truth many days during my religious disorder. And I still do even now.

But back to this morning….

As I grabbed my journal and opened my daily devotion, I was led to Ecclesiastes 3. Many people know that chapter. It’s the one where King Solomon wisely talks about the seasons of life. 

“To every thing there is a season

A time for every purpose under the heaven.”

Life is truly all about seasons. Spring, summer, fall and winter. Each holding beauty in it's own special way, even though you may struggle to find it in some. 

Ecclesiastes 3 starts with a beautiful poem, both reassuring the reader that God is in control, but also sobering the reader to the mystery behind it all.  Ahhhh…. the mystery of God. Another time that two truths collide at once for me. While my human mind wants answers, which means the mystery of God causes frustration, I also find comfort in knowing that God is more powerful and knowing than I am. I mean, who would want a God in charge that didn’t know more than we do? If my knowledge is on the same level as God, WE ARE ALL IN TROUBLE.  :-)  

But seriously, I am learning to embrace the mystery of God and understand that human beings are truly only capable of coping with the moment. We don’t need to know our future. It would probably make our heads explode. So God only gives us small glimpses into what is in store, because He knows it’s all we can handle.  THANK YOU GOD.  Thank you for leaving much in the mystery. I’m worrying about quite enough right now as it is.  :-)

The bottom line that these verses bring to light is that while there are good things in life, the bad things cannot be escaped. NO ONE escapes the problems of this world. 

I think it’s human nature to live in the “if only’s”: 

If only I had more money, I wouldn’t have problems, and I would be happy.

If only I had fame, I wouldn’t have problems, and I would be happy.

If only I had that promotion, that bigger house, a newer car. 

If only I had a husband (or wife).

If only I had children.

If only I had all the answers.

What is your if only?  Are you placing all your future happiness on the shoulders of something or someone of this world?  Truly think about it.  What are you waiting on to be happy? 

Listen friends, I don’t claim to have everything figured out, but this one thing I know for SURE….living like that will not serve you well.  I know, because I tried it for years. 

We don’t always have the power to change our circumstances, but we do have the power to choose joy. Even in the midst of difficult, even heartbreaking circumstances, I have felt and seen joy. Yes, it’s an unexplainable paradox, but it’s real and it’s holy and it’s beautiful. So so beautiful.

I recently started attending a new church in Nashville. After 6 years of avoiding any sort of organized religion I finally felt brave enough to look for a community of believers again.  I was led to a beautiful place called “Spero Dei”.  I call it a “place” because it truly has become a place for me not only physically, but emotionally as well. It's a place where my doubts and questions are welcomed. It's a place where the mystery of God is embraced. It's a place that includes all people, no matter what they look like, who they love, what they believe. It's a place where everyone's story has a home. 

“Spero Dei” is a latin phrase. Most people know that Dei means “God”. Spero means “I hope”. So basically, “I hope in God”.  It can also be interpreted to mean, “I believe, trust, presume, expect, anticipate and look for”.  All of that is true. I may be a little conflicted about religion right now, but I definitely hope, believe, trust, presume, expect, anticipate and look for God these days. In all things. 

I will finish this little year end note by saying this: I have no idea what 2020 will bring to you or your loved ones…. but as your friend, I promise you this: I will be praying for you. I will pray for you in general, by name, and often. And if you have a specific request, just let me know. Anytime, any day, anywhere. If you are needing someone to bother, nag and beg God on your behalf, I’m your girl. Truly. 

And as for me and my gang, I have no idea what is around the corner for us either — but I am choosing to be hopeful (while at the same time scared). SO MANY UNKNOWNS. Will the same difficulties of 2019 follow us into 2020?  Or will we embark on a completely new set of trials? I would appreciate your prayers for us as well.  Prayers are a powerful thing. I have felt them carry me through my darkest days. I am truly grateful for my prayer warrior friends. So so grateful.

So as 2020 begins tomorrow,  I will embrace the mystery of God and let go of needing to have all the answers. I will try to love those in my life as best I can. I will try to offer more grace, more mercy and more forgiveness than ever before, and I will pray those around me can find it in their hearts to offer me the same. God knows I need it.

And I will remember that above all this, my hope is in the Lord.

Spero Dei y’all. Spero Dei.

Love and blessings,

M