Don’t you love it when God keeps gently tapping at you to do something? That’s the way I’ve been feeling about the writings of Joyce Rupp, OSM. I’ve been reading her work in Living Faith for several years and enjoy her perspective very much. An author and speaker, she’s a Servite sister and describes herself as a “spiritual midwife.” But I’ve never read any of her books.
In the past six weeks or so, I’ve read two books that referred to Joyce’s thoughts on prayer, and had her work recommended to me by two women I trust. So, message received, Lord! I’ve borrowed Joyce’s The Cup of Our Life: A Guide for Spiritual Growth from my friend Mary Ann to have as my nightly reading in the coming weeks. It’s made up of six weekly themes exploring the symbolism of cups, ordinary and sacramental (and sometimes, both) in our lives.
Now, about the invitation: In the next few months, I’m going to be redoing my Web site to update and expand spiritual resources of interest to women. I’d like to share the resources my friends find helpful as well. I’d appreciate it if you would share below your favorite spiritual book, magazine, or Web site along with a comment about why you use it. I’ll use the information including your comment with your first name and the first initial of your last name when that part of the site is revamped.
And, if you’re among the first ten people to do this, you’ll have your choice of a free signed copy of Sisterhood of Saints: Daily Guidance and Inspiration or my next book, Blessed Are You: Inspiration from Our Sisters in Faith, which will be published by Franciscan Media this fall. I’ll contact you privately about which book you would prefer and where to send it. Feel free to share this with your friends, and God bless!
As part of Ephesians Four Ministries – Prime Time With God is a daily devotional which allows me to think of ministry in the workforce in a practical way, in addition to a daily prayer. They also offer an assessment of ministry based on personality.
Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. Devotions for Every Day of the Year. Her writing comes out of the words she hears Jesus speaking to her through reflections on scriptures. As you read you feel as if Jesus is talking directly to you. The devotions are always thought provoking and on the bottom of each page she lists the various scriptures that she has used that matches the message she hears from the Lord..
Guideposts Magazine is my old standby. It isn’t the deepest theological material, but the stories are uplifting and the perfect length for reading in the “porcelain library.”
The Upper Room I get from my church always has good devotions tied to ordinary life.
And The Hymn (the journal of the Hymn Society in the US & Canada) has provocative insights related to my hymn-writing and to congregational music generally.
Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditation
From this organization, Center for Action and Contemplation
You can subscribe here: https://cac.org/richard-rohr
It’s a daily email by a Catholic priest, a quick way to start your day but meaty enough to keep you thinking all day about your relationship with God — it’s not just the how but the why.
Thanks, Lisa! Rohr’s on my list to FINALLY get to, now that I’m finally reading Joyce Rupp. (Hangs head in shame.)
Thanks, Linda! Uplifting is always good, isn’t it? I enjoy The Upper Room as well. The Hymn is a new one, and I look forward to adding it to the resources page.
Thanks, Caye! I read Jesus Calling at the beginning of my work day for two years straight during a challenging time. It helped. Thanks for the reminder!
Thanks, Anna! Will add it to the list for the Web resources… and also check it out for my own growth!
Ronald Rolheiser is one of my favorite spiritual writers. Fr. Ron is the President of the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio Texas. His writing is learned but also very accessible for the layperson.
His books include:
The Holy Longing: Guidelines for a Christian Spirituality, Doubleday 1999. ISBN 978-0-385-49418-2
The Restless Heart: Finding Our Spiritual Home in Times of Loneliness, Doubleday, 2004. ISBN 978-0-385-51114-8 Forgotten Among the Lilies: Learning to Love Beyond Our Fears, Doubleday, 2007. ISBN 978-0-385-51232-9