Comments on: In Praise of Desert and Wilderness Experiences https://anitamathias.com/2018/01/28/in-praise-of-desert-and-wilderness-experiences/ Anita Mathias's Blog on Faith and Art Fri, 23 Feb 2018 10:50:25 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Anita Mathias https://anitamathias.com/2018/01/28/in-praise-of-desert-and-wilderness-experiences/#comment-63749 Fri, 23 Feb 2018 10:50:25 +0000 https://anitamathias.com/?p=66810#comment-63749 In reply to Ariel Paz (@ArielPaz08).

What a lovely prayer, Ariel! I am going to adopt it!

]]> By: Ariel Paz (@ArielPaz08) https://anitamathias.com/2018/01/28/in-praise-of-desert-and-wilderness-experiences/#comment-63748 Sun, 18 Feb 2018 17:26:33 +0000 https://anitamathias.com/?p=66810#comment-63748 Desert times are certainly a time of surrender and patience. I am in a desert time myself these days. The messy middle, as some put it. Came across this timely post as I am pondering God’s will for this season of Lent. We ask for what we want and then when we get it, we still feel unfulfilled, wanting to do more. My prayer is for joy and peace during this season and to be more with Christ.

Blessings,
Ariel

]]> By: Anita Mathias https://anitamathias.com/2018/01/28/in-praise-of-desert-and-wilderness-experiences/#comment-63747 Mon, 05 Feb 2018 09:48:05 +0000 https://anitamathias.com/?p=66810#comment-63747 In reply to Jan.

Thanks much for the encouragement, Jan 🙂

]]> By: Jan https://anitamathias.com/2018/01/28/in-praise-of-desert-and-wilderness-experiences/#comment-63746 Sun, 04 Feb 2018 22:42:03 +0000 https://anitamathias.com/?p=66810#comment-63746 Another lovely thought provoking post

]]> By: Anita Mathias https://anitamathias.com/2018/01/28/in-praise-of-desert-and-wilderness-experiences/#comment-63745 Sun, 04 Feb 2018 10:27:26 +0000 https://anitamathias.com/?p=66810#comment-63745 In reply to Christine Lane.

Thanks Christine. You have such a deep knowledge of Scripture, and I love your associative memory. I love the idea of “streams in the desert.” It’s so cool that Jesus encompasses both the gentleness and playfulness of a lamb, and the majesty, power and danger of a lion!

]]> By: Christine Lane https://anitamathias.com/2018/01/28/in-praise-of-desert-and-wilderness-experiences/#comment-63744 Sun, 04 Feb 2018 01:32:23 +0000 https://anitamathias.com/?p=66810#comment-63744 Dear Anita, your title “In Praise of Desert and Wilderness Experiences” led me into amen-moments of recognition, and for pauses held in contemplation. I enjoy re-reading your thoughts and recollections, often catching a further richness dwelling in a chosen phrase, or word.  
I peruse the pictures you include also, and applaud Titian for his reminder that this John declared, “Behold the Lamb of God!”
 
The Lamb of God! This meek and gentle creature keeping ever close to the baptist’s feet, is “the One who baptises with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”  
 And your opening words, “In Praise” took me today to Isaiah 43, to re-read the welcome promises of God declared to each one of us entering into a desert or wilderness season, or going through, or recognizing and rejoicing. In praise.  
“Fear not, for I am with you. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?  Fear not, for I am with you; I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The people whom I formed for Myself will declare My praise.” 

Love and blessings Anita,
christine

]]> By: Anita Mathias https://anitamathias.com/2018/01/28/in-praise-of-desert-and-wilderness-experiences/#comment-63743 Tue, 30 Jan 2018 14:37:23 +0000 https://anitamathias.com/?p=66810#comment-63743 In reply to Serena.

Serena! It’s lovely to hear from you. I know what you mean about longing for quietness and silence… and then, suddenly, there’s rather too much of it! I’m glad you like the post. (Do share it, if you’d like to 🙂

]]> By: Serena https://anitamathias.com/2018/01/28/in-praise-of-desert-and-wilderness-experiences/#comment-63742 Tue, 30 Jan 2018 12:25:58 +0000 https://anitamathias.com/?p=66810#comment-63742 I hate the desert and long for it at the same time. God told me a couple of years ago that He was “setting me free.” I long for that more than anything. Thank you for this post, Anita. I’m going to keep it.

]]> By: Anita Mathias https://anitamathias.com/2018/01/28/in-praise-of-desert-and-wilderness-experiences/#comment-63741 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 22:12:29 +0000 https://anitamathias.com/?p=66810#comment-63741 In reply to John Mac.

Merton is a perfect example of deep, clear thought coming out of desert air. (Though the personal price of extreme solitude that he paid would be too much for me…and is, I think, unnecessary.

]]> By: John Mac https://anitamathias.com/2018/01/28/in-praise-of-desert-and-wilderness-experiences/#comment-63740 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 21:43:04 +0000 https://anitamathias.com/?p=66810#comment-63740 Oh, Anita, the foil to my sabre. Having borrowed an idea or two from you and realised I too had something to say. I haven’t read Merton for a long time, so being reminded of him was a breath of mountain air. Thanks.

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