About Esther Hizsa
Esther is a writer, spiritual director, and cofacilitates contemplative retreats and courses. She lives in Vernon, B.C. with her husband, Fred.
It isn’t just fear, shame and judgment that are placed on me. I receive compliments too. People often thank me for something I’ve done or tell me how a certain blog post has impacted their lives. But it’s hard for me to take it in … Continue reading →
Posted in Popular Posts, Spiritual Direction, Stories
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Tagged Chocolate Ganache Tartlet, Chotda, Guiss95, Jeff Imbach, Living from the Heart, Luke 12:27, Margueritte, Regent College, spiritual direction, The River Within
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It wasn’t my outfit that offended; it was my belief. After the disgruntled person walked away, a friend remained and asked me if I was okay. Neither of us had more than a few minutes to talk. I blurted out, “I think … Continue reading →
Posted in Spiritual Direction, Stories
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Tagged expectations, fear, freedom, Galatians 5:1, judgment, Just Ard, Just Passing, Martin Hricko, Pure Joy, Weighed down
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I preached after a particularly full week and three restless nights. I was tired but felt confident. I had practised my sermon out loud without relying much on my notes and looked forward to doing it like that on Sunday. However, when … Continue reading →
They were filled with the Holy Spirit. Not just some believers, but all of them. When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house … Continue reading →
Posted in Helpful Images
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Tagged 1 Samuel 16:13, Acts 2:1-4, do-it-yourself life, He Qi, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit Coming, Jago, John 6;1-15, Loaves and fishes, Luke 1:35, Luke 1:67, Pentecost, Romans 8:12-14
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I have been born again and again and again. With each new spiritual birth, I emerge from darkness into light as helpless as a babe. How does this new life in Christ work? In the past month, I have been … Continue reading →
The disciples were anxious, afraid and extremely sad as they watched Jesus whisked up to heaven. What would they do now? He promised he wouldn’t leave them alone, that God would send the Holy Spirit. But how could this Spirit possibly replace Jesus? What … Continue reading →
. . . you implore me to so fall in Love, and fall anew in ever-new depths of skywashed Love till every capillary of your universe throbs with rivering fire . . . – from “The Word” by Margaret Avison … Continue reading →
Posted in Easter, Poetry, Popular Posts, Stories
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Tagged Cloud Study, God's love, Kate Ter Haar, Mararet Avsion, new broom, resurrection energy, Ricky Romero, rivering fire, skywashed love, soul renovation, storebukkebruse, The Word
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God’s crazy about us. If you’ve been reading my blog lately, you’d know that God has me riveted to this theme. God’s exuberance is uncontainable. Recently I stumbled upon this quote by Henri Nouwen, God does not require a pure heart before … Continue reading →
Posted in Easter, Popular Posts, Stories
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Tagged Casey Brown, Father Richard Soo, God's delight, God's love, heart, Henri Nouwen, Isaiah 62:4, my delight is in you, Riccardo Cuppini, tonx
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“Ask Christians what they believe about God,” David Benner writes in Surrender to Love, “and most have a good deal to say. However, ask the same people what they know about God from direct personal experience, and most will have … Continue reading →
Posted in Poetry, Prayer
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Tagged Anne Yungwirth, Daniel Ladinsky, David Benner, David Benner. Surrender to Love, experiencing God's love, God's love, God's love for you, Hafiz, Love Poems from God, Nan C. Merrill, Psalms for Praying, Ready to Burst, Two Giant Fat People
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John the Baptist looks forlorn. I can almost hear him sigh. He is so discouraged by the Messiah, who isn’t what he expected, that he cannot see the beauty around him or the Lamb of God beside him. This painting has been … Continue reading →
Posted in Mystical, Poverty of Spirit
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Tagged Aukje Bos-Geertsema, Closer Than My Breath, despair, discouragement, God here, God's love, hopelessness, John the Baptist, Mindy Ogden, Philippians 4;5, Sarah Yungwirth, Thin Places
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An Everyday Pilgrim 