Contemplative Outreach, Northeast Iowa Chapter

05/27/2026

We offer this for your reflection today. Perhaps this may encourage you to enter times of inner stillness. Blessings to each of you 🙏

05/22/2026

Greetings in Christ. We offer this today for your prayerful reflection. Blessings 🙏

04/30/2026

Good morning 🌄 We offer this today for your prayerful reflection... visually and poetically. Blessings to each of you 🙏

Into The Mystic

Some places draw us out into this vast,
mystical expanse of earth and sky.

Enter and remove your shoes
for you are on holy ground.
O Come with your whole heart and being,
O Come into the Quiet.

This is a mystery far beyond us in every way
Walking into the shimmering unknowing
Breathing in awe and wonder,
Immersed in presence,
Soaking in grace
O this bottomless amazing grace.

We cannot but bow to kiss the earth
Being transformed,
Becoming from the inside out,
In that luminous glorious light of love

To embody such glory in our mortal bodies
Is to reveal the mystery of this Christ soaked universe.

The mystery is love
For those who would dwell in love
Dwell in God, and God in them
For God is love.

Such is the character,
And the fragrance
And the atmosphere
Of all who would walk in awe and wonder
Into this mystery with God as with an old friend,
In the cool of the day.

~ Bob Holmes

04/26/2026

Greetings in Christ. We offer this today for your prayerful reflection... visually and lyrically. Blessings to each of you 🙏

"The fullness of joy is to behold God in everything."
~ Julian of Norwich

04/18/2026

Today we offer this for your reflection. May this lead you into stillness and silence in the Presence of the One. Blessings y'all🙏

There’s a peace your soul recognizes… even before your mind understands it. Not in the noise. Not in the rushing. But in the quiet places where you simply sit with Him. You don’t have to escape to find rest... you just have to return. 🙏

Let your breath slow. Let your heart soften. He is already holding you. If you’re longing for deeper peace and a daily rhythm of stillness, our Be Still and Follow devotional was created to gently guide you there—linked in our bio. 💛

“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10

04/17/2026

Greetings. We offer this for your encouragement this day. Blessings to each of you 🙏

Practice the pause… Before you react. Before you speak. Before you carry it any further. Pause… and bring it to God. In the stillness, clarity comes. In the quiet, peace returns. In the pause, God meets you. “Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10 🙏

You don’t have to rush through what you’re feeling. You’re allowed to slow down… and breathe. If you’re learning to slow down and stay grounded in God’s presence, our devotionals and worship playlists are there to walk with you—linked in our bio on page ❤️

What’s one moment today where you can choose to pause instead of react?

04/15/2026

We offer this for your reflection today. When we enter Centering Prayer we are in the presence of this One who loves us, and in Centering our intent to consent to the work of this One within...who is present always within, around and beyond us. Blessings y'all🙏

P.S. St Chrysostom was bishop of Constantinople in the late 300's and early 400's. He is sometimes called "Golden Mouth" for his eloquence in speaking/preaching.

04/11/2026

For many of us, Easter is more than a day, it is a seven week season. We appreciate and offer this today for your prayerful reflection. Blessings to each of you 🙏

Easter isn’t just something we celebrate… it’s something we live in. Because the tomb is empty, hope is not fragile... it’s alive. Because Jesus rose, your story is not finished, your past is not final, and your future is filled with purpose. 🙌

Whatever feels heavy today… whatever feels uncertain... remember this: life has the final word. Take a moment to breathe that in. If you want to stay rooted in this kind of hope, I’ve shared devotionals and peaceful worship playlists on the link on this page. ❤️

Save this as a reminder of what’s already been won.