**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute.**
“You
were meant to do something great.” These well-meaning words encourage and propel
people to do things that are labeled significant. As I consider these
words I wonder what “greatness” is.
As I parent and discipline my child for the
10th time in a morning, is this great? As I clean up vomit, is this great? As I preach a sermon, is this great? As I travel across the world to serve orphans in Africa, is this great? I wonder if what I am doing, ordinary or extra-ordinary is great.
I wonder if maybe it is not about being
great but about being faithful.
Maybe we were meant to do everyday, ordinary things for the rest of our lives.
Maybe “great” should not be our goal but “faithful” should be. Maybe the
ordinary things we do will be turned into something great or maybe they will be
just what they are, ordinary and what we are called to.
How can you encourage someone today who is faithful?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Friday, May 31, 2013
Thursday, May 30, 2013
When God is Silent
**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute.**
Sometimes God is silent. We pray, we read, we worship, we cry, we do everything and nothing and He is silent. I do not know why He chooses to be silent and why He chooses to speak, I just know I hate when He is silent.
How about you? Is God silent in your life right now? How do you respond to His silence?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Sometimes God is silent. We pray, we read, we worship, we cry, we do everything and nothing and He is silent. I do not know why He chooses to be silent and why He chooses to speak, I just know I hate when He is silent.
How about you? Is God silent in your life right now? How do you respond to His silence?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Submission
**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**
Is it shocking that freedom can come from choosing to submit?
What are your thoughts? How do you respond to the word submission? How do you unnecessarily demand you “get your way”?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
With every Spiritual Discipline comes a corresponding freedom. The
freedom that corresponds to the Discipline of submission is the ability to lay
down the terrible burden of always needing to get our way.
- Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster
Many of us have a
revolting, nauseating, knee-jerk reaction to the word “submission”. I do. Exploring
this subject as a spiritual discipline gave me a better grounding for what this
truly involves as well as what gift comes from it. We practice Disciplines not
for the Disciplines sake but in order to open ways for God to transform us. We
do the discipline and He transforms … however He chooses.Is it shocking that freedom can come from choosing to submit?
What are your thoughts? How do you respond to the word submission? How do you unnecessarily demand you “get your way”?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Transition
**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**
In times of transition we want to grasp desperately onto anything that is consistent, dependable. We desire security, knowing what the future will hold. We want to be settled when life is incredibly unsettling. Our reality has been rocked and we are unsure what reality will be. Times of transition offer us very few “knowns” and in our desperation we try to create “knowns” (or at least pretend they are there in order to comfort ourselves). We want some semblance of “normal”, and transition offers us nothing.
In the midst of the gray and the fog we have an unmovable, unchanging, always dependable God. We have a God who desires for us to draw near in relationship with Him. He desires to hear our concerns, worries, our hearts and our minds. He desires for us to bring our whole selves to Him and to settle there, to settle in relationship with Him. We settle into relationship rather than circumstance and we settle into a personal God rather than an answer.
Are you in transition? How will you be real with God and bring your whole self to Him?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
In times of transition we want to grasp desperately onto anything that is consistent, dependable. We desire security, knowing what the future will hold. We want to be settled when life is incredibly unsettling. Our reality has been rocked and we are unsure what reality will be. Times of transition offer us very few “knowns” and in our desperation we try to create “knowns” (or at least pretend they are there in order to comfort ourselves). We want some semblance of “normal”, and transition offers us nothing.
In the midst of the gray and the fog we have an unmovable, unchanging, always dependable God. We have a God who desires for us to draw near in relationship with Him. He desires to hear our concerns, worries, our hearts and our minds. He desires for us to bring our whole selves to Him and to settle there, to settle in relationship with Him. We settle into relationship rather than circumstance and we settle into a personal God rather than an answer.
Are you in transition? How will you be real with God and bring your whole self to Him?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Monday, May 27, 2013
Making Sense of It All
**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**
So many times I want to ask God, “What in the world is going on?” I read stories in Scripture and I am led to ask God, “What the (fill in expletive)? I see stories pop up on my newsfeed, in the news. I live the stories with friends, family and personally. I can make no sense out of what is happening. No logic is good enough and no reasons make it worthy. There is no sense to be made.
I want to make sense of it all because for some reason I believe answers will satisfy. If only I could know why then everything would be okay. But that’s the thing, even if we knew why I do not think that pain, suffering and death would be okay. Even if I knew the specifics of full redemption coming in ALL things, would I be okay with sin, destruction and evil. These things are not okay and there is no “sense” that will satisfy.
So I am left to trust. I am left to trust God our merciful and just Father, Jesus who suffered, died and was resurrected and the Holy Spirit who is far more powerful than I give any credit for. This trust is not based on answers but on relationship. Trust is based on relationship with God and as my relationship grows my trust grows.
How will you trust God when nothing makes sense? How can you grow in relationship with Him?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
So many times I want to ask God, “What in the world is going on?” I read stories in Scripture and I am led to ask God, “What the (fill in expletive)? I see stories pop up on my newsfeed, in the news. I live the stories with friends, family and personally. I can make no sense out of what is happening. No logic is good enough and no reasons make it worthy. There is no sense to be made.
I want to make sense of it all because for some reason I believe answers will satisfy. If only I could know why then everything would be okay. But that’s the thing, even if we knew why I do not think that pain, suffering and death would be okay. Even if I knew the specifics of full redemption coming in ALL things, would I be okay with sin, destruction and evil. These things are not okay and there is no “sense” that will satisfy.
So I am left to trust. I am left to trust God our merciful and just Father, Jesus who suffered, died and was resurrected and the Holy Spirit who is far more powerful than I give any credit for. This trust is not based on answers but on relationship. Trust is based on relationship with God and as my relationship grows my trust grows.
How will you trust God when nothing makes sense? How can you grow in relationship with Him?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Friday, May 24, 2013
With God
**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**
My children are such great instructors in being with people. There do not have a grand agenda, a plan or step by step instructions for being together, they just want to be with me. Sure they have their preferences but really they invite me to be with them, to share life with them, to play and connect in relationship.
God longs for us to live life with Him. To slow down and be with Him. A lesson does not need to be learned or a task accomplished. He desires relationship and relationship involves being with Him. The invitation is always open to join Him and be with Him.
How will you spend time with God today?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
My children are such great instructors in being with people. There do not have a grand agenda, a plan or step by step instructions for being together, they just want to be with me. Sure they have their preferences but really they invite me to be with them, to share life with them, to play and connect in relationship.
God longs for us to live life with Him. To slow down and be with Him. A lesson does not need to be learned or a task accomplished. He desires relationship and relationship involves being with Him. The invitation is always open to join Him and be with Him.
How will you spend time with God today?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Our Deep Prayers
**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**
I love it when God answers prayers that I did not even know I had. He offers gifts and responses that meet the deepest needs and longings of our hearts. Our prayers are real and genuine and He wants to hear them. Our prayers are also so deep within that we do not know what they are or that we even need Him to meet us.
There is such beauty in receiving answers to our deepest longings. Sometimes there are no words, we do not even know what the longing is but we know God has met us. We know it in our hearts and our whole self desires to respond in praise.
How has God answered a prayer you never knew you had?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
I love it when God answers prayers that I did not even know I had. He offers gifts and responses that meet the deepest needs and longings of our hearts. Our prayers are real and genuine and He wants to hear them. Our prayers are also so deep within that we do not know what they are or that we even need Him to meet us.
There is such beauty in receiving answers to our deepest longings. Sometimes there are no words, we do not even know what the longing is but we know God has met us. We know it in our hearts and our whole self desires to respond in praise.
How has God answered a prayer you never knew you had?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Oxygen Masks
**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**
Friends, take care of yourselves. We spend much time attending to, meeting the needs of and caring for others that we often sacrifice and neglect ourselves. There is a reason why a flight attendant tells you to put on your oxygen mask before assisting others. Put on your oxygen mask and take care of your heart, your body and your soul.
Sounds selfish, but it is not. It is healthy. It is healthy to recognize you have limited capacity, need nourishment and you need help. It is healthy to realize you are dependent not only God but others. Yes, we are dependent on others. God calls us to care for one another and that means we all need to be cared for as well!
Take time to care for your soul, your body and your mind. Ask for help. Offer help. Put on your oxygen mask.
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Friends, take care of yourselves. We spend much time attending to, meeting the needs of and caring for others that we often sacrifice and neglect ourselves. There is a reason why a flight attendant tells you to put on your oxygen mask before assisting others. Put on your oxygen mask and take care of your heart, your body and your soul.
Sounds selfish, but it is not. It is healthy. It is healthy to recognize you have limited capacity, need nourishment and you need help. It is healthy to realize you are dependent not only God but others. Yes, we are dependent on others. God calls us to care for one another and that means we all need to be cared for as well!
Take time to care for your soul, your body and your mind. Ask for help. Offer help. Put on your oxygen mask.
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Silence and Trust
**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**
“One reason we can hardly bear to
remain silent is that it makes us feel so helpless. We are so accustomed to
relying upon words to manage and control others … we will never let Him (God)
take control until we trust him. Silence is intimately related to trust.”
The Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster
How can you be silent before God today? How will you trust Him?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Monday, May 20, 2013
Titles
**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**
Titles affirm, giving us a sense of identity and value. They tell us that someone thinks something of us. Titles are handed out and taken away, some easily and some not as easily.
We love titles as they help us know who someone is, where they rank in the pecking order of life and how we should regard them. We believe titles help us, but do they?
Titles mislead us to think that they matter. Titles matter when we rely on them rather than see someone as God sees them. Titles matter when we are unsure of our identity in Christ and we rely on them to define our significance. Titles matter when God does not matter and His thoughts do not matter.
What titles do you depend on? How do you define others by their titles? How do you define yourself?
How can God matter so that titles do not?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Titles affirm, giving us a sense of identity and value. They tell us that someone thinks something of us. Titles are handed out and taken away, some easily and some not as easily.
We love titles as they help us know who someone is, where they rank in the pecking order of life and how we should regard them. We believe titles help us, but do they?
Titles mislead us to think that they matter. Titles matter when we rely on them rather than see someone as God sees them. Titles matter when we are unsure of our identity in Christ and we rely on them to define our significance. Titles matter when God does not matter and His thoughts do not matter.
What titles do you depend on? How do you define others by their titles? How do you define yourself?
How can God matter so that titles do not?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Friday, May 17, 2013
Boldness Required
**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**
We are all called to certain purposes, during certain times and in certain contexts. Some are new callings while others have been a part of us for as long as we can remember.
To live out these callings requires boldness. Boldness to step out in faith and to live into our calling. Boldness to go against the culture and the way things have always been. Boldness to stand for truth, goodness and justice. God calls you to a certain people, place and time. God is working His purposes through you and this requires faith.
When your call requires faith do not be discouraged. God has called you and will empower you to live life in boldness.
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
We are all called to certain purposes, during certain times and in certain contexts. Some are new callings while others have been a part of us for as long as we can remember.
To live out these callings requires boldness. Boldness to step out in faith and to live into our calling. Boldness to go against the culture and the way things have always been. Boldness to stand for truth, goodness and justice. God calls you to a certain people, place and time. God is working His purposes through you and this requires faith.
When your call requires faith do not be discouraged. God has called you and will empower you to live life in boldness.
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Soul Surgery
**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**
There are times in life when it feels as if God is doing surgery on your heart. He is piercing, cutting and going deep. It may even seem than He has forgotten the anesthesia as you feel each cut and push. During these times it is hard just to breathe.
He cuts, pushes and digs deep and when you think He’s gone far enough He digs some more.
Some of you are going through a time of soul surgery. It is messy, it is painful and you have no clue when this Master Surgeon will finish. You hope it is soon.
As you lay under the knife, be still. Rest under the care of the Master Surgeon, the one who perfectly and lovingly cuts, never performing an unnecessary surgery and using the gentlest of care.
Be still, hope and have a good cry.
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
There are times in life when it feels as if God is doing surgery on your heart. He is piercing, cutting and going deep. It may even seem than He has forgotten the anesthesia as you feel each cut and push. During these times it is hard just to breathe.
He cuts, pushes and digs deep and when you think He’s gone far enough He digs some more.
Some of you are going through a time of soul surgery. It is messy, it is painful and you have no clue when this Master Surgeon will finish. You hope it is soon.
As you lay under the knife, be still. Rest under the care of the Master Surgeon, the one who perfectly and lovingly cuts, never performing an unnecessary surgery and using the gentlest of care.
Be still, hope and have a good cry.
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Recalling Goodness
**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**
Spend time in prayer today recalling goodness. Goodness expressed to you by God through friends, through family, through a neighbor or even a stranger.
How has God been good to you? Reflect on these moments and memories.
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Spend time in prayer today recalling goodness. Goodness expressed to you by God through friends, through family, through a neighbor or even a stranger.
How has God been good to you? Reflect on these moments and memories.
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
The Gift of Being Heard
**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**
We have all experienced the frustration of not being heard. Either the person does not have time, does not value us or cannot bring him/herself to hear us.
Not only is it frustrating, it is also hurtful. Many of us have been hurt by not being heard.
To be heard is to be valued. To be heard means someone is taking the time to hear your thoughts, your heart and your ideas. They are putting you before themselves.
How can you offer the gift of being heard to someone? Will you take time to listen, to hear them and value them as a son or daughter of God?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
We have all experienced the frustration of not being heard. Either the person does not have time, does not value us or cannot bring him/herself to hear us.
Not only is it frustrating, it is also hurtful. Many of us have been hurt by not being heard.
To be heard is to be valued. To be heard means someone is taking the time to hear your thoughts, your heart and your ideas. They are putting you before themselves.
How can you offer the gift of being heard to someone? Will you take time to listen, to hear them and value them as a son or daughter of God?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Monday, May 13, 2013
Quiet Heroes
**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**
Many live life as quiet heroes. Not many know of their sacrifices, pains and struggles to serve others. They receive no accolades or articles written about them. They do not receive compensation or even gifts for their daily sacrifices.
These quiet heroes humble me as I enjoy hearing my own voice or seeing my words on paper. These quiet heroes humble me because they are content to serve with very little expected in return.
Who in your life is a quiet hero? Will you thank God for them today?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Many live life as quiet heroes. Not many know of their sacrifices, pains and struggles to serve others. They receive no accolades or articles written about them. They do not receive compensation or even gifts for their daily sacrifices.
These quiet heroes humble me as I enjoy hearing my own voice or seeing my words on paper. These quiet heroes humble me because they are content to serve with very little expected in return.
Who in your life is a quiet hero? Will you thank God for them today?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Friday, May 10, 2013
The Gift of Courage
**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**
What a gift to give someone courage! So many people live in fear. Fear of failing in a performance, fear of rejection, fear of loss, fear of pain, fear of travel, fear of (fill in the blank). We all are fearful and we all know how paralyzing fear can be.
We have all also received courage from another. He or she gives us courage to stand up in front of others, to love, to get on an airplane. He or she gives us courage to believe stepping forward in faith is worth it, no matter what that step brings forth.
Courage is a gift we offer others. We tell them it is worth the risk, it is worth trying, it is worth living.
As we offer courage as we know One who is with us and walks alongside us. No matter what happens, whether we perform and succeed or fail, whether we love and remain in love/get hurt, no matter what, God is with us.
How can you offer someone courage today? How can you encourage someone to step out in faith, knowing that God is with them all the way?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
What a gift to give someone courage! So many people live in fear. Fear of failing in a performance, fear of rejection, fear of loss, fear of pain, fear of travel, fear of (fill in the blank). We all are fearful and we all know how paralyzing fear can be.
We have all also received courage from another. He or she gives us courage to stand up in front of others, to love, to get on an airplane. He or she gives us courage to believe stepping forward in faith is worth it, no matter what that step brings forth.
Courage is a gift we offer others. We tell them it is worth the risk, it is worth trying, it is worth living.
As we offer courage as we know One who is with us and walks alongside us. No matter what happens, whether we perform and succeed or fail, whether we love and remain in love/get hurt, no matter what, God is with us.
How can you offer someone courage today? How can you encourage someone to step out in faith, knowing that God is with them all the way?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Be Gentle
**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**
Be gentle to yourself today. You treat yourself harsher than others. You do not perform up to an expectation and you attack yourself with the most unkind words and thoughts.
Be gentle with yourself, be patient. Expect that you will not meet all your expectations or the expectations of others. When you fail, be gentle with yourself and remember the gentleness with which God cares for you.
Be gentle.
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Be gentle to yourself today. You treat yourself harsher than others. You do not perform up to an expectation and you attack yourself with the most unkind words and thoughts.
Be gentle with yourself, be patient. Expect that you will not meet all your expectations or the expectations of others. When you fail, be gentle with yourself and remember the gentleness with which God cares for you.
Be gentle.
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Breaking Stereotypes
**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**
It only takes one person to break a stereotype. One person to radically contradict an image of a group. It takes one person to begin breaking a stereotype and it takes many more to continue to chisel away the remaining pieces. We all have stereotypes, stereotypes of gender, of vocation, of socio-economic status, of race and country. We place assumptions on a group based on misunderstandings, misperceptions and misinformation. Getting to know individuals breaks our stereotypes.
We also stereotype God. We have placed an assumption on God based on misunderstandings of His actions, misperceptions of His heart and misinformation about His identity. It takes continual meetings with God to break down our stereotypes and for us to see, know and hear Him.
Will you take the time today to meet with God? An opportunity for Him to break any stereotypes you carry about Him?
A couple of places … through reading the Bible. Start with the Gospel of Luke and get to know Jesus, God Himself. Pray … take time to sit with God, talk to Him and allow Him to meet you where you are. Make time to spend time with someone who seems to know God well, a person whose stereotype has been broken more than yours.
Take the time to meet God.
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
It only takes one person to break a stereotype. One person to radically contradict an image of a group. It takes one person to begin breaking a stereotype and it takes many more to continue to chisel away the remaining pieces. We all have stereotypes, stereotypes of gender, of vocation, of socio-economic status, of race and country. We place assumptions on a group based on misunderstandings, misperceptions and misinformation. Getting to know individuals breaks our stereotypes.
We also stereotype God. We have placed an assumption on God based on misunderstandings of His actions, misperceptions of His heart and misinformation about His identity. It takes continual meetings with God to break down our stereotypes and for us to see, know and hear Him.
Will you take the time today to meet with God? An opportunity for Him to break any stereotypes you carry about Him?
A couple of places … through reading the Bible. Start with the Gospel of Luke and get to know Jesus, God Himself. Pray … take time to sit with God, talk to Him and allow Him to meet you where you are. Make time to spend time with someone who seems to know God well, a person whose stereotype has been broken more than yours.
Take the time to meet God.
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
God Waits
**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**
God waits. God is so patient as He waits for us to learn, grow and “get it”. He waits as I learn (again) to speak kind words. He waits as I learn (again) to trust Him alone. He waits as I learn (again) that I desperately need Him to do what He has called me to. He waits.
God has the perfect pace and timing yet He is so patient with me. My impatience sits in stark contrast to His as I demand of myself more than He does, as I demand more of others than He does … and I demand it now.
God waits as you learn and grow. He pushes, challenges and encourages while waiting patiently and lovingly, knowing we need time.
He gives you time, will you give yourself time?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
God waits. God is so patient as He waits for us to learn, grow and “get it”. He waits as I learn (again) to speak kind words. He waits as I learn (again) to trust Him alone. He waits as I learn (again) that I desperately need Him to do what He has called me to. He waits.
God has the perfect pace and timing yet He is so patient with me. My impatience sits in stark contrast to His as I demand of myself more than He does, as I demand more of others than He does … and I demand it now.
God waits as you learn and grow. He pushes, challenges and encourages while waiting patiently and lovingly, knowing we need time.
He gives you time, will you give yourself time?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Monday, May 6, 2013
Celebrity Status
**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**
Enamored by one celebrity or another we sometimes wish we had their status – celebrity status. We want to be known and seen for our accomplishments, our feats. We want to be praised, we want glory.
Some of us surmount incredibly feats our lives and others of us surmount a million little feats over our lives. We wonder if we might get a little (or a lot of) recognition.
Yet we are not called to celebrity status, we are called to serve. We are called to do the things God is calling us to, to whoever, wherever and for however long. Some people do this and get celebrity status with us, very few.
Most of us live life ordinarily, serving God in the everyday things that do not have an audience. We receive very little applause or appreciation and a little appreciation can go a long way. The ordinary, everyday things can be quite humbling as they require great dependence on God. God gets to be the celebrity then.
Encourage someone today as you watch them lean into God. Encourage them to continue to persever and depend on Him. Encourage God’s celebrity status and love on others well.
In the midst of a lack of audience, know that you have the only audience that truly matters – God. He walks alongside you joyfully and looks upon you with great love. He is with you, celebrity or not. He is and sees how your heart longs to serve Him.
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Enamored by one celebrity or another we sometimes wish we had their status – celebrity status. We want to be known and seen for our accomplishments, our feats. We want to be praised, we want glory.
Some of us surmount incredibly feats our lives and others of us surmount a million little feats over our lives. We wonder if we might get a little (or a lot of) recognition.
Yet we are not called to celebrity status, we are called to serve. We are called to do the things God is calling us to, to whoever, wherever and for however long. Some people do this and get celebrity status with us, very few.
Most of us live life ordinarily, serving God in the everyday things that do not have an audience. We receive very little applause or appreciation and a little appreciation can go a long way. The ordinary, everyday things can be quite humbling as they require great dependence on God. God gets to be the celebrity then.
Encourage someone today as you watch them lean into God. Encourage them to continue to persever and depend on Him. Encourage God’s celebrity status and love on others well.
In the midst of a lack of audience, know that you have the only audience that truly matters – God. He walks alongside you joyfully and looks upon you with great love. He is with you, celebrity or not. He is and sees how your heart longs to serve Him.
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Friday, May 3, 2013
Inviting God
**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**
How has someone offered you hospitality lately? Invited you into their home, their world and their lives?
How have you offered hospitality lately? Invited him/her into your home, your world and your life?
Some people practice hospitality as easily as they breathe air. For others hospitality is a discipline, sometime to pursue and offer.
On the Road to Emmaus two men invited Jesus to stay with them. It was late and they had a place for him. (They did not know yet that it was Jesus). Jesus accepted their invitation and proceeded to eat with them. As He took the bread and broke it He opened their eyes to see who He really was - Jesus!
As you meditate on the action of these men and the subsequent identity revelation from Jesus, consider how you might welcome Jesus, welcome the Holy Spirit. Yes, the Holy Spirit is always with is. As we invite Him into the everyday of our lives, how might He show Himself to us?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
How has someone offered you hospitality lately? Invited you into their home, their world and their lives?
How have you offered hospitality lately? Invited him/her into your home, your world and your life?
Some people practice hospitality as easily as they breathe air. For others hospitality is a discipline, sometime to pursue and offer.
On the Road to Emmaus two men invited Jesus to stay with them. It was late and they had a place for him. (They did not know yet that it was Jesus). Jesus accepted their invitation and proceeded to eat with them. As He took the bread and broke it He opened their eyes to see who He really was - Jesus!
As you meditate on the action of these men and the subsequent identity revelation from Jesus, consider how you might welcome Jesus, welcome the Holy Spirit. Yes, the Holy Spirit is always with is. As we invite Him into the everyday of our lives, how might He show Himself to us?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Fabricating Beauty
**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**
Technology increases and our ability to fabricate beauty does as well. Colors are more vivid, eyes widened and legs diminished. Beauty becomes an image rather than a three-dimensional thing that we can touch, smell, see all around and hear fully.
As beauty becomes more and more fabricated we settle for the two-dimensional image on the screen. Rather than visiting the Grand Tetons we exchange an image for the real thing. Rather than smell the aroma of sweet fruit plucked in season we settle for a scratch and sniff sticker.
So we settle, beauty and life is fabricated and we settle. When we settle we begin to exchange these images for the real thing. We lose an aspect of the joy and gift of being human, the gift of being able to see, touch, feel and be within beauty.
How will you choose to be in real beauty today? How will you choose to be in beauty rather than live in images of the real thing?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Technology increases and our ability to fabricate beauty does as well. Colors are more vivid, eyes widened and legs diminished. Beauty becomes an image rather than a three-dimensional thing that we can touch, smell, see all around and hear fully.
As beauty becomes more and more fabricated we settle for the two-dimensional image on the screen. Rather than visiting the Grand Tetons we exchange an image for the real thing. Rather than smell the aroma of sweet fruit plucked in season we settle for a scratch and sniff sticker.
So we settle, beauty and life is fabricated and we settle. When we settle we begin to exchange these images for the real thing. We lose an aspect of the joy and gift of being human, the gift of being able to see, touch, feel and be within beauty.
How will you choose to be in real beauty today? How will you choose to be in beauty rather than live in images of the real thing?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Divine Butler or Gracious Father?
**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**
How do you see God? Do you expect Him ready to respond to you at any given moment? Do you see Him responding immediately the moment you make a request? Do you see Him as the Divine Butler, the one who waits for you to speak and is at your beck and call?
Taking a look at my emotions and accusations when God doesn’t respond the truth comes forward that I see Him as a Divine Butler rather than a Gracious Father. As I erupt in anger or plummet into sadness when He doesn’t respond how and when I want Him to I am convinced I call the shots, I know best, I am the boss.
A Divine Butler He is not rather a Gracious Father He is. A Father who knows perfectly when to respond and exactly how to given the child He is speaking to. A Father that knows our past, present and future and gives good gifts in love and grace. A Father who loves us too much to meet us in our every bidding. A Father who knows us more deeply than we know ourselves and responds and meets us in our depths rather than our shallow requests.
How will you see God as a Gracious Father today?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
How do you see God? Do you expect Him ready to respond to you at any given moment? Do you see Him responding immediately the moment you make a request? Do you see Him as the Divine Butler, the one who waits for you to speak and is at your beck and call?
Taking a look at my emotions and accusations when God doesn’t respond the truth comes forward that I see Him as a Divine Butler rather than a Gracious Father. As I erupt in anger or plummet into sadness when He doesn’t respond how and when I want Him to I am convinced I call the shots, I know best, I am the boss.
A Divine Butler He is not rather a Gracious Father He is. A Father who knows perfectly when to respond and exactly how to given the child He is speaking to. A Father that knows our past, present and future and gives good gifts in love and grace. A Father who loves us too much to meet us in our every bidding. A Father who knows us more deeply than we know ourselves and responds and meets us in our depths rather than our shallow requests.
How will you see God as a Gracious Father today?
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**
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