Tag Archives: spiritual growth
Evening Meditation 5-28-19
Restore us, God Almighty;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.
8 You transplanted a vine from Egypt;
you drove out the nations and planted it.
9 You cleared the ground for it,
and it took root and filled the land.
10 The mountains were covered with its shade,
the mighty cedars with its branches.
11 Its branches reached as far as the Sea,
its shoots as far as the River. Psalm 80: 7-11
What are some of the nation sized problems between you and God’s dream? What if God removes them the way He removed the nations from before Israel? Are you up for that ride?
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Quotes From An Artist’s Reboot
Brenda and I are working through a book geared to reboot us as artist’s. We are writing extensively about it over at our other blog Notes From the Vicarage.
But I did want to share a few quotes from the book here:
“Every Child is an artist. The trick is remaining one as a an adult.” Pablo PIcasso
“It is solved by walking.” Augustine of Hippo (note this means if you have a problem take a walk!)
It is important to be very gentle with yourself, especially in the early days of a transition.- Julia Cameron
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Worship Wednesdays 5-22-19
Mid Afternoon Meditation 5-18-19
Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who sit enthroned between the cherubim,
shine forth 2 before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
Awaken your might;
come and save us. Psalm 80:1,2
Why is it important that God is enthroned between the cherubim?
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Morning Direction from Scripture 5-10-19
Do not hold against us the sins of past generations;
may your mercy come quickly to meet us,
for we are in desperate need.
9 Help us, God our Savior,
for the glory of your name;
deliver us and forgive our sins
for your name’s sake.
10 Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
Before our eyes, make known among the nations
that you avenge the outpoured blood of your servants.
11 May the groans of the prisoners come before you;
with your strong arm preserve those condemned to die.
12 Pay back into the laps of our neighbors seven times
the contempt they have hurled at you, Lord.
13 Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will praise you forever;
from generation to generation
we will proclaim your praise. Psalm 79:8-13
What does it mean to you to leave vengence in the hands of God?
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Morning Direction From Scripture 4-26-19
Do not hold against us the sins of past generations;
may your mercy come quickly to meet us,
for we are in desperate need.
9 Help us, God our Savior,
for the glory of your name;
deliver us and forgive our sins
for your name’s sake.
10 Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
Before our eyes, make known among the nations
that you avenge the outpoured blood of your servants.
11 May the groans of the prisoners come before you;
with your strong arm preserve those condemned to die.
12 Pay back into the laps of our neighbors seven times
the contempt they have hurled at you, Lord.
13 Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will praise you forever;
from generation to generation
we will proclaim your praise. Psalm 79:8-13
What does deliverance look like to you today? What do you need deliverance from right now?
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Spiritual Journey 2018 Day 3
As I prepare my heart for what lies ahead I am learning that silence is a powerful ally in the war for my spirit. Our world is to fast and loud and the Holy Spirit is calling me away from it to just sit at His feet and listen.
Here are some of the things I am hearing and meditating on today.
There is a sense as we humans go into prayer that the momentary is lost…falling victim to the eternal. We, who are so caught up in time, struggle hard with the loss of the momentary and in so doing we sometimes give up on prayer before it can establish its eternal ends.” J. Lillie
The terrible threat against life is not death, nor pain, nor any variation on the disasters that we so obsessively try to protect ourselves against with our social systems and personal stratagems. The terrible threat is that we might die earlier than we really do die, before death has become a natural necessity. The real horror lies in just such a premature death, a death after which we go on living for many years.” Viteslav Gardavsky
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Spiritual Journey 2018 Day 2
This day began with a rehearsal of where I have been in my spiritual journey up to this point and with a meditation on some of the influences that have contributed to my spiritual formation. This rehearsal was not done in the privacy of my own prayer closet. It took place as a conversation over a meal.
It is interesting to me that this year’s spiritual trek is being done as much in community as it is being done in personal reflection. I have been practicing the disciplines of confession and guidance as much as I have practiced the disciplines of prayer, fasting and study. That’s new. That’s a change. That’s uncomfortable. That’s good.
The future…I think… is going to include a challenge to deeper transparency and connection that I have ever practiced before. I think this deeper level involves more than just me. It is a corporate thing for the whole church. That means the future is going to require more vulnerability and trust than I have ever practiced before. It’s honestly a little scary and then a little exciting.
WHAT DOES THE WORD TRANSPARENCY DO TO YOUR INSIDES?
Here is what I have been listening to in my opening prayer time.
I guess it helps me to know that Jesus knows all our stuff anyway and He still offers us an open invitation to intimacy.
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Spiritual Journey 2018 Day 1
Our congregation has embarked on a 21 day corporate spiritual journey of seeking the Lord for the coming year using the ancient disciplines of the church.
Our pastor has asked us to begin to seek God for a greater excellence, a leaving behind of mediocrity and luke-warmness. Already I have been challenged in many areas of my life.
I have chosen as my study, in addition to the Bible, Eugene Peterson’s book RUN WITH THE HORSES.
Here is the day one quotation I am dwelling on.
The more the gospel is offered in consumer terms, the more consumers are disappointed. The gospel is not a consumer product; it doesn’t satisfy what we think of as our “needs”. …life… is not an American ‘pursuit of happiness’. It is more like God’s pursuit… (of us)” Eugene Peterson itallics mine
Lillie-Put 