Tonight is the last night of our journey into a deeper prayer life. Thank you all for joining us online. I hope it has been deeply meaningful for you.
Tonight there is no new prayer style to explore and no homework for the week to come. Tonight we reflect on the joy we have in our relationship with God. I pray that your joy will be full.
Tonight’s outline:
Week 10
Gather
Prayer:
Check in: how did praying in the outline of the Lord’s prayer work for you?
What spiritual practices were difficult?
What ……enhanced your encounters with God?
This week’s theme: Enjoying God
CS Lewis, A reflection on the Psalms, A word about Praising
The most obvious fact about praising—whether God or anything—strangely escaped me. I thought of it in terms of compliment, approval, or the getting of honour. I had never noticed that all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise…unless we deliberately check it.
How do we check praise? When we do that how do we miss out on joy?
Again, from CS Lewis: I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment.
So think about a play, a show or a concert that you particularly enjoyed. When you talked about it to others, did you recall the joy of that event?
Readings:
CS Lewis, Reflections on the Psalms: I find it easiest to understand the Christian doctrine that “Heaven” is a state in which angels now, and people hereafter, are perpetually employed in praising God…to see what the doctrine really means, we must suppose ourselves to be in perfect love with God—drunk with, drowned in, dissolved by, that delight which…flows out from us incessantly in effortless and perfect expression, our joy no more separable from the praise in which it liberates and utters itself than the brightness a mirror receives is separable from the brightness it sheds.
The Scotch catechism says that man’s chief end is to “glorify God and to enjoy him forever” But we shall know that these are the same thing. Fully to enjoy is to glorify. In commanding us to glorify him, God is inviting us to enjoy him.
Psalm 96
1 Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
4 For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and glory are in his sanctuary.
7 Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come into his courts.
9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of his[a] holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth.
10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.
11 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
12 Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
Luke 19:37-40 New International Version (NIV)
37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”[a]
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
A personal Note from Don Postema
We have completed our short journey together. I hope your life has been broadened and deepened a little as you took this course. I hope that your time together as a class has introduced you to the joy of prayer or enhanced the prayer life you already had. May you live your life constantly aware and surprised by the gracious, glorious, invigorating presence of our Triune God—to whom be glory for ever and ever.
To that I say: thank you for taking this journey with me. I have learned many things from all of you and I take great delight in knowing that you are the people who pray for this congregation and for me. Thank you.
Silent Prayer:
Closing hymn: The trees of the field
You shall go out with joy
and be led forth with peace
The mountains and the hills will
break forth before you.
There’ll be shouts of joy
and all the trees of the field
will clap, will clap their hands.
And the trees of the field
will clap their hands
The trees of the field will clap their hands
The trees of the field will clap their hands
While you go out with joy
Closing Prayer:
Benediction:
May the peace of God reign in this place
and the love of God forever hold you tight,
May the Spirit of God flow through your life
and the joy of God uphold you day and night.
As we prepare for our final night tomorrow here is my reflection on the assignment for this past week. Thank you for joining us on this awesome adventure of learning to make space for God in our lives. Much peace. I will post again tomorrow night with the final lesson plan.
https://tryingtopray.wordpress.com/2018/11/27/praying-constantly/
Week 9 Space for God
Today we reflect on being called to Glorify God. I hope that this study will help you in your reflections on the topic.
Introduction of tonight’s theme
In the shorter catechism we have the question, “What is the chief end of man?” to glorify/enjoy
Why do we glorify God: Calvin writes because he created us and placed us in this world so to be glorified by us, and it is indeed right that our life, of which he himself is the beginning, should be devoted to his glory.
Readings and Discussion
For Calvin the ultimate end of history was not the salvation of humans, but the glory of God, how do you see that expressed in the following readings:
1 Corinthians 10: 31
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Isaiah 6: 1-5
6 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”
Luke 9; 28-36
28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. 31 They spoke about his departure,[a] which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. 32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)
34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” 36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.
Revelation 4: 1-12
4 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emeralden circled the throne. 4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits[a] of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
“‘Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,’[b]
who was, and is, and is to come.”
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.”
Ponder:
How did Jesus give glory to God in his life?
How do we glorify God in our living? Remember the last part of our chief aim: to enjoy him forever…. How does the joy we have in God glorify him?
Learn new prayer
One of the purposes of our study is to be more aware of God in all of our life…
The Celtic style of prayer acknowledges that God is in everything we do in the day, from getting up to smooring the fire.
The Scripture that underlies: Psalm 74: 16
The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and the moon.
Rising Prayer:
King of moon, great king of sun
King of starlight, three in one
Waken me in newborn dawn
Night is fading, tired and drawn
See me needy, poor undressed
Wrap me in your garments, blessed
Clothe me, tailor from above
weaver of the garb of love
So in rising shall I be clothed in royal finery
And prayers for: lighting the fire, for bathing, prayers for milking the cow and other farm and fishing prayers…and this one for churning butter
Come thou Callum Cille kindly
Hasten the luster on the cream
Send down the broken and bring up the whole
Come thou Mary mother mild
Hasten the butter on the cream
seest thou Paul and John and Jesus
Waiting the gracious butter yonder
Like prayer/labour in the desert tradition daily labour is holy to God, even Jesus waits to taste the butter
I once attended a Celtic retreat weekend:
At the end of the weekend we were all challenged to write out own celtic prayer. The lab tech wrote one for using the needles, the lobster men wrote prayers of blessing on the pots and the boats. I wrote a prayer for blessing the desk where I worked. Any of you who have ever poked head into my office will appreciate that I titled it bless this mess….
Discuss: When you pray constantly through the day how does that glorify God? How does it connect you with God?
At Home:
Morning:
Carve out 5 minutes (minimum) daily to spend with God.
Spend 5 minutes everyday in silent prayer
Record in your journal.
Throughout the day
Pray over your daily tasks, just a short prayer, it doesn’t have to rhyme. Try to pray for at least 4 tasks every day.
Continue to read 1 or 2 Psalms every night
Pray using the Lord’s prayer as an outline for prayer
My father who…. Your words of praise about God
Hallowed…. Your words that give God glory
Thy Kingdom….pray for God to be revealed in you and the world
Thy will…..heaven Pray for obedience in you, the congregation, the world wide church
Daily bread: Ask God to supply your needs, bread, strength, courage etc
And lead not….Ask protection from those things that tempt you
Deliver from evil: what do you struggle with? Give it to God
Kingdom/glory/power: spend some time praising God for his goodness
Forever: amen
For next week:
Go back through some past assignments…. Loved one: do it again Struggled with one; try again.
Write a psalm of praise to God (or a Celtic style prayer) and bring it to share at the final session.
Update: Hello everyone. This week I do have a blog post for you on the challenges from the Prayer and Compassion homework from last week.
Thank you all so much for following along with the Bible Study at home.
https://tryingtopray.wordpress.com/2018/11/21/prayer-and-compassion/
Wednesday again. And we are at week 8, Justice and Compassion.
As I check in you will note that again this week I have not posted a blog. With some extra tasks I have taken on this week and in preparing to go away for a meeting in Vancouver tomorrow morning, the week has flown by.
Yet the themes of last weeks lesson have been noticeable in my activities. In my private reading of Scripture I started Lamentations. How fitting, for a week in which reflecting upon lament as a means of interacting with God. As I read those first few chapters I was reminded of how often I have hurled those same accusations at God and of how patient God has been with me as I worked out my love for him and my devotion that what he calls forth from me. Walking with God in difficult times has many challenges, but thankfully when we stay in relationship with God despite disappointment and anger, we learn that God is indeed how we overcome and thrive in all circumstances.
So this week: Justice and Compassion. Some of you may have noticed that this is a passion of mine. So planning for tonight has been a pleasure for me. I hope you find the readings and challenges of this week as rewarding as I do.
tonight’s theme: Justice and Compassion
There are a lot of stories that come out of the desert monastic tradition that are meant to illustrate a prayerful attitude to living.
The story of Abba Agathan
Going to town one day to sell some small articles Abba Agathan met a cripple on the roadside, paralyzed in his legs, who asked him where he was going. Abba Agathan replied, “to town,, to sell some things.”
The other said: “Do me the favor of carrying me there”..So he carried him to the town
The cripple said to him, “put me down where you sell your wares.” He did so. When he had sold an article, the cripple asked, “What did you sell it for?” and he told him the price. The other said, “buy me a cake” and he bought it.
When Abba Agathan had sold a second article, the sick man asked, “how much did you sell it for?” And he told him the price of it. The other said “buy me this” and he bought it.
When Agathan, having sold all his wares wanted to go, he said to him, “Are you going back?” and he replied, “ yes”. Then said he, “do me the favour of carrying me back to the place where you found me.” Once more picking him up he carried him back to that place.
Then the cripple said, “Agathan, you are filled with divine blessing in heaven and on earth”. Raising his eyes Agathan saw no one: it was an angel of the Lord come to try him.
Discussion:
What did the monk demonstrate?
Did you notice No Questions, No bargaining…just action. He carries him, serves him, cares for him, acts in solidarity with him. He has compassion.
Prayer presupposes justice and action? Discuss
Justice and action presupposes prayer… Discuss
Did the monk more readily hear the cry of the crippled man because he had previously heard it in prayer?
Readings and Discussion
Scripture Luke 6:30-36 New International Version (NIV)
30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Nouwen: The Genesee Diary
Often I have said to others, “I will pray for you.” But how often did I really enter into the full reality of what that means. I now see how indeed I can enter deeply into the other and pray to God from his centre. When I really bring my friends and the many I pray for into my innermost being and feel their pains, their struggles, and their cries in my own soul, then I leave myself, so to speak, and become them, then I have compassion.
Compassion lies at the heart of our prayer for our fellow human beings. When I pray for the world, I become the world, when I pray for the endless needs of the millions my soul expands and wants to embrace them all and bring them into the presence of God. But in the midst of that experience I realize that compassion is not mine but God’s gift to me.
Discuss.
How in your experience does compassion belong to the centre of a life of prayer?
Painting: The Christ of the breadline Fritz Eichenberg
use this link to have a look at this painting: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimforest/8367811926
While contemplating the image read:
Read: Philippians 2: 1-11
2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Discuss: how to have the mind of Christ in your daily interactions
Learn new prayer
Body:
In the desert tradition the work of our hands and bodies is a part of praying and the tools we use are as holy as the bread and wine on the table.
Monks when they work are encouraged to use their tools as if they were holy. So work is holy no matter what the work is.
The desert tradition has also developed meditative walking as a means of reflective and silent prayer.
Tripdium: While reflecting on the words God in whom live and move and have our being.’ Repeat this phrase while walking and take 3 steps forward and one step back
Body prayer: use arms/body taught it to youth; After a class in which we talked about using the whole body in prayer the youth used what I said as they crafted a prayer of of confession and assurance of pardon.
They grabbed the youth leader and as each youth read out a confession they pretended to nail him to a cross, … then for the asssurance of pardon the youth leader came down off the cross and extended his arms to everyone in forgiveness. There is more than one way to use our bodies in prayer.
Other ways: Labyrinth
an ancient symbol that relates to wholeness. It combines the imagery of the circle and the spiral into a meandering but purposeful path. The Labyrinth represents a journey to our own center and back again out into the world. Labyrinths have long been used as meditation and prayer tools.
Use this link to find a labyrinth that you can print off to use as a finger labyrinth.
Homework:
Morning: Carve out 5 minutes (minimum) daily to spend with God.
Spend 5 minutes everyday in silent prayer (for a change try using the finger labyrinth as you spend time in silence)
Record in your journal.
Evening:
Continue to read 1 or 2 Psalms every night
Reflect on: Henri Nouwen, “When I pray for others I lose myself and become the other”
This week add prayers of compassion and justice: Begin by reading the paper or watching the news. Ask yourself “What is God calling me to respond to from these readings” Then take a person, place or situation and pray deeply about it. End the prayer by praising God that his eye is on the sparrow and on those for whom you have prayed.
For Next week:
Read Luke 9: 28-36
Contemplate and Ponder the transforming glory of Jesus. Contemplate how that same transformation is active in you.
Much peace to all of you as you continue in this journey for another week. Ena
It has been a very busy 2 weeks since we last met for Study. We took last Wednesday off since many from the Bible Study were attending the Presbytery Retreat.
It was, as I said, a busy two weeks. We had the Rev. Peter Coutts in for a workshop on Congregational Change and Growth. Lots of insights, and many new ways to look at things. But for me the best part was the congregation. The love and the joy evident all weekend was a true blessing. The many revelations about what they thought was important about mission, outreach and ministry were a confirmation about what I had already been thinking about them. The singing set a tone of joy and of openness to listening for the word of God. Surely that pointed to what we are learning in this Bible Study that in making space for God we are also making ourselves open and available to listen for what he is speaking.
The workshop ended on Sunday and by Wednesday afternoon we were all on the top of a mountain (how appropriate) to learn about how to tell our stories–the story of our faith, the stories of Jesus, the stories of how our faith has impacted us and made a difference with/for those we knew. And again the singing, and the singing and the singing that was so full of love, joy and prayerfully set the tone for the whole retreat. Fitting since last time we met we were challenged to sing Psalms as a part of our daily practice.
I have to admit that I came back exhausted, and even a little overwhelmed. It has taken me a while to process everything I was learning, thinking, praying after those two learning experiences. So no blog to post for you today, but I do have the lesson plan and the homework for tonight’s study.
This is the week when we look at lament, and how do we express our anger with God. I have always felt that by expressing our anger, yelling, complaining, lamenting we are also expressing our desire to remain in a relationship with God. I hope that as you study along with us tonight that you will find your peace with those moments and days when you too have been angry with God.
Peace and Blessings. Ena
Session 7 Wrestling with God
Last week you were asked to think about: Is it okay to be angry with God?
Introduction of tonight’s theme
Let’s look at this photo of Eternity’s Gate https://www.vincentvangogh.org/at-eternitys-gate.jsp
What attitude to prayer does this man demonstrate?
What does he seem to be feeling?
Despair? Anger? Frustration? Fear?
How did you answer the question, “is it okay to be angry with God?”
When you are angry with God do you feel closer to him? Further away?
Readings Genesis 32: 22-32
22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions.24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”
But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
27 The man asked him, “What is your name?”
“Jacob,” he answered.
28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel,[a]because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”
29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.”
But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.
30 So Jacob called the place Peniel,[b] saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”
31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel,[c] and he was limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon.
Job 10: 1-11
10 “I loathe my very life;
therefore I will give free rein to my complaint
and speak out in the bitterness of my soul.
2 I say to God: Do not declare me guilty,
but tell me what charges you have against me.
3 Does it please you to oppress me,
to spurn the work of your hands,
while you smile on the plans of the wicked?
4 Do you have eyes of flesh?
Do you see as a mortal sees?
5 Are your days like those of a mortal
or your years like those of a strong man,
6 that you must search out my faults
and probe after my sin—
7 though you know that I am not guilty
and that no one can rescue me from your hand?
8 “Your hands shaped me and made me.
Will you now turn and destroy me?
9 Remember that you molded me like clay.
Will you now turn me to dust again?
10 Did you not pour me out like milk
and curdle me like cheese,
11 clothe me with skin and flesh
and knit me together with bones and sinews?
Jeremiah 15: 15-18
15 Lord, you understand;
remember me and care for me.
Avenge me on my persecutors.
You are long-suffering—do not take me away;
think of how I suffer reproach for your sake.
16 When your words came, I ate them;
they were my joy and my heart’s delight,
for I bear your name,
Lord God Almighty.
17 I never sat in the company of revelers,
never made merry with them;
I sat alone because your hand was on me
and you had filled me with indignation.
18 Why is my pain unending
and my wound grievous and incurable?
You are to me like a deceptive brook,
like a spring that fails.
Poem: I love you God
I hate you God.
Love Madeline.
I write my message on water
and at bedtime I tiptoe upstairs
and let it flow under your door
When I am angry with you
I know that you are there
even if you do not answer my knock
even when your butler opens the door an inch
and flaps his thousand wings in annoyance
at such untoward interruption
and says the Master is not at home
I love you Madeline
Hate, God
(this is how I treat my friends he said to one great saint
No wonder you have so few of them, Lord, she replied)
I cannot turn the other cheek
It takes all the strength I have
To keep my fist from hitting back
the soldiers shot the baby
the little boys trample the old woman
the gutters are filled with groans
while pleasure seekers knock each other down
in order to get their tickets stamped first
I’m turning in my ticket
and my letter of introduction
You’re supposed to do the knocking. Why do you burst my heart?
How can I write you
to tell you that I am angry
when I’ve been given the wrong address
and I don’t even know your real name?
I take hammer and nails
and tack my message on two crossed pieces of wood
Dear God
is it too much to ask you
to bother to be?
Just show your hindquarters
And let me hear you roar.
Love,
Madeline
(Madeline L’Engle The Wrestler of the Heart)
Learn new prayer
Lament
The use of the prayer of Lament in worship happens most often in Lent when the Lament replaces the Assurance of Pardon.
Lament is the flip side of Confession, where the person voices just how deeply sorry they are; yet also voice their confidence in God.
The poem by Maeline L’Engle shows both these marks of a Lament
We can use Lament in our personal prayer time as it is appropriate after a time when we have been angry with or struggled with disobedience to God.
Silent prayer 5 min
Closing hymn
233 Were you there?
1Were you there when they crucified my lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Chorus: Oooh sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
- nailed him to a tree
- pierced him in the side
- the sun refused to shine
- laid him in the tomb
Closing prayer Lament from Sourcebook
Where are you, O God?
We are lost in the night; have you cast us from your presence?
Temptations surround us; their masks grin through the darkness.
We run from them, but which way should we go?
Where can we hide when all lies in shadow?
Have mercy on us, O God.
Our eyes are swollen from tears; our bones are cold with fear;
our souls have been broken—do you not hear, Lord?
Save us! According to your steadfast love, answer us!
Do not hide your face, but draw near and redeem us!
AT Home:
Morning:
Carve out 5 minutes (minimum) daily to spend with God.
Spend 5 minutes everyday in silent prayer
Record in your journal.
Evening:
Continue to read 1 or 2 Psalms every night (sing them if you can)
Every night read Lamentations 3: 21-26 as your evening prayer
Sing: what a friend we have in Jesus
For next week: Read and Ponder
Psalm 85: 10-11
Love and faithfulness meet together;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
and righteousness looks down from heaven.
Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 111
What does God require of you in the eighth commandment?
That I do whatever I can for my neighbour’s good
that I treat him as I would like others to treat me
and that I work faithfully so that I may share with those in need
Have a great week. I will post again by next Wednesday. Blessings. Ena
Here we are at week 6 Prayer as an Act
It can be an act of devotion, of praise, of thanksgiving, of gratitude, But it can also be the way we live out our life as we pray without ceasing and make everything we do a part of our praying.
Tonight’s lesson:
Introduction of tonight’s theme
Calvin reminds us that prayer is not only an attitude, but also an act. Prayer is an act in which we open ourselves to God’s presence, break up our hard hearts to receive the refreshing shower of God’s grace.. Prayer is a practice by which we allow ourselves to receive God’s gifts, to be embraced by Christ’s love, to be filled with the life of the Spirit. Prayer is a gesture of gratitude that we make.
Ponder
Some places more quickly remind us of God or more quickly put us in a reverent attitude.
Is this true for you?
What would those places be? Beach, your dining room table, forest, mountain lake, church, cathedral, other
Scripture:
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 New International Version (NIV)
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Poem: pray without ceasing
Pray without ceasing says Paul,
meaning that all men
should lift to God their desires
At all times
In all places
And in all situations
Meaning, too, that all men
Are to expect all things from Him
Give praise for all things to Him
For to us, God gives
Unfailing reasons to praise and pray
Such constancy in prayer
Applies to private devotion
But not to public prayers
We offer in the church
“True temples of God” says Paul
“Are we.” Do you wish to pray
in God’s temple? Pray in yourself
Because the goal of prayer
Is to arouse and bear our hearts
to God (praising and beseeching)
The essence of prayer is set
in mind and heart, or better said
Prayer is an emotion of the heart within
Poured out, laid bare before God,
Searcher of hearts….
Pray you may in other places too
But prayer is something secret
Lodged chiefly in the heart
Requiring tranquility
Far from all teeming cares
And so speaking and singing
Must be tied to the heart’s affection
Must serve it….
The glory of God ought to shine
In the various parts of our bodies,
and especially in the tongue
Created to sing, speak forth
Tell, proclaim
The Praise of God
Private or public
Tongue prayers without the mind
Are not heard by God
In fact, the force and ardour
of the mind must outstrip
whatever the tongue is speaking
can express
One final word
In private prayer
no tongue is needed
For inner feeling will suffice
To rouse us to the best
The silent prayer
As Moses and Hannah knew
John Calvin (The Piety of John Calvin)
Other Scriptures:
Psalm 42
Psalm 130
Learn a new Prayer Style
Calvin talks about singing as a way of praying.
In the monastic tradition the Psalms are sung 4 -5 times a day as a part of the discipline of prayer.
St. Benedict says that those who sing pray twice
Why?
Things we sing we tend to keep on singing…you know those annoying ear worms…but singing is also stored in a different part of our brain so we access it differently.
Thus the psalms are prayers, but also hymns and songs of faith.
The hymns we sing can be an indication of our state of spiritual health.
I have learned to notice what I am singing and since I wake up most mornings singing there is a lot I can learn.
After a long spell of fighting and arguing with God about something, I woke up singing: I surrender all. The message was clear: Time to quit fighting God and get on with obedience right.
Sometimes what I sing waking up is just a sign of things that are filling my life. When I would watch tv with the boys I frequently woke up singing Dinosaur train of curious George or teenage mutant ninja turtles.
But most mornings I wake up with a hymn in my mouth.
But a resource for singing psalms is found in our hymnbook and even in the All the Best Songs book…. The trees of the field is a psalm we sing every week….
Bonhoeffer called the Psalms the prayer book. He wrote: “the more deeply we grow in the Psalms and the ore often we pray them as our own, the more simple and rich our prayers will become.”
Calvin required his students to sing Psalms from 11:00 to noon every day.
In the Jewish tradition Psalms are listed by the first letter of the first word. If someone was to phone you or talk to you on your birthday they would sing you the psalms that spell out your name, as a blessing. A person once read the psalms for my name on the answering machine for my birthday. It was a looooong message.
Why sing Psalms?
Psalms express the range of human emotions and responses to God. Praise, thanksgiving, doubt, fear, anger, love, confession, submission
For example Ps 23 expresses confidence on God and acknowledges that God will be present in difficult times.
Other Psalms speak of Lament, others begin in anger and end in praise. The more deeply we are immersed in the Psalms the more we will find that we can recall a psalm that speaks to our mood or situation …
At home:
Morning: Carve out 5 minutes (minimum) daily to spend with God.
Spend 5 minutes everyday in silent prayer
Record in your journal.
Evening:
Continue to read the Psalms. Sing any songs of psalms or hymns you know. Challenge yourself and see if you can sing the psalm you are reading.
Try to write your own Psalm prayer
For next week:
Find a photo of Eternity’s Gate by van Gogh.
What does the man’s posture tell you about how his heart is engaged in prayer?
Read Psalm 22
Ponder: is it okay to be angry with God?
Hi: so again I am a little late with posting my progress with the tasks assigned for the Space for God study. It really seems as if the weeks are getting shorter and shorter.
so here is the link to the blog for the update from me. I will return later this afternoon to post the lesson plan and homework for tonight’s study session. Blessings all. Ena
https://tryingtopray.wordpress.com/2018/10/24/gratitude-part-3/
Good Afternoon everyone. Today is a glorious day, and we give thanks for the sun and the warmth. I hope that you are finding the experience of following along at home a good one. Let me know how it is going for you. If you have questions or would like to talk over something, give me a call. I’d be happy to talk with you. Ena
Week 5 Prayer as Attitude—the Grateful Heart
Tonight’s class is the half-way point in our classes. The Leader’s manual tells me that this is the night to give you the following reminders.
- It is good to remember that silence is a gift of our valuable time to God—not as a means of getting something in return, but as the expression of the total gift of ourselves to God.
- Silence also makes us open, vulnerable to God. We are doing nothing so that God can come to us, can give the Holy Spirit to us.
- The guide also suggests that this is the time to lengthen our silence to 5 minutes. Try it and see how it goes.
- The final reminder is that our practice of silence and the other at home exercise are preparing us to put together our own practice of the formal discipline of prayer. The hope is that in this process you will discover what moves you and nourishes you so that you can incorporate it into the practice of study and prayer in which you are already engaged.
Introduction of tonight’s theme
When you think of prayer what are 3 or 4 words or phrases that you think of?
What do they say of our attitude to prayer?
Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes: Seek God, not happiness—this is the fundamental rule of all meditation.
Ponder:
So when we take time to read God’s word and when we pray we need to ask ourselves these questions:
- Is our whole person centred on God?
- Is God the focus of our lives?
- Does God dwell in us and we in God?
- Are we in Christ and Christ in us?
- Are we aware that we live constantly in the presence of God?
Readings and Discussion
With these questions in mind lets look at the following readings
Ezekiel 36: 24-48
Psalm 51: 1-2, 6-11, 14-17
Isaiah 29: 13-14
Psalm 138: 1-3, 7-8
Learn new prayer
A bead and a prayer bring prayer beads
The link where you can find the prayer beads we are using is: https://www.stmw.org/beads.html
This is how you will use the beads in the prayer style we are learning: The full circle prayer:
Cross Loving God
Invitatory bead: you have called me into this time of prayer
Resurrection Bead: to be with you
First Cruciform Bead: I praise you Lord for:
The 7 week beads: use each bead to praise God for a specific quality
Second Crucifom bead: I ask Lord for your forgiveness for:
The 7 week beads: Use each bead to confess your sins to God
Third cruciform bead: I pray Lord for:
The 7 week beads: use each bead to name your intercessions for self or for others
Fourth cruciform bead: I thank you Lord for:
The 7 week beads: Use each bead to offer thanks for the blessings in your life
Resurrection bead: Christ is alive in me
Invitatory bead: Thanks be to God
Cross: Amen
Silent prayer 5 min
Homework:
Carve out 5 minutes (minimum) daily to spend with God.
Spend 5 minutes everyday in silent prayer
Record in your journal.
Evening Reflect on:
Abraham Kuyper: In Scripture, the house or dwelling, is presented as a means by which to make our fellowship with God assume a definite form. God also has a house, and the idea of dwelling in the house of our God is the richest thought that is given to us, to set forth the most intimate and tenderest fellowship with him.
To dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of our life, means: every morning, noon and night to be so clearly conscious of our fellowship with he Living God, that our thoughts go out to Him, that we hear the sound of his voice in our soul, that we are aware of His sacred presence round about us, that we experience our operations upon our heart and conscience, and shun everything we would not dare to do in His immediate presence. To be Near unto God
Use the prayer bead outline each night for your evening prayers
Sing and reflect on the hymn: May the mind of Christ my Saviour
May the mind of Christ my Saviour, live in me from day to day; by his love and power controlling all I do and say.
May the Word of God dwell richly in my heart from hour to hour, So that all may see I triumph only through his power.
May the peace of God, my Father, rule my life in everything; That I may be calm to comfort, sick and sorrowing.
May the love of Jesus fill me, as the waters fill the sea; Him exalting, self abasing, this is victory.
May I run the race before me, strong and brave to face the foe, Looking only unto Jesus as I onward go.
For Next Week:
Week 6: Prayer as an Act
Reflect upon the following:
Why do Christians need to pray?
Because prayer is the most important part of the thankfulness God requires of us. And because God gives his grace and Holy Spirit only to those who pray continually and groan inwardly, asking God for those gifts, and thanking him for our days.
Heidelberg Catechism: Q and A 116
Week 4 check in.
We didn’t meet last week because Marlene and I were at Synod and Presbytery meetings. Much of my reflection on gratitude came out of those meetings, as you will see in my blog… and yes I did write a Psalm as a result of those ponderings. I hope you enjoy. Look back here tomorrow for the next installment. Peace, Ena
Week 4 Here is the study for tonight. I hope it helps us all come to realize just how thankful we are as Thanksgiving Sunday approaches.
Week 4:
Gratitude calls for a response from us.
Check in:
What has been your experience praying the last week.
How has it been using different styles to write prayers these last two weeks? Freeing? Creative? A chore?
Has it helped you to see prayer in a different way?
How are you an artistic creation of Jesus?
Introduction of tonight’s theme
Gratitude calls for a response from us.
Photo of Van Gogh’s Old Man Praying:
I tried to put that photo here for you, but it didn’t post. When you look up van Gogh online, the photo for today is the one of the man at a table with bread and a bowl in front of him. It seems van Gogh has a lot of paintings of an old man praying….
how does this painting point to gratitude?
How do you respond with gratitude?
Scripture Lessons:
Psalm 116
Luke 17: 11-19
Discussion:
One way of reading Scripture is to imagine yourself as one of the people in the narrative. It helps give a different perspective on the Scripture Passage. Some study methods suggest that you read it 3 or 4 times and try to understand it from the perspective of a different person each time.
Tonight: Let’s imagine we are one of the 9 lepers who simply ran off:
Read passage again:
What could we possibly say as to why we didn’t stop to thank Jesus?
Now imagine you were the leper who returned. Why did you do that?
What would you want to say to Jesus?
Learn new way of prayer/study
Meditative Style
Read: what word or phrase jumps out at you
Read: what speaks to your heart
Read: what challenges you
Read: Notice what God does for his people that makes you thankful.
At home this week:
Carve out 5 minutes (minimum) daily to spend with God.
Spend 2 minutes everyday in silent prayer
Record in your journal.
Evening:
Read Psalm 116 again the first night then choose from these psalms on following nights using the read/notice method we spoke of
Psalm 3, Ps 5, Ps 19, Ps 106, Ps 145, Ps 147, Ps 148, Ps149
Read: what word or phrase jumps out at you
Read: what speaks to your heart
Read: what challenges you
Read: Notice what God does for his people that makes you thankful.
Make a list of things that happened each day for which you are thankful. Write a prayer of thanksgiving.
For Next Week: prayer as attitude—the grateful heart
Read and reflect on
Malcolm Boyd: Prayer, for me, used to stand as something separate from other parts of life. But I have come to learn that real prayer is not so much talking to God as just sharing God’s presence….Prayer I have learned, is more my response to God than a matter of my own initiative. From Are You Running with Me, Jesus.
Thomas Merton: In meditation we should not look for a “method” or “system” but [rather] cultivate an “attitude” an “outlook”; faith, openness, attention, reverence, expectation, supplication, trust, joy. All these finally permeate our being with love in so far as our living faith tells us we are in the presence of God, that we live in Christ, that in the Spirit of God we “see” God our Father without “seeing”. We know Him in “unknowing”. Faith is the bond that unites us to Him in the Spirit who gives us light and love. The Climate of Monastic Prayer
Remember: there will not be Bible Study next week, so you have 2 weeks to work on the assignments from this week. See you when I get back from Synod.
Many blessings to all of you, and may you have a very blessed thanksgiving celebration. Ena
Good day to you all. The weather at the moment is awesome and I am deeply grateful to feel the sun on my face. There are so many things to be grateful for as we contemplate the first week of two in which our focus is on gratitude. Here is my blog with some of the things for which I am grateful and my prayer poem. Blessings on you all. Ena
https://tryingtopray.wordpress.com/2018/09/29/gratitude/
Hello everyone:
I am so glad that we are able to put up the outline of the study for those of you who are unable to come out on Wednesday evening. If you have questions, concerns, or just want to talk, call me or email me. I am always happy to connect.
Week 3 Gratitude takes nothing for granted
Opening Acrostic Prayer:
- GRATITUDE
- Gentle God whose love fills our every breath: we are deeply grateful for all you have done for us and given to us
- Reaching into our being with your presence
- Affirming your great love for us
- Touching us with your grace
- Instilling in us a desire to praise you
- Turning our sorrow into joy
- Uttering words of deep peace and comfort
- Delivering us from oppression
- Every day we are blessed to sing your praises. Amen
This week’s topic:
Gratitude takes nothing for granted.
Last week you were asked to reflect on the following statement by Thomas Merton:
Gratitude takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to more wonder, and to praise of the goodness of God.
Take a look at the following Scripture Lessons and think about that statement:
Colossians 2: 6-7, Psalm 75: 1, Colossians 3: 12, 16-17
Think about:
Gratitude is something that flows naturally from belonging because gratitude is the response of those who belong to God.
How does gratitude help us to make more space for God?
Being receptive and open
Cultivate an attitude which prepares the way for the coming of God
recognition that God’s blessing fills our lives /always present
Gratitude recognizes that a gift has been given
Take a moment and give thanks to God for those things for which you are deeply grateful.
Theological readings:
Keep this statement in mind as you ponder the following readings:
Why is thanksgiving a necessary component of all our prayers?
Learning a new prayer style:
Poetry
Poetry is often a way to say something using fewer words, more evocative words and images and a freer form than prose allows us. In poetry our creativeness helps us to connect with the creativeness of God.
The Biblical example of poetry is the Psalms, especially noticeable when we read them in King James. But also many of the proclamations of Isaiah, the Magnificat which Mary sings after the angel’s visit (Luki), or the song that Miriam sang when the Isrealites had crossed the sea on dry land. (Exodus)
They are good examples of gratitude because that is what is expressed; they both have a lot to say about the power of God.
Read: Exodus 15: 1-18, Luke 1: 46-45
But poetic praise to God can also be a simple statement of faith:
The Aaronic Blessing
22-23 God spoke to Moses: “Tell Aaron and his sons, This is how you are to bless the People of Israel. Say to them,
24 God bless you and keep you,
25 God smile on you and gift you,
26 God look you full in the face
and make you prosper.
Poetry doesn’t always have to be profound, or rhyme or even be perfect iambic pentameter. It can be as simple as: God is Good, God is great, now I thank you for my food.
Or: now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the lord my soul to keep
If I should die before I wake
I pray the Lord my soul to take.
Prayer poems are also found in other literature, like this poem by e e cummings:
I thank you God for most this amazing
day; for the leaping greenly spirit of trees
and a blue true dream of sky and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes
(I who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun’s birthday this is the birth
day of life and of love and wings; and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)
How should tasting touch hearing seeing
breathing any—lifted from the no
of nothing—human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?
(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)
-e. e. cummings; complete poems, Vol 2
Closing Prayer:
Today’s closing prayer is a prayer poem that I wrote, reflecting on and giving thanks for the Trinity.
God:
Wisdom of the ages
Bounty of creation
Generosity of Heart
Jesus:
Grace born of Tenderness
Hope which heals the soul
Innocence, for sinners given
Spirit:
Power of Salvation
Joy of Eternity
Strength beneath my wings
How can I?
Human
frail
confused
conflicted
Hope to thank you adequately?
What can I give?
Only this:
O Holy One: accept from me this truth
I love you with all my heart
May that be the beginning of my thanksgiving. Amen
At home exercise:
Carve out 5 minutes (minimum) daily to spend with God.
Spend 2 minutes everyday in silent prayer
Record in your journal.
Every evening write out what you have been thankful for in that day
Try to take up the challenge of writing a prayer poem.
Getting ready for next week:
Ponder: Christ…is more of an artist than the artists: he works in the living spirits and the living flesh; he makes men instead of statues
Consider finding a copy of van Gogh’s Old Man Praying, on line. What does it tell you about gestures of gratitude?
Look for my blog posting about my journey this week in a few days. Peace and blessings to you all. Ena
Belonging to God: Reflections on my blog
https://tryingtopray.wordpress.com/2018/09/20/multitasking-and-the-practice-of-spirituality/
My deepest apologies. I forgot to put this up on Wednesday afternoon. I remembered late last night. But hopefully, better late than never.
Week 2: I belong to God
Hieldelburg Confession Q/A 1
What is your only comfort in life and in death?
That I am not my own but belong—in body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ.
Todays Theme:
Loneliness has become one of the major social concerns. Families are often separated by long distances. We no longer know our neighbours as in former days. Many people feel as if they don’t belong anywhere.
In response to this In England the government has instituted a new ministry devoted to loneliness. Ponder this, how true is it for you? For people you know? Would such a ministry be helpful in our context? How can we as a church respond to this need?
So when we say to one another: you belong, what does that mean to you?
You belong: to whom?
What does it mean when we talk about belonging, body and soul in life and in death to Christ Jesus?
Is that comforting? What does belonging to Jesus mean to you? How does it help you in times of loneliness?
Readings and Discussion:
Scripture Lesson:
Jeremiah 31:33
Romans 8:38-39
Luke 15:11-24
Look again at the painting: The Return of the Prodigal Son
What in the painting suggests: infinite compassion, unconditional love, and everlasting forgiveness
How does the painting communicate God’s love?
How are the hands, God’s hands?
What about the differences in the right hand and left hand? How do they speak of the nature of God?
New Prayer Style
Acrostic Prayer
Acrostic Prayer:
In my blog I use Acrostic Prayer to tie together what I have been reflecting about. It is simply done by taking a phrase or a sentence and then using each letter in that phrase in turn write a sentence that is a part of that prayer.
How would you finish this prayer written using the name JESUS
- Jesus, Brother, Saviour, Guide
- Enter my heart, be with me today
- Set your seal upon my heart
- Until I am confident that I belong to you
- S
At home:
Carve out 5 minutes (minimum) daily to spend with God.
Spend 2 minutes everyday in silent prayer (I belong to God)
Record in your journal.
Write an Acrostic Prayer using the phrase I belong to God
To Prepare for Next Week: Gratitude takes nothing for granted
Spend time thinking about what you are deeply grateful for
Hi all: I hope that you re making discoveries as you work your way through the materials and extra work for week one. As promised here is the blog post that I wrote about my experience for week 1. On Wednesday I will post the outline for week 2. Peace. Ena
https://tryingtopray.wordpress.com/2018/09/16/an-invitation-from-god/
Session 1: An invitation to spend time with God
Read and Ponder:
Discussion: busyness of life. How easy or difficult is it to carve out space for time with God.
- S. Eliot
Endless invention, endless experiment
Brings knowledge of motion, but not of stillness
Knowledge of speech, but not of silence
Knowledge of words, and ignorance of The Word
Where is the Life we have lost in living?
Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?
Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?
Mark 3:20-21 Mark 3: 20-21 Matthew 14: 22-32 Matthew 26:36-46
consider:
How did the time away in prayer prepare Jesus for the demands of ministry?
How did he grow more aware of what holds the world together? (faith/fear)
How did he grow more aware of his relationship with God? (submission to God’s will)
Consider: If Jesus needed such solitude for prayer, for listening to God, we certainly do.
Martin Luther: I have so much business I cannot get on without spending 3 hours daily in prayer.
Why do you think Luther said that?
Learning Centering Prayer
Silent prayer is a time when we concentrate on our breath. Long slow deep, and we seek the rhythm of being in sync with God.
When you use the Centering Prayer technique you select a phrase that you can hold in your mind as you breathe in and out.
Some suggestions are words and phrases like:
Fill in the blanks with word/phrase that works for you:
| Word/Phrase | Breathe in | Breathe out |
| Maranatha | Mara | natha |
| Peacefulness | Peace | Fullness |
| God is love | God is | Love |
| Jesus is Lord | Jesus | Is Lord |
| Fill me O God | Fill me | O God |
| I belong to God | I belong | To God |
| Called to serve God | Called to | Serve God |
| Etc: choose your own as you feel called or led |
Spend two minutes in silent prayer
Take home reflection from today:
Carve out 5 minutes (minimum) daily to spend with God.
Spend 2 minutes everyday in silent prayer
Record in your journal.
Reflect on the following statements:
The world needs people who will allow time for God to recreate them, play with them, touch them as an artist who is making something beautiful from their lives.
Don Postma writes: I used to write in my daily calendar 7-7:30 prayer. But many times I passed that up. It was one more thing to do in the day. Now I write: 7 – 7:30 God. Somehow that’s a little harder to neglect.
To Prepare for Next week read, think about meditate on, pray over the following Items for Reflection
WEEK TWO I BELONG
Heildelberg Confession Q/A 1
What is your only comfort in life and in death?
That I am not my own but belong—in body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ.
If you have time find a copy of Rembrandts painting, The Return of the Prodigal Son. Spend some time looking at it and contemplating what is Rembrandt trying to communicate about the nature of God?
So that is lesson 1 and the homework. As i do my homework I will blog and post the blog here, at least once before next Wednesday.
For those of you who are following this study at home, I hope it really blesses you and encourages you in faith.
Blessings. Ena
This evening we begin. For those of you following at home, this is the format we will follow and the outline for the evening. At the start of each evening I will post the Scriptures and thought provoking items for the night and the follow up suggestions for at home work. That comes later today.
Here is the outline of the study:
Space for God.
Purpose:
- To deepen your life and your prayers
- To learn some new ways to pray
- To develop a discipline of prayer
- To become more aware of the presence of God in your lives
Home Spirituality Time Goals:
To reflect on each week’s class
To meditate on the reflective material for the next class
To develop a time for silent prayer. First 2 min. Then 5 min. Challenge yourself with 10
To journal on the spiritual challenges of this journey. How does it make you feel? What are the things that distract you from God? What inner revelations are you discovering? Note: the journal, should you keep it is private. There is no need to share any of it with the class unless you choose to.
For these 10 weeks we will be using a study guide prepared by Don Postma, which I have tweaked to include things that I have discovered are important for growing a devotional life.
Outline:
Gather at 7
Gathering Prayer
Check in: thoughts and reflections on assignment from last week
Readings: may include some, or all, of the following. Discussion
- Scripture Lessons
- Hymns or Poems
- Insight from the Desert Tradition
- Art
Introduction to a new prayer style
Silent Prayer. We will begin with two minutes and build our way up to 5
Reflections on the evening
Assignment for next week
Closing Prayer
Even before we start though I want to share a blog that I wrote on Monday. One of the goals of this study is to be more aware of the presence of God in our lives. This blog post is about dreams. We are not talking about dreams in the course, because I am woefully lacking in understanding of how God works in dreams. But it is important for some people.
On Monday there was a dream that was a jumping off point for me to think about God. So as a part of my commitment to be more aware of God’s presence in my life I include it for you here. when you click on it, you should come to the article.
More from me later today, Ena
On Wednesday Sept 12 at 7 pm we will begin a Bible Study called Making Space for God. In it we will explore the need to make space and time to listen for God speaking to us. A part of the study will include exploring different ways of reading Scripture and praying.
If this sounds like something that would interest you we would be glad to see you on Wednesday. If you are interested in reading about what we are doing I will be writing about it on my blog: tryingtopray.wordpress.com and posting it here. Keep checking back.
Blessings, Ena