I know it looks long but really it is the same verses in two different translations! We have been reflecting on God's Word. We have been reflecting on His hope. Through prayer we talk with Him. Through contemplation it becomes lived out. Through meditation it changes our thinking. Lets continue His work in us. How do we begin to grasp these changes in our heart and live them out?
Scripture-
let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10: 22-25 (NIV)
So let's do it—full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out. Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.
Hebrews 10: 22-25 (The Message)
Reading - Slowly read the Scripture passage several times
Meditation - Take some time to reflect on the words and phrases in the text. Which words, phrases or images speak to you most?
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or thanksgiving.
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Thursday's Living Water
Scripture-
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
1 Peter 3: 15-16 (NIV)
Reading - Slowly read the Scripture passage several times
Meditation - Take some time to reflect on the words and phrases in the text. Which words, phrases or images speak to you most?
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
1 Peter 3: 15-16 (NIV)
Reading - Slowly read the Scripture passage several times
Meditation - Take some time to reflect on the words and phrases in the text. Which words, phrases or images speak to you most?
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Wednesday's Living Water
Have you tried this? After you have read the passage quietly, slowly, try putting it in a personalized prayer. Place your name right there in the midst of His Word. It may seem difficult at first. It may also bring areas we need to take a look at with His guidance. His Word changes our heart, it changes our walk.
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or thanksgiving.
Scripture-
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.
Romans 12: 9-12
Reading - Slowly read the Scripture passage several times
Meditation - Take some time to reflect on the words and phrases in the text. Which words, phrases or images speak to you most?
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or thanksgiving.
Scripture-
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.
Romans 12: 9-12
Reading - Slowly read the Scripture passage several times
Meditation - Take some time to reflect on the words and phrases in the text. Which words, phrases or images speak to you most?
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
Monday, January 28, 2008
Tuesday's Living Water
I just had to share this verse from the two translations I looked at this evening. I just love the words, "blazing with holiness"! Our lives so driven and shaped by God; our hope set fully on His grace! We do prepare our minds for action when we are in His Word. Each day we catch a glimpse of Him and His Holiness as we read His Word. Isn't it awesome? Isn't it amazing?
Scripture-
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
1 Peter 1:13 (NIV)
As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, "I am holy; you be holy."
1 Peter 1:13 (The Message)
Reading - Slowly read the Scripture passage several times
Meditation - Take some time to reflect on the words and phrases in the text. Which words, phrases or images speak to you most?
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or thanksgiving.
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
Scripture-
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
1 Peter 1:13 (NIV)
As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, "I am holy; you be holy."
1 Peter 1:13 (The Message)
Reading - Slowly read the Scripture passage several times
Meditation - Take some time to reflect on the words and phrases in the text. Which words, phrases or images speak to you most?
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or thanksgiving.
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Monday Living Water
Scripture-
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
2 Thessalonians 2: 16
Reading - Slowly read the Scripture passage several times
Meditation - Take some time to reflect on the words and phrases in the text. Which words, phrases or images speak to you most?
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or thanksgiving.
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
2 Thessalonians 2: 16
Reading - Slowly read the Scripture passage several times
Meditation - Take some time to reflect on the words and phrases in the text. Which words, phrases or images speak to you most?
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or thanksgiving.
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
Sunday's Living Water
As you read and reflect, pause for a moment to comprehend the peace we have with God through Jesus! Through Jesus we have gained access to grace! We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God! Yes, take in these truths given to us to understand and when we face trials remember them and the promise, "that hope does not disappoint"!
Scripture-
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Romans 5: 1-5
Reading - Slowly read the Scripture passage several times
Meditation - Take some time to reflect on the words and phrases in the text. Which words, phrases or images speak to you most?
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or thanksgiving.
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
Scripture-
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Romans 5: 1-5
Reading - Slowly read the Scripture passage several times
Meditation - Take some time to reflect on the words and phrases in the text. Which words, phrases or images speak to you most?
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or thanksgiving.
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
Friday, January 25, 2008
Saturday's Living Water
Meditation - Take some time to reflect on the words and phrases in the text. Which words, phrases or images speak to you most?
Scripture-
For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Romans 15:4
Reading - Slowly read the Scripture passage several times
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or thanksgiving.
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
Scripture-
For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Romans 15:4
Reading - Slowly read the Scripture passage several times
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or thanksgiving.
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Friday's Living Water
Yesterday’s verses were amazing! Saved because of His love and mercy. Through Jesus Who justifies by His grace we become heirs having the hope of eternal life! Let’s press on to today’s verses! Remember, slow reading. These could be new words to process but He meets us when we desire to meet with Him! He will teach and He will guide, don't give up!
Scripture-
For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints,
do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers;
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe…
Ephesians 1: 15-19
Reading - Slowly read the Scripture passage several times
Meditation - Take some time to reflect on the words and phrases in the text. Which words, phrases or images speak to you most?
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or thanksgiving.
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
Scripture-
For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints,
do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers;
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe…
Ephesians 1: 15-19
Reading - Slowly read the Scripture passage several times
Meditation - Take some time to reflect on the words and phrases in the text. Which words, phrases or images speak to you most?
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or thanksgiving.
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Thursday Living Water
Reading - Slowly read the Scripture passage several times
Scripture-
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:3-7 (NLT)
Meditation - Take some time to reflect on the words and phrases in the text. Which words, phrases or images speak to you most?
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or thanksgiving.
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
Scripture-
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:3-7 (NLT)
Meditation - Take some time to reflect on the words and phrases in the text. Which words, phrases or images speak to you most?
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or thanksgiving.
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Wednesday Living Water
His Word, written for instruction so that we might have hope. How has your daily drink into His Word been? We will always take something with us, something that will mold us and shape us. A moment taken will never be a waste of time because He will be there to meet with you. Yes, you! He waits!
Scripture-
For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction,
so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures
we might have hope.
Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement
grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus,
so that with one accord you may with one voice
glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 15: 4-6
Reading - Slowly read the Scripture passage several times
Meditation - Take some time to reflect on the words and phrases in the text. Which words, phrases or images speak to you most?
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or thanksgiving.
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
Scripture-
For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction,
so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures
we might have hope.
Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement
grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus,
so that with one accord you may with one voice
glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 15: 4-6
Reading - Slowly read the Scripture passage several times
Meditation - Take some time to reflect on the words and phrases in the text. Which words, phrases or images speak to you most?
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or thanksgiving.
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
Monday, January 21, 2008
Tuesday Living Water
Scripture-
Show me your ways, O LORD,
teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
Psalm 25: 4-5
Reading - Slowly read the Scripture passage several times
Meditation - Take some time to reflect on the words and phrases in the text. Which words, phrases or images speak to you most?
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or thanksgiving.
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
Show me your ways, O LORD,
teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
Psalm 25: 4-5
Reading - Slowly read the Scripture passage several times
Meditation - Take some time to reflect on the words and phrases in the text. Which words, phrases or images speak to you most?
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or thanksgiving.
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Monday Living Water
Find a quiet moment, a quiet spot!
Lets begin by yielding ourselves to God, and asking Him to speak.
Remember, we are not in a hurry. This is a time of contemplation, a time to reflect and carry His Word with you through the day. What does it say, how will I live in light of these truths? Whom can I share with?
Scripture-
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 1:3-5
Reading - Slowly read the Scripture passage several times
Meditation - Take some time to reflect on the words and phrases in the text. Which words, phrases or images speak to you most?
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or thanksgiving.
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
Lets begin by yielding ourselves to God, and asking Him to speak.
Remember, we are not in a hurry. This is a time of contemplation, a time to reflect and carry His Word with you through the day. What does it say, how will I live in light of these truths? Whom can I share with?
Scripture-
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 1:3-5
Reading - Slowly read the Scripture passage several times
Meditation - Take some time to reflect on the words and phrases in the text. Which words, phrases or images speak to you most?
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or thanksgiving.
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Sunday Living Water
Today's verse is a bit longer but the truth and direction that it holds is incredible. As you read it over and meditate on the Truths may we be encouraged to live it out!
Scripture-
For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously
giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.
For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossi ans 1:9-14
Reading - Slowly read the Scripture passage several times
Meditation - Take some time to reflect on the words and phrases in the text. Which words, phrases or images speak to you most?
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or thanksgiving.
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
Scripture-
For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously
giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.
For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossi ans 1:9-14
Reading - Slowly read the Scripture passage several times
Meditation - Take some time to reflect on the words and phrases in the text. Which words, phrases or images speak to you most?
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or thanksgiving.
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
Friday, January 18, 2008
Saturday Living Water
When tradgey strikes, when things don't seem to make sense, when we just don't understand, when there are no answers, just turn to His Word. It is truth! Let us read, meditate, pray, and trust. Trust the Lord always.
Scripture-
You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Trust in the Lord always,
for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.
Isaiah 26:3-4 (NLT)
Reading - Slowly read the Scripture passage several times
Meditation - Take some time to reflect on the words and phrases in the text. Which words, phrases or images speak to you most?
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or thanksgiving.
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
Scripture-
You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Trust in the Lord always,
for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.
Isaiah 26:3-4 (NLT)
Reading - Slowly read the Scripture passage several times
Meditation - Take some time to reflect on the words and phrases in the text. Which words, phrases or images speak to you most?
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or thanksgiving.
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Friday's Living Water
Scripture –
Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 (Amplified)
Reading - Slowly read the Scripture passage several times
Meditation - Take some time to reflect on the words and phrases in the text. Which words, phrases or images speak to you most?
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or thanksgiving.
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 (Amplified)
Reading - Slowly read the Scripture passage several times
Meditation - Take some time to reflect on the words and phrases in the text. Which words, phrases or images speak to you most?
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or thanksgiving.
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Thursday's Living Water
I just wanted to make a note on these postings. Some of you may be early risers and want to begin your day with these small devotions! They are posted the night before for just that reason. Also, there can be delays with the notification by email of when the post goes up. Again, note that I am posting these the night before and it is beyond me how that info finds its way on these data streams. It is amazing to me how these tools can help us seek His Word. His information highway in these modern days. So lets examine our verse for today!
Scripture - Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Matthew 4:4
Reading - Slowly read the Scripture passage several times
Meditation - Take some time to reflect on the words and phrases in the text. Which words, phrases or images speak to you most?
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or thanksgiving.
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
Scripture - Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Matthew 4:4
Reading - Slowly read the Scripture passage several times
Meditation - Take some time to reflect on the words and phrases in the text. Which words, phrases or images speak to you most?
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or thanksgiving.
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Each scripture, so special. All deserve our attention no matter their length. This one would be easy to memorize. Remember, we are reading slowly, with a purpose. We want to meditate on what it says. Through prayer we can make it ours. Then, how do we live with the knowledge?
Scripture - The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God stands forever.
Isaiah 40:8
Reading - Slowly read the Scripture passage several times
Meditation - Take some time to reflect on the words and phrases in the text. Which words, phrases or images speak to you most?
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or thanksgiving.
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
Scripture - The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God stands forever.
Isaiah 40:8
Reading - Slowly read the Scripture passage several times
Meditation - Take some time to reflect on the words and phrases in the text. Which words, phrases or images speak to you most?
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or thanksgiving.
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
Monday, January 14, 2008
Scripture - God’s way is perfect.
All the Lord’s promises prove true.
He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
2 Samuel 22: 31
Reading - Slowly read the Scripture passage several times
Meditation - Take some time to reflect on the words and phrases in the text. Which words, phrases or images speak to you most?
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or thanksgiving.
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Welcome! Today we begin to apply those past lessons as we take in God's Word. Remember, read it slowly. There is no rush! The following questions will help take us through the process. His Word is truth. Let us drink in this Living Water!
Scripture - “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord
and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat
or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green,
and they never stop producing fruit.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV
Reading - Slowly read the Scripture passage several times
Meditation - Take some time to reflect on the words and phrases in the text. Which words, phrases or images speak to you most?
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or thanksgiving.
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
Scripture - “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord
and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat
or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green,
and they never stop producing fruit.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV
Reading - Slowly read the Scripture passage several times
Meditation - Take some time to reflect on the words and phrases in the text. Which words, phrases or images speak to you most?
Prayer - Offer the internalized passage back to God in the form of a personalized prayer of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, or thanksgiving.
Contemplation - What word or image captures the spirit of the passage for you?
Friday, January 11, 2008
Our final review! It really is a wrap up for the week. How have you been doing? Has it helped with your study time. Creek Living Water is off and running. His Word transforms us if we will just dig in, reflect, chew, and then apply. Let's look at our last entry from Pastor John:
"My heart is that we will all drink deeply of the Living Word and be transformed!
As I was reading John 1:1 this week I was reminded of the True Message.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
Jesus is the logos (Greek) or Word. It means the 'message.' Jesus IS the message and He has left us His Living Word not so we can be filled with information, but so that we can be filled up with Him. As we drink in the Word - in our minds and hearts - we are drinking Him in as His Holy Spirit speaks to us!
I want to encourage you to continue on in Lectio.
Read and Listen to the Text allowing yourself some silence and listening for the Spirit's voice
Meditate on the words or phrase that the Holy Spirit is speaking to you about
Pray, speak to the Living Word and wrestle if necessary with what the Spirit has been speaking Contemplate by resting in God and praise Him for speaking to you
I pray that the River of Life continues pouring the hope and power of Jesus through you and out into the world!"
"My heart is that we will all drink deeply of the Living Word and be transformed!
As I was reading John 1:1 this week I was reminded of the True Message.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
Jesus is the logos (Greek) or Word. It means the 'message.' Jesus IS the message and He has left us His Living Word not so we can be filled with information, but so that we can be filled up with Him. As we drink in the Word - in our minds and hearts - we are drinking Him in as His Holy Spirit speaks to us!
I want to encourage you to continue on in Lectio.
Read and Listen to the Text allowing yourself some silence and listening for the Spirit's voice
Meditate on the words or phrase that the Holy Spirit is speaking to you about
Pray, speak to the Living Word and wrestle if necessary with what the Spirit has been speaking Contemplate by resting in God and praise Him for speaking to you
I pray that the River of Life continues pouring the hope and power of Jesus through you and out into the world!"
Thursday, January 10, 2008
It is Thursday already! Over the half way point in the week. How has your week been? Have you had a chance to begin to Lectio Divina or to slow down and chew on God's Word? His Word! It is incredible, it is always there to teach if we just give it the time. Yes, there has been much to absorb this last week. For some it is all new, for others it is a refresher. May we continue to have teachable hearts and a passion to discover His Truths! These entries make reference to what we are learning in His word. You might ask, "But we haven't done that yet!" You are right but the time is coming to apply these lessons so please hang on! Pastor John will be introducing another spiritual discipline with this entry so let's begin!
"I rejoice in your word like one who finds a great treasure. . . Those who love your law have great peace and do not stumble." (Psalm 119:162, 165)
I pray that you are rejoicing in what God is teaching you in His Word. A 'great treasure'. . . what if that was our attitude every single time that we opened the Bible, 'Wow, I'm about to discover a great treasure! I'm gonna be rich!!'
I hope that you also enjoyed the Ignatian method of devotional reading.
Today I want to add to our disciplines.
Fasting
One of the most powerful ways to enhance our 'spiritual hearing' is through the discipline of fasting. Fasting, like solitude, is one of the ways that we clear our minds of distraction seeking to focus on hearing and experiencing God.
John Wesley said: "First, let fasting be done unto the Lord with our eye singly fixed on Him. Let our intention herein be this, and this alone, to glorify our Father which is in heaven." (Foster, p.55)
In a dry season not too long ago I was meditating on fasting and I wrote this: "Lord, you are showing me how undisciplined my life is - like an athlete who rarely trains but eats a lot of pizza and stays up late watching TV. And not that discipline draws me near to You, but it clears the path of those distractions that keep me from you." Can you relate?
Fasting helps us to pull ourselves from that which we physically depend on the most - and to attach ourselves to Jesus. Thomas a Kempis said: "Unless a person be disengaged from all creatures, he cannot with freedom of mind attend divine things. For that is the cause why there are so few contemplative persons to be found, for that few can wholly withdraw themselves from things created and perishing . . . And unless a man be elevated in spirit, and freed from all creatures, and wholly united to God, whatever he knoweth, and whatever he hath, is of no great importance."
Many times when it comes to fasting we get too caught up in what we are missing, or following the precise 'fasting rules and regulations.' Fasting is simply giving up something that we depend on for the purpose of giving ourselves more completely to God.
Fasting food can be done for a meal, or a day, or 3 days (please be wise and begin with a couple of meals before trying to fast for a more lengthy period). It can be giving up something you will really miss or something you depend on. [I highly recommend the Optional Training this week as Foster does a great job talking more about the details of fasting.]
I'll be honest. Nobody I know, including myself, 'enjoys' fasting from a physical perspective. It's hard. But remember the ultimate goal of fasting is to make us more attentive to Jesus and give Him glory. That makes it all worth it!
"I rejoice in your word like one who finds a great treasure. . . Those who love your law have great peace and do not stumble." (Psalm 119:162, 165)
I pray that you are rejoicing in what God is teaching you in His Word. A 'great treasure'. . . what if that was our attitude every single time that we opened the Bible, 'Wow, I'm about to discover a great treasure! I'm gonna be rich!!'
I hope that you also enjoyed the Ignatian method of devotional reading.
Today I want to add to our disciplines.
Fasting
One of the most powerful ways to enhance our 'spiritual hearing' is through the discipline of fasting. Fasting, like solitude, is one of the ways that we clear our minds of distraction seeking to focus on hearing and experiencing God.
John Wesley said: "First, let fasting be done unto the Lord with our eye singly fixed on Him. Let our intention herein be this, and this alone, to glorify our Father which is in heaven." (Foster, p.55)
In a dry season not too long ago I was meditating on fasting and I wrote this: "Lord, you are showing me how undisciplined my life is - like an athlete who rarely trains but eats a lot of pizza and stays up late watching TV. And not that discipline draws me near to You, but it clears the path of those distractions that keep me from you." Can you relate?
Fasting helps us to pull ourselves from that which we physically depend on the most - and to attach ourselves to Jesus. Thomas a Kempis said: "Unless a person be disengaged from all creatures, he cannot with freedom of mind attend divine things. For that is the cause why there are so few contemplative persons to be found, for that few can wholly withdraw themselves from things created and perishing . . . And unless a man be elevated in spirit, and freed from all creatures, and wholly united to God, whatever he knoweth, and whatever he hath, is of no great importance."
Many times when it comes to fasting we get too caught up in what we are missing, or following the precise 'fasting rules and regulations.' Fasting is simply giving up something that we depend on for the purpose of giving ourselves more completely to God.
Fasting food can be done for a meal, or a day, or 3 days (please be wise and begin with a couple of meals before trying to fast for a more lengthy period). It can be giving up something you will really miss or something you depend on. [I highly recommend the Optional Training this week as Foster does a great job talking more about the details of fasting.]
I'll be honest. Nobody I know, including myself, 'enjoys' fasting from a physical perspective. It's hard. But remember the ultimate goal of fasting is to make us more attentive to Jesus and give Him glory. That makes it all worth it!
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Isn't it wonderful to be able to review, reflect and get ready? These blog entries have been lengthy but there is so much to absorb in each one. If time has allowed, I hope you have been able to spend time thinking about Lectio Divina and applying these ideas to your devotion time. Maybe you have just had time for a quick check in, a quick read. That's okay! I hope you will revisit these entries and give yourself the time to reread. The lessons are good. Let us press on with todays! Once again, from Pastor John:
"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right." (2 Tim. 3:16)
'ALL Scripture' - I understand that there are certain parts of God's Word that apply to us and impact us more at certain times in our lives, that is so true. And at the same time I kind of wince sometimes when folks tell me that so-and-so verse is their life verse, or their guiding verse --- folks the ENTIRE Word of God is our LIFELINE, period.
And to this end we must know that meditating on God's Word is a marathon - a long term process - that builds upon itself. The more we store away in our hearts and minds, the more the Holy Spirit is able to help us to remember a word or a phrase and a fresh wave of Jesus is able to blow through our lives.
As this happens more and more we begin to cultivate a life rhythm 'thinking on things above' and of continuously 'being filled' with His Spirit. The results are the 'much fruit' and 'straight paths' (just to name a couple!) that Jesus promises us!
With that in mind, I want to introduce you to another method of meditating on Scripture this week. It's known as the Ignatian Method after Ignatius of Loyola (He was a 15th century radically converted priest who became the founder of the Jesuit order. The Ignatian method detail below is taken from the Pastors Network Retreat - Retreat Folder).It will expand your thoughts on meditation while reminding us that our subject is ALWAYS JESUS!
The Ignatian Method of Meditating on Scripture
Preparation of the one about to Pray
In his Spiritual Exercises, Ignatius recommends that meditations always begin with this or a similar method of preparation:
1) Preparation of the Interior Place of Prayer:
The one about to pray calls to mind the importance of what is about to be done, that is, to come into the presence of the living God. This can be done by sitting quietly for a moment, or by pacing up and down until the gravity of the very act of prayer and Scripture reading is realized.
2) Preparation of the Exterior Place of Prayer
This consists of signaling the entry into the presence of God by assuming the posture one is to have throughout the time of prayer. The actual posture itself is not the focus of this movement, as much as the knowledge that one has come into the presence of God and that the Almighty is watching, eager to know our hearts and what we would bring to him. It is fitting to acknowledge the presence of the Lord with an act of reverence or humility.
3) Purification of the Mind and Heart
Next, one recites a short prayer that expresses a desire to completely devote oneself in the present – and at all times, to the greater glory of God. Ignatius suggests this prayer: "Lord, grant me the grace that all my intentions, actions, and operations may be ordered purely to the service and praise of your Divine Majesty."
Without breaking this moment of sacred presence, the Scripture passage is read slowly while performing the next three movements.
The Period of Meditation on Scripture
The period of meditation on Scripture is a moment that engages imagination, memory and intellect to enter into the Scripture passage we are about to read. This process also follows three movements, which should occur while we are reading the passage. This means that this time of meditation on Scripture will alternate between silent contemplation with eyes closed and active reading and rereading of the narrative to more completely enter in. Sometimes reading the passage aloud to oneself makes it more present.
1) Composition of place
This movement consists of seeing with the eyes of the imagination the actual place where the scriptural story to be read took place. If we have seen pictures or visited such places, we can recall with the aid of our memory the geographic location of the story. We can also make use of our intellect to recall what we know historically about the setting of the narrative we are reading.
2) Application of the Senses
As we read meditatively over the passage before us, we explore the mystery with the aid of the five senses. First, one sees with the imagination all the people involved in the passage. Next, one listens to each one and what is being said, and so on, smelling, tasting and touching the elements of the narrative.
3) Unfolding of the Mystery
Finally, though these three steps need not follow a strict order, the one who is praying should look at the persons involved and savor their actions and their words, always reflecting on these things in relation to one's own actions and words and how the elements of the story speak to, or about, the one praying.
Ignatius adds a note of caution to all of this. The imagination can be tricky, and an image should be used in prayer or Bible reading only insofar as it helps us to focus on the truths to be revealed in the meditation. Our imagination may challenge us, and that is okay, but if we become distracted or frustrated, we must be willing to let go of and move beyond the imagery in order to stay focused on the reason for our meditation, to draw nearer to Christ.
Ending the Time of Prayer
Ignatius believes that we should enter each time of prayer or Bible reading with some end in view, some specific favor we are asking of God. Perhaps it is for a virtue, like courage, or for an increase of faith, or for the gift of insight to better understand the working of the Spirit in one's life.
For this reason, Ignatius suggests that we remain in prayer and meditation until we feel that God has answered, or at least begun to answer, our prayer.
When we end our formal meditation on the Scripture passage, we should spend time in conversation with God about what we experienced. This, according to Ignatius, should be the longest movement of the prayer. And, he insists, we ought to speak with God or Christ exactly as we would speak to a brother, mother or friend.
We should speak to God during this time according to the state of our soul, whether it is sad or joyful, dry or fervent, frustrated or fulfilled. We should never divorce our here-and-now self from our conversations with God. Our conversation ought to be simple and informal, though always maintaining the attitude of reverence with which we began our time in God's presence.
Final Thoughts
One of Ignatius' most helpful thoughts for me is his encouragement to read with 'an end in mind.'For instance I recently read through the book of Hebrews asking God to teach me more about His 'rest.' How it was powerful to see and listen to God speak to me about the 'rest' of Jesus as each day I asked Him to show me more and more.
I pray that this week God blesses you in immeasurable ways as you seek Him!
"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right." (2 Tim. 3:16)
'ALL Scripture' - I understand that there are certain parts of God's Word that apply to us and impact us more at certain times in our lives, that is so true. And at the same time I kind of wince sometimes when folks tell me that so-and-so verse is their life verse, or their guiding verse --- folks the ENTIRE Word of God is our LIFELINE, period.
And to this end we must know that meditating on God's Word is a marathon - a long term process - that builds upon itself. The more we store away in our hearts and minds, the more the Holy Spirit is able to help us to remember a word or a phrase and a fresh wave of Jesus is able to blow through our lives.
As this happens more and more we begin to cultivate a life rhythm 'thinking on things above' and of continuously 'being filled' with His Spirit. The results are the 'much fruit' and 'straight paths' (just to name a couple!) that Jesus promises us!
With that in mind, I want to introduce you to another method of meditating on Scripture this week. It's known as the Ignatian Method after Ignatius of Loyola (He was a 15th century radically converted priest who became the founder of the Jesuit order. The Ignatian method detail below is taken from the Pastors Network Retreat - Retreat Folder).It will expand your thoughts on meditation while reminding us that our subject is ALWAYS JESUS!
The Ignatian Method of Meditating on Scripture
Preparation of the one about to Pray
In his Spiritual Exercises, Ignatius recommends that meditations always begin with this or a similar method of preparation:
1) Preparation of the Interior Place of Prayer:
The one about to pray calls to mind the importance of what is about to be done, that is, to come into the presence of the living God. This can be done by sitting quietly for a moment, or by pacing up and down until the gravity of the very act of prayer and Scripture reading is realized.
2) Preparation of the Exterior Place of Prayer
This consists of signaling the entry into the presence of God by assuming the posture one is to have throughout the time of prayer. The actual posture itself is not the focus of this movement, as much as the knowledge that one has come into the presence of God and that the Almighty is watching, eager to know our hearts and what we would bring to him. It is fitting to acknowledge the presence of the Lord with an act of reverence or humility.
3) Purification of the Mind and Heart
Next, one recites a short prayer that expresses a desire to completely devote oneself in the present – and at all times, to the greater glory of God. Ignatius suggests this prayer: "Lord, grant me the grace that all my intentions, actions, and operations may be ordered purely to the service and praise of your Divine Majesty."
Without breaking this moment of sacred presence, the Scripture passage is read slowly while performing the next three movements.
The Period of Meditation on Scripture
The period of meditation on Scripture is a moment that engages imagination, memory and intellect to enter into the Scripture passage we are about to read. This process also follows three movements, which should occur while we are reading the passage. This means that this time of meditation on Scripture will alternate between silent contemplation with eyes closed and active reading and rereading of the narrative to more completely enter in. Sometimes reading the passage aloud to oneself makes it more present.
1) Composition of place
This movement consists of seeing with the eyes of the imagination the actual place where the scriptural story to be read took place. If we have seen pictures or visited such places, we can recall with the aid of our memory the geographic location of the story. We can also make use of our intellect to recall what we know historically about the setting of the narrative we are reading.
2) Application of the Senses
As we read meditatively over the passage before us, we explore the mystery with the aid of the five senses. First, one sees with the imagination all the people involved in the passage. Next, one listens to each one and what is being said, and so on, smelling, tasting and touching the elements of the narrative.
3) Unfolding of the Mystery
Finally, though these three steps need not follow a strict order, the one who is praying should look at the persons involved and savor their actions and their words, always reflecting on these things in relation to one's own actions and words and how the elements of the story speak to, or about, the one praying.
Ignatius adds a note of caution to all of this. The imagination can be tricky, and an image should be used in prayer or Bible reading only insofar as it helps us to focus on the truths to be revealed in the meditation. Our imagination may challenge us, and that is okay, but if we become distracted or frustrated, we must be willing to let go of and move beyond the imagery in order to stay focused on the reason for our meditation, to draw nearer to Christ.
Ending the Time of Prayer
Ignatius believes that we should enter each time of prayer or Bible reading with some end in view, some specific favor we are asking of God. Perhaps it is for a virtue, like courage, or for an increase of faith, or for the gift of insight to better understand the working of the Spirit in one's life.
For this reason, Ignatius suggests that we remain in prayer and meditation until we feel that God has answered, or at least begun to answer, our prayer.
When we end our formal meditation on the Scripture passage, we should spend time in conversation with God about what we experienced. This, according to Ignatius, should be the longest movement of the prayer. And, he insists, we ought to speak with God or Christ exactly as we would speak to a brother, mother or friend.
We should speak to God during this time according to the state of our soul, whether it is sad or joyful, dry or fervent, frustrated or fulfilled. We should never divorce our here-and-now self from our conversations with God. Our conversation ought to be simple and informal, though always maintaining the attitude of reverence with which we began our time in God's presence.
Final Thoughts
One of Ignatius' most helpful thoughts for me is his encouragement to read with 'an end in mind.'For instance I recently read through the book of Hebrews asking God to teach me more about His 'rest.' How it was powerful to see and listen to God speak to me about the 'rest' of Jesus as each day I asked Him to show me more and more.
I pray that this week God blesses you in immeasurable ways as you seek Him!
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
How are you doing with the review? Have you had the chance to sit down and take it all in, maybe even reading it a couple times. Good! Pastor John at this point in his teaching paused and said, "I sensed that we need to remain once more soaking in Lectio, and seeking to make it a part of the Spirit's tool in our hearts." Lets read on and see what that involves.
"Above all else guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." (Proverbs 4:23)
Listen to what John Ortberg says about purity and God's Word:
A Transformed Heart, Mind & Life
It is a frightening thing to begin to see the truth about your own mind and its need for cleansing. This is why Martin Luther used to spend so much time in the confessional. He often spent several hours there for several days in a row. His fellow monks used to ask him what he was doing. (After all, he lived in a monastery. What did he have to confess: short- sheeting the other monks? chanting off-key?)
But Luther was frightened by his own cleverness at self-justification. He knew that the first commandment is to love God with heart, soul, body, and strength - and he couldn't even keep this injunction for five minutes.
Imagine having a mind cleansed of all the debris that blocks our best intentions. Imagine if each time you saw another person your first thought was to pray for him or bless her. Imagine what it would be like if, any time you were challenged or anxious, your reflexive response would be to turn to God for strength. Imagine, if you're a married man, that whenever you looked at any woman other than your wife you would see her as if she were your sister or your daughter. Imagine genuinely wishing your "enemies" well.
That's what it would be to have the mind "washed by the Word." This is what it means to "let the word of Christ dwell in you richly." This is how we are to be transformed by Scripture. This is our great need.
So the Bible is to help us learn how to live in the kingdom of God here and now. It teaches us how to morph. It is indispensable for this task. I have never known someone leading a spiritually transformed life who had not been deeply saturated in Scripture.
Paul writes about this role of Scripture in this famous statement: "All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God might be proficient, equipped for every good work."
Paul does not say that the purpose of knowing Scripture is to enable us, when we go to heaven, to get a 100 score on the entrance exam. He says the purpose is for us to become equipped for good works. Or, to put it another way, it is for us to become transformed into the kind of people from whom goodness flows like an unceasing stream of water.
Buzzed or Drunk?
I made a statement that we shouldn't read God's Word just to get a 'buzz.' I apologize to those of you who I confused with this statement, because intimacy with God can be had in a moment, and it DOES involve all of our emotions and passions.But what I was trying to speak to was the taking for granted of that relationship, not disparaging the emotional side of it. On the contrary, we are called to be 'drunk' with His Spirit! In the imagery of 'chewing the cud' I was thinking of sticking His Word in our mouth for a moment and just spitting it out - as opposed to letting it's juices go deep into our soul.
The hope in all this process of meditation is not that we will become more informed, but that we will become people who live from the very depth of Jesus' heart.
Jesus said that we have not because we ask not. As you read and pray and live this week tell God that you want to be changed, that you want His Word to wash through your life and purify you. And then watch . . . and expect. Expect Him to speak as never before.
"Above all else guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." (Proverbs 4:23)
Listen to what John Ortberg says about purity and God's Word:
A Transformed Heart, Mind & Life
It is a frightening thing to begin to see the truth about your own mind and its need for cleansing. This is why Martin Luther used to spend so much time in the confessional. He often spent several hours there for several days in a row. His fellow monks used to ask him what he was doing. (After all, he lived in a monastery. What did he have to confess: short- sheeting the other monks? chanting off-key?)
But Luther was frightened by his own cleverness at self-justification. He knew that the first commandment is to love God with heart, soul, body, and strength - and he couldn't even keep this injunction for five minutes.
Imagine having a mind cleansed of all the debris that blocks our best intentions. Imagine if each time you saw another person your first thought was to pray for him or bless her. Imagine what it would be like if, any time you were challenged or anxious, your reflexive response would be to turn to God for strength. Imagine, if you're a married man, that whenever you looked at any woman other than your wife you would see her as if she were your sister or your daughter. Imagine genuinely wishing your "enemies" well.
That's what it would be to have the mind "washed by the Word." This is what it means to "let the word of Christ dwell in you richly." This is how we are to be transformed by Scripture. This is our great need.
So the Bible is to help us learn how to live in the kingdom of God here and now. It teaches us how to morph. It is indispensable for this task. I have never known someone leading a spiritually transformed life who had not been deeply saturated in Scripture.
Paul writes about this role of Scripture in this famous statement: "All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God might be proficient, equipped for every good work."
Paul does not say that the purpose of knowing Scripture is to enable us, when we go to heaven, to get a 100 score on the entrance exam. He says the purpose is for us to become equipped for good works. Or, to put it another way, it is for us to become transformed into the kind of people from whom goodness flows like an unceasing stream of water.
Buzzed or Drunk?
I made a statement that we shouldn't read God's Word just to get a 'buzz.' I apologize to those of you who I confused with this statement, because intimacy with God can be had in a moment, and it DOES involve all of our emotions and passions.But what I was trying to speak to was the taking for granted of that relationship, not disparaging the emotional side of it. On the contrary, we are called to be 'drunk' with His Spirit! In the imagery of 'chewing the cud' I was thinking of sticking His Word in our mouth for a moment and just spitting it out - as opposed to letting it's juices go deep into our soul.
The hope in all this process of meditation is not that we will become more informed, but that we will become people who live from the very depth of Jesus' heart.
Jesus said that we have not because we ask not. As you read and pray and live this week tell God that you want to be changed, that you want His Word to wash through your life and purify you. And then watch . . . and expect. Expect Him to speak as never before.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Let us continue our review! Again, this information is from Pastor John. These posts are leading up to something new for us to begin or maybe it is a review for something you've been doing each day. I pray that you will find them useful and that you will be able to reflect back on them as guidance for discovering God's Word each day!
"Maybe before these posts, you didn't know that you were faithful to Lectio, you discovered that God's Word is not something that you just 'fit' into your schedule, but it must soak our entire picture. It's made to be an all-day soaking rain, not a 10-minute violent thunderstorm. In God's economy, searching Him out in His Word is done with a crock pot not a microwave.
Meditation
"I want to talk further about meditation. Psalm 1 says: "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night." (vs. 1-2 NIV) [The Message paraphrase has a thoughtful take on these verses: "How well God must like you— you don't hang out at Sin Saloon, you don't slink along Dead-End Road, you don't go to Smart-Mouth College. Instead you thrill to God's Word, you chew on Scripture day and night."]
I like the language 'you chew on Scripture day and night.' The Hebrew word here for meditate is 'hagah.' It simply means to reflect on; ponder; to engage in contemplation.And the picture of meditation in the Old Testament is of a cow (or deer or camel or llama) chewing the cud. A cow grabs the stalks of grass and takes them into its mouth and chews awhile, and then swallows. The cud goes into one of its three stomachs where bacteria helps break down the food. Then the cud is regurgitated and the cow chews and chews some more. And this process continues until it's finally broken down and digested.We don't (at least we shouldn't) read the Bible to get a 'buzz', but to get every ounce of nutrition out of it. When we meditate on God's Word, we "chew" it by reading it over and over. We spend time pondering the words and what it reveals about Jesus and His heart for us. Then it sinks down into our hearts, as we go about other things; but later that day, we'll bring it back up again in our mind and dwell on (ponder, reflect on) it some more, and on and on.
Now sometimes Christians are wary of 'meditation' because our picture is of the Eastern or New Age form of meditation. A biblical view of meditation is very different."Eastern meditation is an attempt to empty the mind. Christian meditation is an attempt to fill the mind." (Richard Foster) Transcendental Meditation, Yoga, Zen Buddhism, and other varieties of the Eastern religions try to block out any awareness of objective truth in an attempt to know self. We are seeking to fill our minds and heart with God. "Eastern forms of meditation stress the need to become detached from the world. There is an emphasis upon losing personhood and individuality and merging with the Cosmic Mind. There is a longing to be freed from the burdens and pains of this life and to be released in the impersonality of Nirvana. . . . Detachment is the final goal of Eastern religion." (Richard Foster)"Christian meditation goes far beyond the notion of detachment. . . . Detachment is not enough, we must go on to attachment. The detachment from confusion all around us is in order to have a richer attachment to God. Christian meditation leads us to the inner wholeness necessary to give ourselves to God freely." (Richard Foster)
So meditation is not about a mindless searching for emptiness, but an active seeking of God. "Happy are those who obey his decrees and search for him with all their hearts." (Psalm 119:2)Kenneth Boa says that "to rush this process is like running through an art gallery." I pray that this week God will help you to further be able to stop and gaze at every painting. I, like you, desire to be blessed. And God is clear that those who 'chew on' His Word will know the blessing of His presence."
"Maybe before these posts, you didn't know that you were faithful to Lectio, you discovered that God's Word is not something that you just 'fit' into your schedule, but it must soak our entire picture. It's made to be an all-day soaking rain, not a 10-minute violent thunderstorm. In God's economy, searching Him out in His Word is done with a crock pot not a microwave.
Meditation
"I want to talk further about meditation. Psalm 1 says: "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night." (vs. 1-2 NIV) [The Message paraphrase has a thoughtful take on these verses: "How well God must like you— you don't hang out at Sin Saloon, you don't slink along Dead-End Road, you don't go to Smart-Mouth College. Instead you thrill to God's Word, you chew on Scripture day and night."]
I like the language 'you chew on Scripture day and night.' The Hebrew word here for meditate is 'hagah.' It simply means to reflect on; ponder; to engage in contemplation.And the picture of meditation in the Old Testament is of a cow (or deer or camel or llama) chewing the cud. A cow grabs the stalks of grass and takes them into its mouth and chews awhile, and then swallows. The cud goes into one of its three stomachs where bacteria helps break down the food. Then the cud is regurgitated and the cow chews and chews some more. And this process continues until it's finally broken down and digested.We don't (at least we shouldn't) read the Bible to get a 'buzz', but to get every ounce of nutrition out of it. When we meditate on God's Word, we "chew" it by reading it over and over. We spend time pondering the words and what it reveals about Jesus and His heart for us. Then it sinks down into our hearts, as we go about other things; but later that day, we'll bring it back up again in our mind and dwell on (ponder, reflect on) it some more, and on and on.
Now sometimes Christians are wary of 'meditation' because our picture is of the Eastern or New Age form of meditation. A biblical view of meditation is very different."Eastern meditation is an attempt to empty the mind. Christian meditation is an attempt to fill the mind." (Richard Foster) Transcendental Meditation, Yoga, Zen Buddhism, and other varieties of the Eastern religions try to block out any awareness of objective truth in an attempt to know self. We are seeking to fill our minds and heart with God. "Eastern forms of meditation stress the need to become detached from the world. There is an emphasis upon losing personhood and individuality and merging with the Cosmic Mind. There is a longing to be freed from the burdens and pains of this life and to be released in the impersonality of Nirvana. . . . Detachment is the final goal of Eastern religion." (Richard Foster)"Christian meditation goes far beyond the notion of detachment. . . . Detachment is not enough, we must go on to attachment. The detachment from confusion all around us is in order to have a richer attachment to God. Christian meditation leads us to the inner wholeness necessary to give ourselves to God freely." (Richard Foster)
So meditation is not about a mindless searching for emptiness, but an active seeking of God. "Happy are those who obey his decrees and search for him with all their hearts." (Psalm 119:2)Kenneth Boa says that "to rush this process is like running through an art gallery." I pray that this week God will help you to further be able to stop and gaze at every painting. I, like you, desire to be blessed. And God is clear that those who 'chew on' His Word will know the blessing of His presence."
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Did the other day's entry touch your heart? Do you want to begin reading each day and savoring God’s Word? Then lets look at some steps on how to begin this process. Continuing from Pastor John’s information on Experiencing God’s Word, lets review!
1) Find a quiet place and a quiet time.
2) Begin by yielding yourself to God and ask Him to speak to you.
3) [And this will be the very hardest for many of you!] Read slowly and don't get caught up in how much you read but what God is saying. The goal is not to get through the Word but for the Word to get through us! Remember, not a Big Mac, but a 6- course meal.
4) Take a verse with you. Take a verse with you to meditate (mumble) with you during the day.
Lectio Divina
The spiritual discipline of devotional reading involves a method of reading God's Word. Lectio divina (pronounced lex' ee o dee vee' na) is an ancient discipline of approaching the Word as a Living Word that speaks to us.
The following is an introduction to Lectio adapted from an article by Luke Dysinger and presented in Pastors Retreat Network materials. I encourage you to read fully through the following for three straight days and then refer back to it as necessary. I refer to it often just to bring my heart back to the discipline.
Introduction to Lectio Divina
The Four Steps of Lectio Divina (Sacred Reading)
Lectio divina is a four-step process: reading, meditating, praying, and contemplating, known to Christians throughout history by their Latin names of lectio (lex' ee oh), meditation (me di that' see oh), oratio (or aht' see oh), and comtemplatio (con tem plaht' see oh). It could be said these four steps are like a path that lead away from the noise of the city to the beauty of nature. Or these steps can be seen as relational; a deepening exchange between two friends; or, they can be called transformational, a microcosm of the change taking place in us as we go from creatures dead in sin to a new creation in Christ.
What is important is to see these steps as natural, for they are common to any meaningful experience we have in life. First we "read" the experience, then we reflect on it, next we talk about it to those involved, and finally, we bring it into ourselves and let it become part of who we are. Lectio divina is the way in which we follow this process with the word of God.
The Practice of Lectio Divina
Lectio – reading and listening to the text
Place yourself in a comfortable position and allow yourself to become silent. Some Christians focus for a few moments on one thing to block out the noise of life. A favorite prayer or Bible verse can be gently recited in order to become peacefully aware of God's presence. Use whatever method is best for you and allow yourself to enjoy silence for a few moments.
Then, turn to the text and read it slowly, gently. Savor each portion of the reading, constantly listening for the "still, small voice" of a word or phrase that somehow says, "I am for you today." Do not expect lightning or ecstasies. In lectio divina God is teaching us to listen to Him, to seek Him in silence. He does not reach out and grab us; rather, He softly, gently invites us ever more deeply into His presence. Once you have found a verse or phrase that the Word, Christ, is speaking to you, stop your reading and move into the next phase – meditation.
Meditatio – meditation
Rest a while on this word or phrase that Christ is speaking to you in this moment. Appreciate it for the special treasure it is: the Word, Christ, speaking to you today. Although meditation is commonly understood as very passive, lectio divina is an active encounter with a Person. Deny for a moment the temptation to apply this word to one specific situation in your life – as if you already fully understood its meaning! Repeat it slowly to yourself, allowing it to interact with your whole world of thoughts, concerns, memories and ideas.
Don't worry if you are distracted by seemingly unimportant or unrelated thoughts. Memories and other thoughts are simply parts of yourself that, when they rise up during prayer, are asking to be given to God along with the rest of your self. God wants all of you, and that includes even your most commonplace, or most annoying thoughts. Allow this pondering to invite you into dialogue with Christ.
Oratio – prayer
Speak to the Word. Whether you use words or ideas or images, or all three is not important. Interact with Christ as you would with one who you know loves and accepts you. Give to Him what you have discovered in yourself during your experiences of meditatio. Perhaps you feel the presence of the first or third Person of the Trinity. Experience God in the word or phrase that He has given you. Let it be a means of blessing. Tell God what you have found within your heart.
Contemplatio – contemplation
This part is hard to describe, because it is God's initiative; it is God acting on His desire to be present to you; all you have to do is be there. Simply rest in God's embrace. Be patient. When He invites you to return to your pondering of His word or to your inner dialogue with Him, do so. Learn to use words when words are helpful, and to let go of words when they no longer are necessary. Rejoice in the knowledge that God is with you in both words and silence, in spiritual activity and inner receptivity.
Sometimes in lectio divina, one will return several times to the printed text, either to savor the literary context of the word or phrase that God has given, or to seek a new word or phrase to ponder. At other times only a single word or phrase will fill the whole time set aside for lectio. It is not necessary to anxiously assess the quality of one's lectio devina as if one were "performing" or seeking some goal: lectio divina has no goal other than that of being in the presence of God by praying the Scriptures.
So that is the essence of Lectio Divina.
1) Find a quiet place and a quiet time.
2) Begin by yielding yourself to God and ask Him to speak to you.
3) [And this will be the very hardest for many of you!] Read slowly and don't get caught up in how much you read but what God is saying. The goal is not to get through the Word but for the Word to get through us! Remember, not a Big Mac, but a 6- course meal.
4) Take a verse with you. Take a verse with you to meditate (mumble) with you during the day.
Lectio Divina
The spiritual discipline of devotional reading involves a method of reading God's Word. Lectio divina (pronounced lex' ee o dee vee' na) is an ancient discipline of approaching the Word as a Living Word that speaks to us.
The following is an introduction to Lectio adapted from an article by Luke Dysinger and presented in Pastors Retreat Network materials. I encourage you to read fully through the following for three straight days and then refer back to it as necessary. I refer to it often just to bring my heart back to the discipline.
Introduction to Lectio Divina
The Four Steps of Lectio Divina (Sacred Reading)
Lectio divina is a four-step process: reading, meditating, praying, and contemplating, known to Christians throughout history by their Latin names of lectio (lex' ee oh), meditation (me di that' see oh), oratio (or aht' see oh), and comtemplatio (con tem plaht' see oh). It could be said these four steps are like a path that lead away from the noise of the city to the beauty of nature. Or these steps can be seen as relational; a deepening exchange between two friends; or, they can be called transformational, a microcosm of the change taking place in us as we go from creatures dead in sin to a new creation in Christ.
What is important is to see these steps as natural, for they are common to any meaningful experience we have in life. First we "read" the experience, then we reflect on it, next we talk about it to those involved, and finally, we bring it into ourselves and let it become part of who we are. Lectio divina is the way in which we follow this process with the word of God.
The Practice of Lectio Divina
Lectio – reading and listening to the text
Place yourself in a comfortable position and allow yourself to become silent. Some Christians focus for a few moments on one thing to block out the noise of life. A favorite prayer or Bible verse can be gently recited in order to become peacefully aware of God's presence. Use whatever method is best for you and allow yourself to enjoy silence for a few moments.
Then, turn to the text and read it slowly, gently. Savor each portion of the reading, constantly listening for the "still, small voice" of a word or phrase that somehow says, "I am for you today." Do not expect lightning or ecstasies. In lectio divina God is teaching us to listen to Him, to seek Him in silence. He does not reach out and grab us; rather, He softly, gently invites us ever more deeply into His presence. Once you have found a verse or phrase that the Word, Christ, is speaking to you, stop your reading and move into the next phase – meditation.
Meditatio – meditation
Rest a while on this word or phrase that Christ is speaking to you in this moment. Appreciate it for the special treasure it is: the Word, Christ, speaking to you today. Although meditation is commonly understood as very passive, lectio divina is an active encounter with a Person. Deny for a moment the temptation to apply this word to one specific situation in your life – as if you already fully understood its meaning! Repeat it slowly to yourself, allowing it to interact with your whole world of thoughts, concerns, memories and ideas.
Don't worry if you are distracted by seemingly unimportant or unrelated thoughts. Memories and other thoughts are simply parts of yourself that, when they rise up during prayer, are asking to be given to God along with the rest of your self. God wants all of you, and that includes even your most commonplace, or most annoying thoughts. Allow this pondering to invite you into dialogue with Christ.
Oratio – prayer
Speak to the Word. Whether you use words or ideas or images, or all three is not important. Interact with Christ as you would with one who you know loves and accepts you. Give to Him what you have discovered in yourself during your experiences of meditatio. Perhaps you feel the presence of the first or third Person of the Trinity. Experience God in the word or phrase that He has given you. Let it be a means of blessing. Tell God what you have found within your heart.
Contemplatio – contemplation
This part is hard to describe, because it is God's initiative; it is God acting on His desire to be present to you; all you have to do is be there. Simply rest in God's embrace. Be patient. When He invites you to return to your pondering of His word or to your inner dialogue with Him, do so. Learn to use words when words are helpful, and to let go of words when they no longer are necessary. Rejoice in the knowledge that God is with you in both words and silence, in spiritual activity and inner receptivity.
Sometimes in lectio divina, one will return several times to the printed text, either to savor the literary context of the word or phrase that God has given, or to seek a new word or phrase to ponder. At other times only a single word or phrase will fill the whole time set aside for lectio. It is not necessary to anxiously assess the quality of one's lectio devina as if one were "performing" or seeking some goal: lectio divina has no goal other than that of being in the presence of God by praying the Scriptures.
So that is the essence of Lectio Divina.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Let me see if I can help with getting everyone to this blog site. Below is info Pastor John gave to connect to his site. What I am going to do is repeat it with the information to set it up for Creek Living Water! Here goes!
First of all you must Go to the blog to signup. Here is the blog address: http://CreekLivingWater.blogspot.com/ Click it and you will be on the blog page. Then, on the right side of the page a few lines down are two ways to 'subscribe' to the blog: Subscribe Now Standard (via a Reader). Or Subscribe Via Email. You must sign up for the blog in one of these two ways if you want to be a part. If you don't do this these entries will no longer automatically come. And let me encourage you - if you want to be a regular reader - to read up and sign up using a blog reader (Google has a great one called 'Reader') --- it makes it much easier to manage the emails. But either way, I encourage you to sign up.And that's all to it. Once signed up you'll automatically get regular emails or a blog posts (if using a reader) and be able to enjoy and participate.
Or maybe you could just add it as a Favorite. Then you can click on your favorites when you are at your computer and come check in!
Let me know if this info helps. Truthfully I find doing new things on the computer difficult but I think the more we try the easier it can become!
First of all you must Go to the blog to signup. Here is the blog address: http://CreekLivingWater.blogspot.com/ Click it and you will be on the blog page. Then, on the right side of the page a few lines down are two ways to 'subscribe' to the blog: Subscribe Now Standard (via a Reader). Or Subscribe Via Email. You must sign up for the blog in one of these two ways if you want to be a part. If you don't do this these entries will no longer automatically come. And let me encourage you - if you want to be a regular reader - to read up and sign up using a blog reader (Google has a great one called 'Reader') --- it makes it much easier to manage the emails. But either way, I encourage you to sign up.And that's all to it. Once signed up you'll automatically get regular emails or a blog posts (if using a reader) and be able to enjoy and participate.
Or maybe you could just add it as a Favorite. Then you can click on your favorites when you are at your computer and come check in!
Let me know if this info helps. Truthfully I find doing new things on the computer difficult but I think the more we try the easier it can become!
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Welcome
Welcome to this Creek Living Water Blog site! It is a place to visit and drink in God’s living Word.
2 Timothy 3: 16-17 says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”
Pastor John has shared about experiencing God’s Word. The series opened with:
Pastor John has shared about experiencing God’s Word. The series opened with:
Study this Book of Instruction continually.
Meditate on it day and night
so you will be sure to obey everything written in it.
Only then will you prosper
and succeed in all you do.
Joshua 1:8
Spiritual disciplines are the practices God uses to change our inner lives. None of the ‘disciplines’ is more important than taking in God’s Word. Think for a moment as we reflect on our lives. Have you ever heard anyone say, “I’m empty and broken. I haven’t prayed since I don’t know when, and I haven’t really read my Bible in over a year.” Or maybe, “My devotional life is bankrupt.” We may not have time; we may think it is unnecessary. But what about when the storms do come? What about when our neighbor finally opens up and we have the opportunity to share hope? What about that teachable moment with our children? What about when we face the accusations of our boss? Are we ready? Do we have the foundation to lift above the circumstances?
How blessed are those who observe His testimonies,
Who seek Him with all their heart.
Psalm 119:2
There is an incredible need for each of us to feast on the Bible. So much of the time we read His Word like we are eating a Big Mac on a 15-minute lunch break. We choke it down in 30 seconds. He desires us to linger over and enjoy His Word like we would a 6-course 3-hour meal.
Welcome to the opportunity to do just that in a slightly different format than many of you are familiar with! We will focus on small portions with an in-depth process. This will allow the text to master us, and to shape us. It is a loving approach that can humble. It can be a mystery. Are we willing? Isn’t it exciting?
Psalm 119:2
There is an incredible need for each of us to feast on the Bible. So much of the time we read His Word like we are eating a Big Mac on a 15-minute lunch break. We choke it down in 30 seconds. He desires us to linger over and enjoy His Word like we would a 6-course 3-hour meal.
Welcome to the opportunity to do just that in a slightly different format than many of you are familiar with! We will focus on small portions with an in-depth process. This will allow the text to master us, and to shape us. It is a loving approach that can humble. It can be a mystery. Are we willing? Isn’t it exciting?
“Our world is hungry for genuinely changed people. Leo Tolstoy observes, ‘Everybody thinks of changing humanity and nobody thinks of changing himself.’ Let us be among those who believe that the inner transformation of our lives is a goal worthy of our best effort.” (Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster)
Over the next few days we will review how this process works. We will review the four steps of Lectio Divina. Guidelines will be suggested on how to feast on God's Word.
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