join in

Opening Prayer: Lord God, you have breathed your life-giving breath into all of creation.  Help us to have eyes to see and ears to hear your song of joy in all that is around us, that we might join in that song with all that is within us.

Scripture: Isaiah 55:12-13

Journal: What is your soul most like these days, a thorn bush or a pine tree?  What is more prevalent in your heart these days, myrtle or briers?  How is God inviting you to join in the joy of his creation?

Reflection: There is a way of being that allows us to see God in all things—that hears the song of the mountains and joins in the dance of the trees.  It is a way of living that sees and hears the God who truly inhabits his creation.  And it joins him in the celebration of life that is constantly going on all around us.  This kind of seeing and hearing is what allows the pine tree to grow instead of the thorn bush, and myrtle instead of briers.  It is a way of being that is filled with joy and life and gratitude.  O God, give me eyes to see and ears to hear.  Give me s heart that is attentive, open, and receptive to your presence and your joy in all things.  Help me to take you up on your invitation to join this dance, to sing this joyful song—to dance and sing and clap and play in the glory of your presence today.

Prayer

Closing Prayer: The heavens are telling the glory of God, and all of creation is shouting for joy.  Come dance in the forest, come play in the field and sing, sing to the glory of the Lord. (Canticle of the Sun)

pour

Opening Prayer: O God, you who expressed yourself fully in the Lord Jesus, help us—we who are made in your image—to be living expressions of your love, care, and creativity in this world.  For it is only when we pour ourselves out, that we are being most like your Son.  Help us to do just that, today and every day.  Amen.

Scripture: Philippians 2:17-18

Journal: How is God asking you to be poured out?  What gifts did he give you that only find their ultimate expression and satisfaction when they are being poured out to others?

Reflection:

     pour

O to use the gift

You have breathed

into each of us

is like a fountain

a well springing up

to overflowing

which cannot

and should not

be contained

how good and pleasant 

it is when that which

was breathed into us

is poured out

it is as if the soul itself

were calling out

from its depths

for this i was made

for there is a filling

and there is a pouring

that is all part

of the grand design

life begetting life

begetting life

begetting life

and on and on

to eternity

reflecting all the while

the nature of our creator

Prayer

Closing Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you have given me gifts, in order that I might give them away.  And thank you that this giving away has a glorious effect on my soul—renewing and replenishing itself even in the giving.  This is your grand design.  Amen.

will you?

Opening Prayer: O God of all creation, you made us each to fearfully and wonderfully express you in a way no one else ever can or will.  Give us the grace and the courage to be the people you made us to be.  In the name of Jesus we pray.  Amen.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:14-27

Journal: Will you use your gift today?  How?

Reflection:

Will you?

Will you use your gift today?

Will you give the world

that thing that no one else

in all of creation can give?

Will you be yourself,

and give yourself,

the way God designed you to?

If you do not,

then no one else can.

If you do, 

then we will all

be richer as a result.

So what will it be?

Will you use your gift today?

Prayer

Closing Prayer: Lord Jesus, you made us many, in order to make us one.  Never let us hold back our part, or the entire body suffers.  Amen.

spiritual disciplines

Opening Prayer:  Help us, O Lord, to constantly make time and space for you.  For if we will make the time and the space, you will be faithful to show up in it.  Thanks for that.  Amen.

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:7-8

Journal: What things bring your spiritual to life on a regular basis?  How, where, and when will you make those things an intentional part of your life?

Reflection: Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion.  Exercise daily in God—no spiritual flabbiness, please!  Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. (1 Timothy 4:7-8, The Message)

     Spiritual disciplines are not just things to do, but things to do that help us to be.  They are not an end in themselves, but intended to make time and space for God to make us come alive inside.  In that old familiar story in Luke 10:38-42 about Mary and Martha, we are told that Mary sat at the Lord's feet, listening to what he said.  Those are spiritual disciplines.  Sitting and listening are things we can do that actually help us to be more and more who God intended us to be.  And in that classic Psalm about God as our Shepherd, we are told that he makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside quiet waters.  Again, spiritual disciplines.  Lying down in green pastures and being led beside quiet waters have a particular effect on our souls—they restore them.  So pay careful attention to the things that create life within you, and figure out how to intentionally make those things a part of your daily rhythm.  Not for the purpose of duty and obligation, but so your soul and spirit will be alive and vibrant—open and receptive to God's voice and God’s movement within you.

Prayer

Closing Prayer: Lord Jesus, help us to never think of the spiritual disciplines as a duty to perform, but help us to see them as a person to engage—You!  May we make time and space to be with you today.  Amen.

knocking

Opening Prayer: Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you! You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for you. In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things which you created. You were with me, but I was not with you. Created things kept me from you; yet if they had not been in you they would not have been at all. You called, you shouted, and you broke through my deafness. You flashed, you shone, and you dispelled my blindness. You breathed your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for you. I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more. You touched me, and I burned for your peace. (The Confessions of St. Augustine)

Scripture: Revelation 3:20

Journal: What would it look like for you to open the door to Jesus today?

Reflection:

     knocking

there is a door

in every soul 

at which you stand 

each day and 

patiently knock

you are not one
to barge in
unwelcomed

that is not your style

your way

is to wait

and to knock

until desire

or disaster

finally wakes us

from our 

distracted slumber

and moves us

to answer

for you want 

to be wanted

you desire

to be desired

you enjoy

being enjoyed

so you knock

and you wait

until we hear

and open

for apparently

you would rather 

wait outside

than force 

your way in

i love that

about you

your love 

never forces

but always waits

to be chosen

Prayer

Closing Prayer: Help me to hear you knocking today, Lord Jesus, and to open the door—that you might come in to be with me and me with you.  O please, Lord Jesus, do not let me, in my busyness and distraction, leave you outside, knocking.  Come, Lord Jesus, into this time and space and fill it with your love and joy and peace.  Amen.

in

Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you that you do not want us merely living for you, or with you, but you want us living in you.  Help us to never settle for anything less than that.  By your grace and your power.  Amen.

Scripture: Colossians 2:6-7

Journal: What is your sense of living in Christ each moment of each day?  What helps that?  What hinders it?  How will you try to live in Christ this day?

Reflection: Thomas Merton once wrote that “Some people live for God, some people live with God, and some people live in God.”  Now, the for and the with are great, don’t get me wrong, but living in Christ should be the goal of us all.  And, as Paul so clearly states in these verses, living in Christ is his chief desire for us.  And not only living in Christ, but living continuously in Christ.  That is the key to life in the Spirit—continual union with God in Christ.  For if we continue to live in him, we will be rooted and built up in him, strengthened in our faith and overflowing with thanksgiving.  I don’t know about you, but that’s the kind of life I’m looking for.

Prayer

Closing Prayer: Live your life in me today, Lord Jesus, that I might live my life in you.  Amen.

decrease

Opening Prayer: O Lord, forgive me when I invest so much time and energy trying to get people to see how awesome I am, when my real job is to get out of the way and help people see how awesome you are.  Lord, have mercy.  Amen.

Scripture: John 3:24-30

Journal: How are you trying to increase these days?  How is Jesus calling you to decrease?

Reflection:

     a little deal

everything within me

wants to be a big deal

except the Jesus within me

he wants me 

to be a little deal

he wants me to live 

a small and quiet and hidden life

that pays careful attention to 

the movement of his Spirit within me

and how he desires 

to be expressed in the world

Prayer

Closing Prayer: Help me this day, Lord Jesus, to become less, that you might become more.  Amen.