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Tuesday, July 10, 2012

spaciousness, day 2

Come to Stillness:
Take a few minutes to allow your mind and heart to be still before God.

Opening Prayer:
Teach me, God to make room for you in all the events and affairs of my days. Then I shall find rest. Then I will be at peace with myself and with you. (Norman Shawchuck in A Guide To Prayer for All Who Seek God)

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 18:16-29

Scripture for the Day: Deuteronomy 8:1-20

Reading for Reflection:

We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise. (Romans 5:2 - The Message)

I read these words the other day and just can’t get away from them, they have continued to echo and reverberate deeply within me. I guess that's because the idea of spaciousness has been one I have always been drawn to. Maybe it’s because of the freedom (and life and grace) that is inherent in a spacious place. A spacious place offers room; room to roam, room to grow, room to flourish, room to be—and room to become. I like room, I don’t like to be crowded or constricted or constrained. And I don’t just like room, I need room…the life of God within me requires it. It seems to me that the very life of the Spirit is one of spaciousness, ever expanding us within. The more deeply we journey into God, the more room there is, and the more spacious and free life becomes. I like that…I like it a lot. It is so inviting. It makes me want to throw my doors open completely to him; knowing that when I do, I find his doors already wide open before me—with the wide open spaces of his grace and love going on and on and on. What could be more inviting than that?

                                                                                   ~Jim Branch, October, 2011


Reflection and Listening: silent and written

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself

Song for the Week: How Deep the Father’s Love for Us

            How deep the Father's love for us
            How vast beyond all measure
            That He would give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross
My guilt upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Closing Prayer:
O Lord, the house of my soul is too small for you to enter: make it more spacious by your coming.
                                       
                                                                                                   ~St. Augustine

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