SOUL CrossTraining

Read the following passage using the Lectio Divina practice noted above. Here's a quick reminder to follow: 1. SILENCIO: Begin by quieting your heart and allowing yourself to become aware of God's presence. 2. LECTIO: Read the passage of scripture slowly and out loud . Listening for a word or phrase. Write down the word or phrase that stands out to you. 3. MEDITATIO: Read the passage a second time out loud, linger and listen for any places you sense God inviting you to explore . 4. ORATIO: Ask yourself, why this phrase or word ? What might you need to explore. Ask God to open your eyes to more. 5. CONTEMPLATIO: Contemplate as you rest and wait with God allowing the words to sink deeply into your heart. Take some time to write down what you sense God is prompting in you and journal your thoughts and prayers . Answer me quickly, O LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit. Let the morning bring me word of your unfai...

Through prayer, scripture reading, worship and other spiritual disciplines, ordinary humans who seek to know God and his desires are opening themselves to the story of God being carried forward in and through them. As we step into 2010... How will you live with intention? Will you set aside time to be with God, to listen to his heart, to respond to his promptings? Will you invite others into your journey with God, encouraging them along the way? For me, I picked up a daily devotional by Philip Yancey called Grace Notes . I am planning to begin my days with a short reading from this book. I am counting on God to have much to say and much to do in and through ordinary people, just like you and me , these next ten years! So, what's your intention this year?

But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless …. You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more. Psalm 10:14, 17-18 Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds—his name is the LORD—and rejoice before him. A father to the fatherless , defender of widows , is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing;... Psalms 68:4-6a Go to God Father God, You are my heavenly Father, my true Father…that has been one of the huge things I have come to realize over these past five years. You are so great and powerful, yet You are a Father to Your children, defender of the widow, setting the lonely in families, and leading prisoners with song. You are so righteous, grea...

As you read the Bible you’ll find a variety of descriptions and metaphors for God. One of the metaphors you’ll notice is that of “shepherd.” Most of us are familiar with Psalm 23 which begins with “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want….” We’d love to invite you to think about God as your shepherd. Although it’s a stretch to imagine the full significance of this metaphor (since we suburbanites have little reference for sheep and shepherding) there is still much to be discovered about Who God is and how he relates to His sheep (oh I mean people). There are two passages of scriptures we’d love to encourage you to read. Psalm 23 and John 10:1-18. As you read these two passages, what are you discovering about Who God is and how He thinks about you? Meditate on this Verse I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me… John 10:14 Go to God Father God, I am SO thankful that You are my Shepherd…leading and guiding me. You are all knowing and Your wisdom I cannot fat...

As the new year begins, we find many are facing economic crisis and if not crisis at least concern. It seems life as we know it is changing all around us. These are uncertain times. We don't know what will come to pass in the days and months ahead. YET... { I love that word} YET adverb inspite of everything used to stress that it remains possible that something will happen or that you are still determined to do something despite present difficulties {Here's what I know} God never changes . He is dependable, consistent, immovable, reliable, steadfast... He is CERTAIN. Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 I don't know where you are on your journey with God, but I know God longs for you to know Him. Over the next several weeks, we are going to be blogging about the many attributes of God. We hope this is a great way to help in your pursuit of God. We believe that as we focus our eyes on God and who He is, we'll be enc...

I hesitate when I begin talking about the different attributes of God. Why? Because every time I begin to look at one, I find that I have to look at another, and another, and another. You just can't pick and choose. You can't cut and paste those things you'll like and disregard those things you don't understand or aren't sure you like. Think in terms of photography. I have a few photographs of our visit to the Grand Canyon on January 1st, 2006. These pictures just don't do it justice. Let's admit it right now... a snapshot doesn't ever tell the full story. But, it does help us capture some of the essence and attributes of a place, person, or experience. Together we are going to build a picture of God, one frame at a time as we consider attribute, after attribute, after attribute. So, let's begin. Rehearsing the attributes of God is a great way to allow us to be more aware of God's constant presence in our lives. As we pray and meditate on God, w...

"I am the Alpha and the Omega , the beginning and the end." Revelation 21:6 Father God, You've always existed and You always will...I praise You because You are eternal and everlasting; Your presence always there. Today, I felt a deep sense that You were present with me when I was a child playing alone even though I was not aware of You at the time. It seems strange to have this early childhood memory, but what comfort and security this gives me because I know that even when it doesn't seem or feel like it, You are there. You are in all my moments...even when I am feeling alone and unsure like I do today. Today, I will remember Your constant presence when . . . Sometimes, I just pray my words in my head and other times when I am all alone at home I pray my words out loud. Other times I find it helpful to journal or write my prayers down. I'd encourage you to to journal along with me. What I find is when I write my prayers they seem to permeate my thinking through...

Do you see a cup as half empty or half full ? Does it depend on who is holding the cup ? Many research studies and articles have been written about temperament and personality traits. They show that people have different natural inclinations. Think about it right now. I bet you can make a list of people in your life who always seem to see the positive side of things. Conversely, I bet you can make a list of people who always seem to see the negative side of things. I remember early on in life being taught to be content and thankful regardless of the circumstances of my life. My mom and dad were masters of encouraging (sometimes demanding, that's for another post ) gratefulness. Their tactics included a threefold strategy in responding to my requests (literal translation... my demands and whining ): They'd begin by rattling off a few selected phrases from Philippians chapter 4 -- "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, an...

By offering a simple prayer with every breath, we can be reminded "for in him we live and move and exist" (Acts 17:28). Although rather simple, this practice requires a connection between the unconscious act of breathing and a conscious expression to God. A Bit of History The church has practiced breath prayer or "prayer of the heart" for millennia . The Eastern Orthodox Church, in particular, has seen breath prayer as a way of living out Paul's instruction to "pray without ceasing."         Examples Jesus Prayer Take a moment to become aware of your breathing. It might help to find a quiet place -- close your eyes and notice your breathing. As you breath in -- bring your thoughts to Jesus. As you breath out -- express a word of gratitude or need. For example, breath in -- saying "Lord, Jesus Christ" -- breath out saying "have mercy on me." Throughout your day -- as you notice your breathing -- take note an...