Ted Loder helped me begin my day with his beautiful, haunting poem/prayer from "Geurrillas of Grace."
May this greet you with grace
Pry Me Off Dead Center
O persistent God,
deliver me from assuming your mercy is gentle.
Pressure me that I may grow more human,
not through the lessening of my struggles,
but through an expansion of them
that will undamn me
and unbury my gifts.
Deepen my hurt
until I learn to share it
and myself
openly,
and my needs honestly.
Sharpen my fears
until I name them
and release the power I have locked in them
and they in me.
Accentuate my confusion
until I shed those grandiose expectations
that divert me from the small, glad gifts
of the now and the here and the me.
Expose my shame wherever it shivers,
crouched behind the curtains of propriety,
until I can laugh at last
through my common frailties and failures,
laugh my way toward becoming whole.
Deliver me
from just going through the motions
and wasting everything I have
which is today,
a chance,
a choice,
my creativity
your call.
O persistent God,
let how much it all matters
pry me off dead center
so if I am moved inside
to tears
or sighs
or screams
or smiles
or dreams,
they will be real
and I will be in touch with who I am
and who you are
and who my sisters and brothers are.
Friday, November 2, 2012
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Acts 1:12-26 God and Lots
Hey team,
Today, take a moment to read Acts 1:12-26. This comes immediately after Jesus sails off into the sky. The apostles talk about Judas (did you like that gruesome description?) and then they talk about the need to replace him.
In other words, they are looking to move ahead, to continue to live into the vision of Jesus, but they have to make a critical decision. So, what do they do?
Verse 14 says, "They all joined together constantly in prayer."
Verses 24-26 say, "Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs." Then they cast lots..."
They prayed. They narrowed down their choices. They prayed again.
And then they did something that sounds very much non-spiritual. They drew lots.
They rolled the dice.
And they trusted that either person selected by this human selection process (or was it) was the person God wanted.
THOUGHTS:
-Maybe God has more invested in His vision than we do. Our role is to pray and discern and trust God with the results.
-The greatest thing we can do as a Greater Things Team is to be in prayer. Can I challenge you to write down a weekly prayer commitment to the process? We meet on Mondays so far, so maybe each Monday, you'd take 15 minutes to pray specifically for unity and and clarity.
-The disciples were in prayer BEFORE this situation presented itself. In other words, their posture, while waiting for next steps, was prayer. We cannot move forward in our own strength.
-God can use our work to change the world and give witness to God's movement in our lives. That is what motivated this decision...they wanted to make sure the witness of Jesus was moved forward. If that is our team's focus (not my will but Yours be done), I believe God will speak to our hearts and minds about decisions needed to get us all there.
Greater Things are yet to come!
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Greater Things Acts 1
Hey team,
I don't want to miss out on a chance to "meet together" in between our sessions so I will send you out some notes whenever I can. These posts are meant to keep us grounded in God's Word and united in our hearts.
Take a moment and read Acts 1:1-11 in your Bible. The NIV is below.
Acts 1:1-11
1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." 6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
Some notes on the text
-Jesus' instruction to the 12 (imagine being one of them) was done "through the Holy Spirit" (vs. 2). All those stories. All those teachings. The powerful, deliberate, life-giving words, all given BY Jesus THROUGH the Holy Spirit.
-The disciples had gone through a lot together but Jesus told them that "they hadn't seen nothin' yet" as they were about to be immersed in the Holy Spirit. (vs. 5) This Holy Spirit, the same One THROUGH WHOM Jesus had power.
-Re-read verse 8. Seriously? The work of the Holy Spirit is POWER to be witnesses to areas near and far.
-Jesus freaked them out one more time, being "taken up right before their eyes."
Reflections for Us:
1. The same power given to the 12 and through whom Jesus taught is living inside each of us. Romans 8:9 tells us that if a person does not possess the Holy Spirit, he or she does not belong to Christ: “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.” Ephesians 1:13-14 teaches us that the Holy Spirit is the seal of salvation for all those who believe: “Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.” You and I have the wisdom, the creativity, the depth and the power of God within us. QUESTION: What keeps you from believing God's best in you?
2. Our journey with Jesus is supposed to keep blowing our mind and taking us out of our comfort experiences. We are never meant to coast, but to thrive. QUESTION: How can we spend significant time with Jesus to allow him to keep changing us?
3. The fruit of the Spirit's work in us should resemble power to reach new people. The disciples were sent to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. QUESTION: Will you commit to praying each day for people that don't know Jesus? Pray specifically for people that you know. Pray that God would put you in the path of them?
I don't want to miss out on a chance to "meet together" in between our sessions so I will send you out some notes whenever I can. These posts are meant to keep us grounded in God's Word and united in our hearts.
Take a moment and read Acts 1:1-11 in your Bible. The NIV is below.
Acts 1:1-11
1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." 6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
Some notes on the text
-Jesus' instruction to the 12 (imagine being one of them) was done "through the Holy Spirit" (vs. 2). All those stories. All those teachings. The powerful, deliberate, life-giving words, all given BY Jesus THROUGH the Holy Spirit.
-The disciples had gone through a lot together but Jesus told them that "they hadn't seen nothin' yet" as they were about to be immersed in the Holy Spirit. (vs. 5) This Holy Spirit, the same One THROUGH WHOM Jesus had power.
-Re-read verse 8. Seriously? The work of the Holy Spirit is POWER to be witnesses to areas near and far.
-Jesus freaked them out one more time, being "taken up right before their eyes."
Reflections for Us:
1. The same power given to the 12 and through whom Jesus taught is living inside each of us. Romans 8:9 tells us that if a person does not possess the Holy Spirit, he or she does not belong to Christ: “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.” Ephesians 1:13-14 teaches us that the Holy Spirit is the seal of salvation for all those who believe: “Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.” You and I have the wisdom, the creativity, the depth and the power of God within us. QUESTION: What keeps you from believing God's best in you?
2. Our journey with Jesus is supposed to keep blowing our mind and taking us out of our comfort experiences. We are never meant to coast, but to thrive. QUESTION: How can we spend significant time with Jesus to allow him to keep changing us?
3. The fruit of the Spirit's work in us should resemble power to reach new people. The disciples were sent to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. QUESTION: Will you commit to praying each day for people that don't know Jesus? Pray specifically for people that you know. Pray that God would put you in the path of them?
Sunday, July 31, 2011
July 31 Reflection
Reading - Psalm 148-150
Reflection Text - Psalm 150
Take a moment and write down all that God has done for you this week. Where has God given you provision? A good friend? A warm meal? A working vehicle? Discretionary funds? Joy?
Re-read Psalm 150...maybe from The Message.
Write out a BREATH PRAYER that you can say all day long to praise God. This breath prayer is something that you say in your head as you exhale and then inhale. Something like, Exhale - Jesus you are good. Inhale - Thank you for joy.
Enjoy the song.
Reflection Text - Psalm 150
Take a moment and write down all that God has done for you this week. Where has God given you provision? A good friend? A warm meal? A working vehicle? Discretionary funds? Joy?
Re-read Psalm 150...maybe from The Message.
Write out a BREATH PRAYER that you can say all day long to praise God. This breath prayer is something that you say in your head as you exhale and then inhale. Something like, Exhale - Jesus you are good. Inhale - Thank you for joy.
Enjoy the song.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
July 30 Reflection
Reading - Psalm 145-147
Reflection Text - Psalm 145
Read the Psalm silently.
Now read it out loud, slowly.
What sticks out to you?
Now listen to this version and pray the words that hit you.
Reflection Text - Psalm 145
Read the Psalm silently.
Now read it out loud, slowly.
What sticks out to you?
Now listen to this version and pray the words that hit you.
Friday, July 29, 2011
July 29 Reflection
Reading - Psalm 142-144
Reflection Text - Psalm 142
When God told Moses that He was going to use Moses to free the Israelites from Egypt's oppression, God said "When you have brought this people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain." (Exodus 3:12)
Freedom's end result was worship of God.
Psalm 142:7 says, "Bring me out of prison, SO THAT I may give thanks to your name."
When God sets us free, we abound with thanksgiving and praise.
What have you been set free from? What is the praise you give today to God?
Reflection Text - Psalm 142
When God told Moses that He was going to use Moses to free the Israelites from Egypt's oppression, God said "When you have brought this people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain." (Exodus 3:12)
Freedom's end result was worship of God.
Psalm 142:7 says, "Bring me out of prison, SO THAT I may give thanks to your name."
When God sets us free, we abound with thanksgiving and praise.
What have you been set free from? What is the praise you give today to God?
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