Thursday, May 31, 2018

Life Out of the Ashes


June 3rd-10th

Morning Prayer
Master of the cooing dove, the dawning light, and my creator I awaken to this day to your presence. Open my inner light, mind, and soul to your word, inspiration, and guiding power.

READINGS FOR REFLECTION
Use an additional resource like the Upper Room or any devotionals you prefer

Life Arises from the Ashes
I remember learning about the life cycle. It was amazing to me to learn about the earth’s biology to renew, reuse, and recycle. Fire ecology is an area of study that deals with the influence of fire on the ecosystem. Particularly with those plants and trees that need fire to germinate and the animals that depend upon them to survive.1
Our personal life ecology welcomes the fire of Pentecost to germinates the power of God to grow within us. We are refined in the fire of God. When we embrace the works of Christ and seek to share the amazing new life that comes with the knowledge of grace we bring life to others. The wind of Spirit blows away the ashes of our failings to reveal the light of life. We set ourselves aside that we may help others accept the fire of Christ and grow.

1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_ecology                               

VISIO DIVINA 
is meditative/prayer practice that opens the heart and soul to connect with
God through images.



 As you look at this image contemplate how the scripture speaks to you.
What feelings do you encounter viewing this image?
What is God revealing to you?  What are you called to do?


DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
You may also like Lectio Divina a focused reading and meditation of scripture.

Audio Lectio

Chronological Bible

One Year Bible


Virtues to Guide Your Week
Consider what you can do to live out each virtue this week. How can you love your neighbor? How will you deny yourself? How will you be thankful?

love of God- Sunday
love of neighbor -Monday
humility -Tuesday
self-denial -Wednesday and Friday
resignation and meekness - Thursday
and thanksgiving - Saturday
                                  Heitzenrater, Richard P. (2013-08-20). Wesley and the People Called Methodists

ABIDING IN THE SPIRIT
* Find your quiet center, empty your mind, and be present to hear the voice of God. Color, write in a journal, listen to music, use prayer beads to help your focus. Concentrate upon what God is calling you to understand, change, make, explore…...

SENDING PRAYER
Lord of life and love, I give myself to your Holy Spirit and direction. Guide me in my growth and inspire me in sharing your grace. Amen

DAYTIME
Set a reminder to pray throughout the day. Embrace the breath of prayer, release your burdens, be thankful. Recall today’s readings, the Visio Divina and meditate upon them and how they are affecting your day.

DAYTIME PRAYER
Lord,
I listen for your voice
I pause in gratitude
I seek to be renewed
and focused in grace. Amen

EVENING

Questions for Day that has Past 
It is important to reflect upon our day and where we may be more present
in our faith and more expressive in sharing what we know of God’s grace with others. These questions are in response to what God begins within us.
God is the force to which we respond. We live in response
to his love given through Christ.

Did I grow in my disciplines to prayer, scripture, and devotion to God?
Did I in some way put God and others before myself in how I lived today?
Did I live out the virtue of this day?
Did I love better today?
What do I regret today?
What will be my goal for tomorrow?


ABIDING IN THE SPIRIT*

EVENING PRAYER

Father of the day and of the night, I bring my heart before you, my innerness full of rememberings. Clear my soul with your grace and inspire the light of your love to shine within my thoughts and actions. Bring to my dreamings in the day and night beauty, wonder, and gratefulness for your love and power. Amen

Wednesday, May 23, 2018

May 27th-June 3rd

Morning Prayer
Lord of silent love, of warmth and colored skies, I awaken to your beauty filled with foggy thoughts and murky sight. Open my heart to your word, my soul to your grace, and all that I am to your service. Amen


READINGS FOR REFLECTION
Use an additional resource like the Upper Room or any devotionals you prefer

Let’s Go Suffer Together

 “we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him” (Romans 8:16).
We don’t like suffering. It is awful to watch the crimes and deplorable actions of man against man. It is heart wrenching to see the damage of nature in its destruction and famine. Pain, illness, poverty, are horrible physically, mentally, emotionally. Is this our gospel to suffer so as to be glorified?
The Greek word to suffer means to feel heavy, emotional passion1. This means that we are not talking about suffering but seeing with heartache the suffering around us. Christ came to end suffering. We are not called to experience horrors, but to remedy suffering by being Christ in the world. This becomes clearer when we examine the Greek to be glorified. The meaning here is to be closely identified with the Lord2. Our actions then represent our faith and Christian love.
Yes, we are to suffer as we are overwhelmed with love and compassion and work in love to eradicate the ills of the world. We know we have it right when others witness our love of God in how we live. Let’s suffer together so as to be glorified. Ann
1.  http://biblehub.com/greek/4841.htm 
2.  http://biblehub.com/greek/4888.htm                                                       



VISIO DIVINA 
is meditative/prayer practice that opens the heart and soul to connect with God through images.

As you look at this image contemplate how the scripture speaks to you.
What feelings do you encounter viewing this image?
What is God revealing to you?
What are you called to do?

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
You may also like Lectio Divina a focused reading and meditation of scripture.


Virtues to Guide Your Week
Consider what you can do to live out each virtue this week. How can you love your neighbor? How will you deny yourself? How will you be thankful?

  love of God- Sunday                               love of neighbor -Monday         
  humility -Tuesday                                    self-denial -Wednesday and Friday
  resignation and meekness -  Thursday      thanksgiving - Saturday 

Heitzenrater, Richard P. (2013-08-20). Wesley and the People Called Methodists

ABIDING IN THE SPIRIT
        * Find your quiet center, empty your mind, and be present to hear the voice of God. Color, write in a journal, listen to music, use prayer beads to help your focus. Concentrate upon what God is calling you to understand, change, make, explore…...

SENDING PRAYER
Father of life and love lead me in my, day, my thoughts, my attitudes. Direct my day to see beauty, inspiration, opportunity. Inspire my courage and boldness to be one who works for your world of peace and harmony. Challenge me to suffer. Amen


DAYTIME
Set a reminder to pray throughout the day. Embrace the breath of prayer, release your burdens, be thankful. Recall today’s readings, the Visio Divina and meditate upon them and how they are affecting your day.


DAYTIME PRAYER
God, I stop.
I listen for your voice
I pause in gratitude
I seek to be renewed
and focused in grace. Amen

EVENING

Questions for Day that has Past 
It is important to reflect upon our day and where we may be more present
in our faith and more expressive in sharing what we know of God’s grace with others. These questions are in response to what God begins within us. God is the force to which we respond. We live in response
to his love given through Christ.

Did I grow in my disciplines to prayer, scripture, and devotion to God?
Did I in some way put God and others before myself in how I lived today?
Did I live out the virtue of this day?
Did I love better today?
What do I regret today?
What will be my goal for tomorrow?


ABIDING IN THE SPIRIT*

EVENING PRAYER

Lord, the summer evenings are clinging in time. The darkness waits longer and longer to take hold of my world. I am refreshed by the breezes, the sweet aroma of blooms, and grass. I give to you the clippings I have strewn across my day that turn brown and spoil the goodness beneath. Forgive me Lord and lead my heart to greater love. As the day wanes into the gray of summer eve let my inner harshness fade away. Bring to me the joy of life in your grace and dreams of heavenly peace. Amen

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Jump Start

May 13th-20th

Morning Prayer
God, you are the power of my heart and soul. I seek your grace as I enter this time of prayer and contemplation. Awaken my inner heart to your love and transform me in your grace. I seek to live in thankfulness and praise to Christ in all that I do, am, say. Amen

READINGS FOR REFLECTION
Use an additional resource like the Upper Room or any devotionals you prefer

The Romans, Volta, Franklin, and Shelley
How many times have we heard the faith is not relevant to scientific discovery? We know as people of faith that science reveals the power of God. Did you know thousands of years ago man was using electricity? The Romans used electric eels to “zap” away headaches and other ailments. In the late 1700’s experiments with electricity were gaining notoriety and useful applications. In 1800 Benjamin Franklin discovered the connection between lightning and electricity and Alessandro Volta created the electric battery. In 1817. Mary Shelley wrote her book Frankenstein; or the Modern Prometheus.
Our scripture reading from Ephesians tells of the great power of the Holy Spirit. It is this power that God worked to raise Christ from the dead. The word worked means to energize like an electrical current.1 I couldn’t help thinking about Shelley’s story about Dr. Frankenstein. That as people we want to usurp God’s power to create life. The discoveries may be new to us, but everything was created by our creator at the beginning of time.
The Holy Spirit is the power to bring us life. It is this power that energizes and heals us to do and be brought into new life by Jesus Christ.
                                                     1 http://biblehub.com/greek/1754.htm

VISIO DIVINA 
is meditative/prayer practice that opens the heart and soul to connect with
God through images.

As you look at this image contemplate how the scripture speaks to you.
Why is Christ’s face without features and shape?
What feelings do you encounter viewing this image?
What is God revealing to you about your path, hope, grace?







DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
You may also like Lectio Divina a focused reading and meditation of scripture.








Virtues to Guide Your Week


Consider what you can do to live out each virtue this week. 
How can you love your neighbor? How will you deny yourself? How will you be thankful?



          love of God- Sunday                 
love of neighbor -Monday         
humility -Tuesday                     
self-denial -Wednesday and Friday
resignation and meekness -  Thursday
and thanksgiving - Saturday 



Heitzenrater, Richard P. (2013-08-20). Wesley and the People Called Methodists

ABIDING IN THE SPIRIT
           * Find your quiet center, empty your mind, and be present to hear the voice of God. Color, write in a journal, listen to music, use prayer beads to help your focus. Concentrate upon what God is calling you to understand, change, make, explore…...

SENDING PRAYER
Lord take my hand and lead my life. Give me courage, and bold love to live and forgive as you have done for me. Challenge me and affirm me as I live in response to Christ and in your powerful Spirit. I am yours Lord, use me to bring peace and grace to others. Amen


DAYTIME
Set a reminder to pray throughout the day. Embrace the breath of prayer, release your burdens, be thankful. Recall today’s readings, the Visio Divina and meditate
upon them and how they are affecting your day.

DAYTIME PRAYER
Father of balance and rest, I pause to praise you, re-engage with you,
experience your peace, love, and comfort. Silence my worries, my anxieties, and my mind. Guide me to see and embrace only those elements of my day, and life that are life-bringing and positive. Restore me, energize me, lead me in your Spirit. Amen

EVENING

Questions for Day that has Past 
It is important to reflect upon our day and where we may be more present
in our faith and more expressive in sharing what we know of God’s grace with others. These questions are in response to what God begins within us.
God is the force to which we respond.  We live in response
 to his love given through Christ.

Did I grow in my disciplines to prayer, scripture, and devotion to God?
Did I in some way put God and others before myself in how I lived today?
Did I live out the virtue of this day?
Did I love better today?
What do I regret today?
What will be my goal for tomorrow?


ABIDING IN THE SPIRIT*


EVENING PRAYER

The gauzy curtain of setting sun and growing darkness is drawn to end the day. The darkness is soon to consume the light. As I think of this day-your gift to me- I think of my thoughts, my actions, my attitudes, and choices. Father of all that is of love and goodness, forgive my failures, my selfishness, my hatred. Teach me to change and overcome my failures. I claim the gift of your forgiveness that comes with my repentance and the faith of Christ. Bring rest to my body and beauty to my mind as I sleep. So that I may awaken energized in your Spirit to live in full awareness to your forgiveness, direction, and grace. Amen

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

May 6th-13th

Morning Prayer
Lord of pink ribbons of the morning horizon, of chirping bird, and warm breezes, I awaken my soul to your presence and grace. I praise you for your power, compassion, and love. I am humbled and shy to the works of Christ that challenge me to be perfected in your love. Open my heart wide to receive your grace, my mind to learn, and my soul to change. Amen





VISIO DIVINA 
is meditative/prayer practice that opens the heart and soul to connect with
God through images.

As you look at this image contemplate how the scripture speaks to you.
What does the shape of Christ’s scepter mean to you?
What feelings do you encounter viewing the angel’s faces in this image?
What is God revealing to you about your path, heart, attitudes?


READINGS FOR REFLECTION
Use an additional resource like the Upper Room or any devotionals you prefer

Sing a New Song
We like to sing the songs we know. The melody and words are old friends that can express our joys and sorrows. Without the stumbling s that come with a new song, it is easier to sing from the heart. I remember in grade school music class we would practice and practice a song until it became ingrained within our brains and voices. It was the same in band. New songs required practice.
Our scripture in Acts reminds me of learning a new song. The Disciples are negotiating Christianity. This new religion encounters new music with strange chords and words. The Jewish Christians are finding the gentile songs strange and challenging.
The Holy Spirit is teaching the new tune. It is one of inclusiveness and harmony. It is a song that requires unity and acceptance. God’s kingdom is of peace and togetherness. In this time of cacophonous views, we need to sing a new song of praise and grace. The song of the Gospel and the power of grace.  Ann



DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
You may also like Lectio Divina a focused reading and meditation of scripture.






Virtues to Guide Your Week


Consider what you can do to live out each virtue this week. How can you love your neighbor? How will you deny yourself? How will you be thankful?
  love of God- Sunday                 love of neighbor -Monday         humility -Tuesday                     
self-denial -Wednesday and Friday      resignation and meekness -  Thursday
and thanksgiving - Saturday 
Heitzenrater, Richard P. (2013-08-20). Wesley and the People Called Methodists

ABIDING IN THE SPIRIT
           * Find your quiet center, empty your mind, and be present to hear the voice of God. Color, write in a journal, listen to music, use prayer beads to help your focus. Concentrate upon what God is calling you to understand, change, make, explore…...

SENDING PRAYER
Lord, awaken my soul to a new song. Lead me in my day to sing with new attitudes and understandings. Inspire my actions to reflect your grace and speak words of love. Amen

DAYTIME
Set a reminder to pray throughout the day. Embrace the breath of prayer, release your burdens, be thankful. Recall today’s readings, the Visio Divina and meditate upon them and how they are affecting your day.

DAYTIME PRAYER
Creator of the silence, I pause to remember your grace, your word, your power. I pause to re-center my thoughts and motivations to be aligned with your peace and harmony. I pause to rest in your Spirit that I may continue my day in love.

EVENING

Questions for Day that has Past 
It is important to reflect upon our day and where we may be more present in our faith 
and more expressive in sharing what we know of God’s grace with others. 
These questions are in response to what God begins within us.
God is the force to which we respond.  We live in response to his love given through Christ.

Did I grow in my disciplines to prayer, scripture, and devotion to God?
Did I in some way put God and others before myself in how I lived today?
Did I live out the virtue of this day?
Did I love better today?
What do I regret today?
What will be my goal for tomorrow?


ABIDING IN THE SPIRIT*

EVENING PRAYER

Guardian of all life, I pray in this day’s ending. I consider the day that is turning to tomorrow and my actions within its hours. I am discouraged by my failings to love and my actions dedicated to self. I confess my disappointments in myself. I confess my attitudes and actions, motivations and words, that did not bring glory to you, Christ, Spirit and proved to demean myself in light of your grace. I pray to sleep in beauty and peace so that I may awake to your grace and live to your purpose. Amen