I have been in prayer, talking to God a lot and I have been worshiping through music through out the week. I haven't been very good at reading my Bible the last two weeks--I am going to try and read Psalms this week. Amelia really likes them and this way, we can do them together. Nothing like a 7 year old holding her 34 year old mother accountable! Ha! Mom starts chemo this week. I have found that I am pretty down these days. I am trying to get back the joy in my life and am trying to stop feeling sorry/pity for myself.
Scott, to answer your question last week, my evening prayers happen as I close my eyes for the day. I usually pray until sleep overtakes me.
Psalm 52 was one of this mornings Psalms. There was a line in it that I think speaks to one of the worries I was having yesterday about some of things I said in the sermon.
"Behold, the man who would not make God his refuge, But trusted in the abundance of his riches and was strong in his evil desire."
I was talking to Steve a little about this after church. I don't want to come across as attacking of people whose livelihoods are bound in the buying and selling of consumer good in our culture. I'm not knocking in any way the buying and selling of products in any way. I mean, didn't Paul sell make and sell tents?
This Psalm helps me understand better, particularly the part about trusting in the abundance of riches, and also the part about desire. I think part of our task as the church is to pray and discern our way through the culture in ways where our refuge is in God, not riches. And I think this has to do with having our desire formed. We "are" what we love.
This is what I am struggling with, though: Do you all think there is room to discern whether or not some jobs use the resources of creation better than others? How do we go about working out that conversation in our church?
I did matins when I woke up this morning and lauds when I got to my desk.
Sara, I'm praying for you & for your mother. As Christians we are people of hope - so find the hope that lives in you and feed it, foster it, let it be the object of your attention! Don't despair, don't have fear, but take heart... live in hope!
Scott, that's a great question. I really think it's a conversation we need to work toward having in our context. I've always framed the question by saying that everything we do matters on into eternity because it shapes us, shapes others, and shapes the world in which they live and get to hear the message of the gospel and be drawn into the live of God and the church. I think that implies some sort of responsibility.
i read two psalms yesterday..no particular reason. More praying and a lot of reading about what God says about purity! I am prepping for a purity study with the youth so it is on the brain!
Did early morning prayers this morning - difficult to concentrate as I'm pretty tired. But I just had a good time doing the Morning office from the BCP. The 50 Psalm always blows me away... it basically says you chase after the things you care about & then pretend that I (God) am like you and want what you want. It's stunning... I know I do that.
I'm finding it hard to concentrate already this morning... my prayers were distracted. But it feels good to at least take the time and make it happen. I did matins and lauds today & now am headed to class.
This morning I read the story of Saul's demise as King and the beginning of David's rise as King. I hadn't really thought about it before, but these are the only two stories about Kings of Israel that we have at any great length, if I'm not mistaken. There is much to learn about following and not following the voice of God.
Tim, that's a good thought. I think this is such a difficult conversation in our culture, particular when jobs are so scarce.
Realized I was craving God-time this morning and just needing to talk...He's truly the only One that can satisfy the longings and empty the pain.
Started in Proverbs (love the "if...then's" and their straightforwardness!) and finished Revelation. So thankful God saw fit to allow us to know the end - or more accurately the new beginning - and give us hope!
each week we will have a new post through which to interact. you can post comments as often as you want under each week in order to share what you are reading, disciplines you are engaging in, or encouragement to each other.
11 comments:
I did matins when I awoke this morning & lauds just now. Looking forward to the day!
-ts
I have been in prayer, talking to God a lot and I have been worshiping through music through out the week. I haven't been very good at reading my Bible the last two weeks--I am going to try and read Psalms this week. Amelia really likes them and this way, we can do them together. Nothing like a 7 year old holding her 34 year old mother accountable! Ha! Mom starts chemo this week. I have found that I am pretty down these days. I am trying to get back the joy in my life and am trying to stop feeling sorry/pity for myself.
Scott, to answer your question last week, my evening prayers happen as I close my eyes for the day. I usually pray until sleep overtakes me.
Psalm 52 was one of this mornings Psalms. There was a line in it that I think speaks to one of the worries I was having yesterday about some of things I said in the sermon.
"Behold, the man who would not make God his refuge, But trusted in the abundance of his riches and was strong in his evil desire."
I was talking to Steve a little about this after church. I don't want to come across as attacking of people whose livelihoods are bound in the buying and selling of consumer good in our culture. I'm not knocking in any way the buying and selling of products in any way. I mean, didn't Paul sell make and sell tents?
This Psalm helps me understand better, particularly the part about trusting in the abundance of riches, and also the part about desire. I think part of our task as the church is to pray and discern our way through the culture in ways where our refuge is in God, not riches. And I think this has to do with having our desire formed. We "are" what we love.
This is what I am struggling with, though: Do you all think there is room to discern whether or not some jobs use the resources of creation better than others? How do we go about working out that conversation in our church?
I did matins when I woke up this morning and lauds when I got to my desk.
Sara, I'm praying for you & for your mother. As Christians we are people of hope - so find the hope that lives in you and feed it, foster it, let it be the object of your attention! Don't despair, don't have fear, but take heart... live in hope!
Scott, that's a great question. I really think it's a conversation we need to work toward having in our context. I've always framed the question by saying that everything we do matters on into eternity because it shapes us, shapes others, and shapes the world in which they live and get to hear the message of the gospel and be drawn into the live of God and the church. I think that implies some sort of responsibility.
i read two psalms yesterday..no particular reason. More praying and a lot of reading about what God says about purity! I am prepping for a purity study with the youth so it is on the brain!
I did early morning prayers when I awoke and just finished the morning office from the BCP. Hebrews is a confusing book.
-t
Did early morning prayers this morning - difficult to concentrate as I'm pretty tired. But I just had a good time doing the Morning office from the BCP. The 50 Psalm always blows me away... it basically says you chase after the things you care about & then pretend that I (God) am like you and want what you want. It's stunning... I know I do that.
Peace,
-ts
I'm finding it hard to concentrate already this morning... my prayers were distracted. But it feels good to at least take the time and make it happen. I did matins and lauds today & now am headed to class.
-t
This morning I read the story of Saul's demise as King and the beginning of David's rise as King. I hadn't really thought about it before, but these are the only two stories about Kings of Israel that we have at any great length, if I'm not mistaken. There is much to learn about following and not following the voice of God.
Tim, that's a good thought. I think this is such a difficult conversation in our culture, particular when jobs are so scarce.
Realized I was craving God-time this morning and just needing to talk...He's truly the only One that can satisfy the longings and empty the pain.
Started in Proverbs (love the "if...then's" and their straightforwardness!) and finished Revelation. So thankful God saw fit to allow us to know the end - or more accurately the new beginning - and give us hope!
I did early morning prayers when I got up and just did the BCP morning office. Hebrews is still freaking me out. I need to study that book.
-t
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