Had a decent week of prayer last week. Not my best effort but better than the week before. I'm struggling with Midday and Vespers. Those are such important times to pause and pray, but I've been out and about or else thinking myself too busy...
I'm wrangling with the School District today, which is the most dreaded part of my job. I do not know why it bothers me so much, but it does.
It's good to be back and I'm glad I'll be seeing you all in about an hour or so.
I always have a difficult time praying when I visit family in CA. I think it's because there is often times no where for me to go to spend a few moments alone. But I am glad to be back and finding my routine again.
Ok, I have to admit, I'd rather read your comments than write my own. But thanks for caring about our hearts, Tim.
I'm finishing up my CBS study for the year. It's been good -knowledge wise - to understand in depth the way the nations of Israel and Judah chose to live and the devestating consequences of God's justice on them. We definitely serve a jealous God! I'm grateful that He loves us that much - and always leaves a remnant!
Hahaha...my "word verification" word to type in below is "repent". OK! I'm turning back to blogging! :)
Beth, "repent" ... that's pretty funny. Would that be classified as ironic? Maybe.
I've been thankful to God recently for how praying the hours has become a part of my life. Sometimes I am even finding myself feeling urged toward prayer before I even think about stopping to pray, if that makes any sense.
For some reason I have been coming back to Luke 13:1ff, the story about the tree bearing fruit and how it is to be chopped down if it does not. I think I still have some old ways of thinking about this passage lurking in me because I can feel the urge to just go out and bear fruit out of guilt or even fear that I would be cut down, ya know? I'm trying to read this little snippet in light of the whole story of God without fear or guilt but it's tough sometimes.
I have really been sensing the need to prayer the hours everyday. Sometimes I don't sense it even though I know I need to. But I'm sensing it now. For some reason it seems that I am being urged to think about all the wrong things. These bad thoughts keeps popping up in my head, like how bad I am at pastoring or how lazy I am around the house, ya know? Thoughts can kill ya! But I have been thankful for the Scripture during these times. I have been trying to keep the thoughts held at bay and wait for God.
Reading in Isaiah and Mark this morning. Good stuff... Filled with a joy that was missing all winter. Amazing how it affects so many aspects of life! Guess you have to visit the bad places to appreciate the good.
I did the early morning office and the morning office just now. waiting to get my blood drawn.
I struggled with prayer again yesterday. I was writing all day from 8:30am to 10:30 last night. I think there is something about my writing headspace that hasn't learned how to break for prayer!
I think the biggest detriment to my prayer life is insecurity. When I feel too busy to pray, I'm probably building my small self at that moment.
I'm thinking of giving my small self a name. I figure if I can objectify it, ridicule it, and distance from it, it will go away.
okay, sorry I forgot about the blog since we talked about it Tuesday. I have been feeling really good about things lately. Although I am sad as I learn about so many things around me crumbling, I am thankful to God for blessing me right now. My marriage, spiritual life and work life is going really well right now. I have been overwhelmed with academic study but am going to make getting in my Bible a priority over the next week.
Oh, and Beth, my word is swine. Which coincidentally, I have eaten a lot of lately.
Tim, making your small self a whipping boy might be good therapy. Maybe every year during Lent we should all make life-size figures of ourselves out of straw, ridicule them, and then light them on fire.
Well, in the midst of writing a sermon I did pray at midday. Usually that is an easy one to throw away on a Friday when I'm preaching in two days. So that's something! I hope ya'll are doing well.
Psalm 23 stuck out to me this morning in light of what I'm preaching on. It's the Psalm we are reading on Sunday. It starts out saying, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." And it ends saying, "And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." This has to do with where we find our identity and how we do the moment. The Psalmist can say all those things about quiet waters and feasting in the presence of enemies because he knows who he is and to whom he belongs.
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:
Hey Friends,
Had a decent week of prayer last week. Not my best effort but better than the week before. I'm struggling with Midday and Vespers. Those are such important times to pause and pray, but I've been out and about or else thinking myself too busy...
I'm wrangling with the School District today, which is the most dreaded part of my job. I do not know why it bothers me so much, but it does.
Peace,
-t
Hi folks,
It's good to be back and I'm glad I'll be seeing you all in about an hour or so.
I always have a difficult time praying when I visit family in CA. I think it's because there is often times no where for me to go to spend a few moments alone. But I am glad to be back and finding my routine again.
Peace,
Scott
Ok, I have to admit, I'd rather read your comments than write my own. But thanks for caring about our hearts, Tim.
I'm finishing up my CBS study for the year. It's been good -knowledge wise - to understand in depth the way the nations of Israel and Judah chose to live and the devestating consequences of God's justice on them. We definitely serve a jealous God! I'm grateful that He loves us that much - and always leaves a remnant!
Hahaha...my "word verification" word to type in below is "repent". OK! I'm turning back to blogging! :)
Beth, "repent" ... that's pretty funny. Would that be classified as ironic? Maybe.
I've been thankful to God recently for how praying the hours has become a part of my life. Sometimes I am even finding myself feeling urged toward prayer before I even think about stopping to pray, if that makes any sense.
For some reason I have been coming back to Luke 13:1ff, the story about the tree bearing fruit and how it is to be chopped down if it does not. I think I still have some old ways of thinking about this passage lurking in me because I can feel the urge to just go out and bear fruit out of guilt or even fear that I would be cut down, ya know? I'm trying to read this little snippet in light of the whole story of God without fear or guilt but it's tough sometimes.
Peace,
Scott
I have really been sensing the need to prayer the hours everyday. Sometimes I don't sense it even though I know I need to. But I'm sensing it now. For some reason it seems that I am being urged to think about all the wrong things. These bad thoughts keeps popping up in my head, like how bad I am at pastoring or how lazy I am around the house, ya know? Thoughts can kill ya! But I have been thankful for the Scripture during these times. I have been trying to keep the thoughts held at bay and wait for God.
And now ... it's sermon time!
Peace,
Scott
Reading in Isaiah and Mark this morning. Good stuff... Filled with a joy that was missing all winter. Amazing how it affects so many aspects of life! Guess you have to visit the bad places to appreciate the good.
Hey Friends,
I did the early morning office and the morning office just now. waiting to get my blood drawn.
I struggled with prayer again yesterday. I was writing all day from 8:30am to 10:30 last night. I think there is something about my writing headspace that hasn't learned how to break for prayer!
I think the biggest detriment to my prayer life is insecurity. When I feel too busy to pray, I'm probably building my small self at that moment.
I'm thinking of giving my small self a name. I figure if I can objectify it, ridicule it, and distance from it, it will go away.
-t
okay, sorry I forgot about the blog since we talked about it Tuesday. I have been feeling really good about things lately. Although I am sad as I learn about so many things around me crumbling, I am thankful to God for blessing me right now. My marriage, spiritual life and work life is going really well right now. I have been overwhelmed with academic study but am going to make getting in my Bible a priority over the next week.
Oh, and Beth, my word is swine. Which coincidentally, I have eaten a lot of lately.
Tim, making your small self a whipping boy might be good therapy. Maybe every year during Lent we should all make life-size figures of ourselves out of straw, ridicule them, and then light them on fire.
Well, in the midst of writing a sermon I did pray at midday. Usually that is an easy one to throw away on a Friday when I'm preaching in two days. So that's something! I hope ya'll are doing well.
Psalm 23 stuck out to me this morning in light of what I'm preaching on. It's the Psalm we are reading on Sunday. It starts out saying, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." And it ends saying, "And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." This has to do with where we find our identity and how we do the moment. The Psalmist can say all those things about quiet waters and feasting in the presence of enemies because he knows who he is and to whom he belongs.
Peace,
Scott
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