Friday Five: Prayer

via * Today's Friday 5s from Rev Gal Jan : * At the beginning of this past week, I attended a conference on contemplative prayer entitled "Turning to the Mystics" at the 2013 Summer Institute at the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, TX. The speakers were James Finley, author and former novice of Thomas Merton; Mirabai Starr, author, translator, and speaker;  and Father Ronald Rolheiser, author and president of OST.  We were encouraged to regularly sit in quiet to come to realize our union with the Divine, who continually loves us into being.
*
So for this Friday Five, let us share about our prayer practices, whether silent or not: * { ~ My responses follow Jan's questions ~ }
*
1. How do you pray?

Many ways.  Creatively.  With music, journalling, dancing, singing, creating, photography, listening, praying always - a heart position and attitude. With words?
Beginning with praise and acknowledgement of  God's worth.  Gratitude for who God is. Resting in God's Presence and waiting for Holy Spirit to direct my thoughts and responses. Listening.   "Adonai ELOHIM wakens Me morning by morning, He wakens My ear to hear as a disciple [as one who is taught]" Isaiah 50.4 * The requesting part, if there will be any, flows from there.  According to scripture, I have the mind of Christ in me, and Holy Spirit that knows what needs praying, so it's a choice to allow Holy Spirit to lead. What is on  God's heart?  Praying in agreement with that. When we know we pray according to God's will, we know God's answer is also ours. "We enter into a certainty of the outcome", as Graham Cooke says it in  Crafted Prayer from the Being With God series.
*

1 John 5.14 And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us.

15 And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him.

*
2. How has your idea of prayer changed over time?

Prayer is opportunity to spend time with God.  Being in God's Presence. Not a chore.  Not a requirement.  Rather a joy and delight that results from a relationship of love, worth and appreciation from and toward The One I adore. Not a quick port of call for when desperate or a slot machine to get something. Also not just a quick trip to the store with my shopping list . A time of enjoyment - another step in development of relationship. *
3. Do you ever sit in silent prayer? How does it go?

I do.  It goes Beautifully as I turn my heart's full attention on Yeshua Jesus in gratitude.   There's increased sense of Presence and intimacy. A deep and growing awareness of The One in whom my soul delights.
*
4. Do you have any difficulties and/or pleasures in prayer?

For me the difficulty is choosing to be intentional in prayer.  Not allowing it to stay at routine or given less than priority.  A valued place in my day and my life. Pleasures?  Much.  * 
Song of Solomon 5:16

"His voice and speech are exceedingly sweet; yes, 

He is altogether lovely [the whole of Him delights and is precious]. 

This is my beloved, and this is my friend...!"

*
5. What is the best advice that helped you with prayer?

I am not an orphan.  I need not beg or hold back.  I am Christ's bride.  Pray like a bride.
*
Bonus: Share something about prayer or an example of a prayer you like. *

* Praying scriptures is foundational.  Prayers of God who is author and initiator.   As we learn to still ourselves in God's Presence,  we sense the voice of Holy Spirit leading in prayer. Two excellent resources coming to mind, from Canadian author, Brad Jersak -   Can You Hear Me? Tuning in to the God Who Speaks * and the above mentioned Crafted Prayer by British author, Graham Cooke.  Rev Gals Thursday Prayer post example is one of many beautiful prayer resources. Highly recommended [prayed and enjoyed!]
*

* What a fabulous opportunity to attend the conference, Jan. I am so pleased you had that opportunity and have inspired us with your 5 ?s regarding prayer. It sounds much in accord with Christine Valters Paintners' Abbey of the Arts, of which we monks in the world draw inspiration. Thank you for today's post!
* Your prayers are especially appreciated as I prepare for the journey to meet  my 1st wee grandson and spend a short while with the blessed parents!  * I haven't settled on transportation for my return and need wisdom provision for that.  * It's now Sunday and I'm  SO  Grateful to share God's provision of wisdom and transportation has been arranged! Awesome and Amazing - a direct flite at seat sale price! * TY Lord!
*
How do you pray?  Insights you'd care to share?
*

*

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Friday Five...

Today's Friday Five meme from Rev Gal Blog Pals ~

Today is the Feast day of St Mary Magdalene,

and as I've been pondering her life, and the inspiration she is

I find in her a wonderful mix of struggle and devotion.

She is both the woman who needed a deep healing,

 the woman who was declared (by many)

to be the first amongst the apostles.

She inspires me by the way she overcame so much

to become so much.

When I stop to think about the folk who do inspire me

they are almost always overcomer's in some way or another.

With that in mind I bring you this Friday Five.
List five people who inspire you to dare to step out into becoming more.
Bonus question - a song or fictional character that inspires you to move beyond boundaries!

five favourites?

Fave Verses Friday Five

Coming from Songbird of my Rev Gal Pals,
here's today's Friday Five meme:

"Twenty years ago, I was on a Pastoral Search Committee, and one of the questions we asked the ten candidates we interviewed in the first round was to tell us their three favourite passages of scripture. I loved hearing the variety of verses quoted and even learned some that I didn't know, such as the last line of one of this week's lectionary passages:

"He has told you, O mortal, what is good;

and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice,

and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
(Micah 6:8)

For today's Friday Five,
list your five favourite passages/verses

from the Bible and tell us something about why you love them".

a.m...since i'm off to teach my class,

i'll leave you with the questions while i'm away. 

 maybe you'd like to blog yours or share in comments? 

 i'll answer this when i'm back from class...
i know my first will be Isaiah 26.3
all about peace...

p.m... ok, back from class & onto my responses ")

Isaiah 26.3
"a person whose desire rests on you
you preserve in perfect peace,
because he trusts in you. 
Trust in ADONAI forever,
because in Yah ADONAI, is a Rock of Ages."

how this has proved true through soooo much 'stuff'!
ADONAI is trustworthy! 
and his shalom is more than absence of trouble~
it's been evidenced so many times as
his covenant of wholeness and completion
as i have set my desire upon him
in preference to transitory desires...
ties in well with Ps 37.3,4

2 Samuel 23.3,4
"the Rock of Isra'el said to me,
'A ruler over people must be upright,
ruling in the fear of God;
like the morning light at sunrise
on a cloudless day
that makes the grass on the earth sparkle after a rain.'"

he said the same to me as to David
both in my position as mom of my children
which, unbeknownst to me, was preparation for further life positions
he'd ordained for me requiring leadership.

2 Samuel 23.5
"For my house stands firm with God ---
he made an everlasting covenant with me.
It is in order, fully assured,
that he will bring to full growth
all my salvation 
and every desire."

oh my, how often i've stood on this Rock!
God is at work with an end in mind.
completing, finishing, furnishing.
it's about growth & process~
in situations and in us

Isaiah 42.3,4
"He will not snap off a broken reed
or snuff out a smoldering wick;
he will bring forth justice according to truth.
He will not weaken or be crushed
until he has established justice on the earth,
and the coastlands wait for his Torah."

and we can join Him in bringing that Torah to them!
to see God in His strength & power
His determination, perseverance, tenacity~
the opp to join Him in mission wherever we are
bringing forth His justice, His kingdom,
and in His manner, His lifegiving ways
continually inspires and inspirits me,
has directed me in much of my life's course.



Isaiah 30.15
"Returning and resting is what will save you;
calmness and confidence will make you strong"...

totally my life's verse!
calmness & 'trusting confidence'!
will make me strong
and how many times have i needed to be strong!
Is 50.10 excellent addition to this~
trusting in ADONAI's reputation and relying on God...
because He's trustworthy and reliable!

and i do love the introductory verse quoted
{especially from the Complete Jewish Bible}
where possible requirements for an audience with God
are being discussed
 resulting in the reality of
Micah 6.8
"Human being, you have already been told
what is good, what ADONAI demands of you ---
no more than to act justly, love grace and
walk in purity with your God."

my fave amazing picture of God's salvation
came during incredible losses
Is 54.11-end [17]
"Storm-ravaged, unconsoled,
I will set your stones in the finest way,
lay your foundations with sapphires,
make your windows shine with rubies,
your gates with garnet, your walls with gemstones,
All your children will be taught by ADONAI,
your children will have great peace...
or 'great will be their peace & composure'...
GorGeous Goodness of God!
that follows me every day of my life...

the entire chapter of Isaiah 58 is fabulous!
perhaps i'll add it as a page
when i can squeeze in another activity to my days ")

Isaiah 12.2
"See!  God is my salvation.
I am confident and unafraid;
for Yah ADONAI is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation!"

to which i add my
yes! it is indeed true
and Amen! so be it!

the favourites just keep rolling~
this is a tiny snowball
compared to the snowman my list would build!

know you're welcome to offer yours either here in comments
or post your own and link back here...
"building ourselves up in our most holy faith"
as Jude 20 puts it ")

Then Sings My Soul with Amy
for more musical inspiriting
&
more spiritual reflections
with Charlotte & Ginger

thanks for sharing time with me today!
grace & peace...

winter on the way ...

Winter's On the Way Friday Five from RevGal Blog ~
posted by Singing Owl..

The picture is of my [Singing Owl] back deck after the first heavy snow last winter. I am looking at the weather forecast with a sigh of resignation. You see, our glorious unseasonable stretch of sunny days is ending and rain mixed with snow is in the forecast. The weather guy actually said, "This is probably the last nice day till spring, folks..." So, I am trying to plan ahead. Help me out, please. When it is cold outside:
1. What is your favorite movie for watching when curled up under a wooly blanket?  'French Kiss' romantic comedy with Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline..

 

or- Jane Austen's 'Persuasion'.  i have so many faves - all listed in my profile for more suggestions :)

2. Likewise, what book?  any Agatha Christie.  love to keep her books of short stories on hand for when i don't have time for the full length read..
3. What foods do you tend to cook/eat when it gets cold? meatloaf, stew, homemade soups, slowcooker meals.. 
4. What do you like to do if you get a "snow day" (or if you don't get snow days, what if you did)? your suggestions as above! the full length agathas like poirot or miss marple, stack the movies for a jane austen marathon, add a fireplace, hot drinks, chocolate something, quilt and pillows & it's all good! ..
5. Do you like winter sports or outdoor activities, or are you more likely to be inside playing a board game? Do you have a favorite (indoors or out)?  do like slow walking in softly falling snow [meaning temperature is tolerable!] otherwise happy to be indoors viewing the beauty :) outdoor temps usually too extreme here for me to like outdoors.  i do like snowshoeing.  'when i was young', i used to share with my brother our own snowmobile & rode daily~  fave indoor game?  kings in the corner cards, scrabble, monopoly, uno, skip bo.
great play Singing Owl!  thanks for the challenge and the share.  look forward to reading yours ..

yay! friday ...

well, i am now a fully certified leader in Stanford U's "Chronic Illness Self Management Program" !  good worldwide !   and happy to have gone through the excellent program.  i've learned MANY self management tools myself which have already been of benefit while learning.

so now that i'm home i can respond to Singing Owl's Friday Five from Rev Gals.  here's today's prompt ~

Hello everyone! The Canadian geese are excited, forming up and practicing, encouraging each other with honking, the Wisconsin fall color is at peak where I am, and in Kohl's Dept. Store the Christmas decorations are up. Yep, Fall is here. It's my turn to do the Rev Gal Blog Pals Friday Five. It has been a while since we did one of these word association Friday FIves, so here goes, with an autumnal theme. I know, fall is one way on this side of the world and different in other places, but please bear with me as I post words that say FALL--at least where I am.

Give us the the first word that comes to mind (you know how that works, right?) and then add a little something about why, or how or what.

1. Pumpkins ~ PIE !! 

 it's Thanksgiving weekend here

it's ESSENTIAL to this celebration !!



2. Campfire ~ girls -

i have no idea why that popped into my head ;) ?!

3. Apples - golden ~ 

one of my favourites :)  golden delicious



4. Color ~ blue 

 is what instantly came to my mind ... 

5. Halloween ~ FuN

 because that's what it was when i was a child - just FuN.  NOT scary!

And since it is REV Gals and their Pals, here is the bonus question, sort of a serious one:

What does the following passage from Daniel 2 make you think about?

"Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
Wisdom and power are his...
He changes times and seasons."

it reminds me of the awesome Greatness 

that oversees the world in which i/we live, move and have our being...

the worthiness of praise that God bears...

and the recognition that is due for what we take for granted...

thanks Singing Owl ! 

i enjoyed your excellent and thoughtful prompt ~

bogs and blessings...

today's rev gals blog has us baring our souls on ministry bogs and blessings.  for an insider peek, stay tuned :)

This week, despite substantial planning, the staff here has been reeling a bit from the wave of fall start-up programming combined with conversations looking towards Advent and Christmas. There is a lot to be excited about (Children's Choir sounded great!), but there are also some things that we just have to suck it up and get through (didn't we just do Officer Training last year?). 

So for today's Friday 5 I thought we'd hit on the things that give us energy in ministry and the things that take it away:

1) What are a few of the tasks that you find tedious/energy sucking in your ministry position? Please note I said 'tasks' not people :)

cute - would have to be the admin involved and when tech equipment that's supposed to add to the service doesn't work!

2) Is there anything you could do to make one of them better?
having back up equipment ?  but then there isn't time to set it up when the other unexpectedly crashes.. hmmm.  scheduling for the admin time might be possible..
3) What are a few of the tasks that you find energizing in ministry?
designing the worship
4) If given a quarterly spiritual day, how would you want to spend it?
time out with God
5) If given a quarterly spiritual day, how would you actually spend it?
very tough!  if i'd scheduled it in, it would be as above.  if i didn't?  probably whatever was intruding as urgent !!  yikes!  this has been self revelatory hasn't it?  good work kathryn :)
BONUS: What would your Dream Ministry job include?
i am doing my Dream Ministry job!  and grateful to God am i !  as a worship curator, my job includes freedom, worship design, creative choices, innovation, flexibility, hospitality,  mission, ministry to people who desire & appreciate ministry and want to learn, doing a 'new thing', fresh wind of Spirit, prophetic voice, art, music, implementation of technology in worship, pray-ers, depth, JoY!!
and thanks for asking !  great play today Kathryn!

mmmm summer days ...

Friday, Aug 13.10 Singing Owl's *Dog Days of Summer Friday Five* from rev gals blog ~
I love summer, and wait anxiously for it every year. So how is it that we have arrived at the hot and humid "Dog Days" of August, and I have not done nearly enough of what I planned to do? I want to pack in as much as I can before snow flies once again.

1.  What is the weather like where you live?  at this moment a thunderstorm has just spent its fury and is scuttling on its way elsewhere leaving the most amazing violet and blue western sky.

2.  Share one thing you love about this time of year.  ease, freedom & desire of going where and whenever.  [that's contrasting with the winter boots, scarf, mitts, toques, shovel, broom restrictions of winter :(]

3.  Share one thing you do NOT love about this time of year.  humidity!  rare but not appreciated.

4.  How will you spend the remaining days leading up to Autumn?  soaking up every ray of sunshine possible while reading some sweet len sweet.

5.  Share a good summer memory.  i shared my lovely daughter's wedding last week friday, [photo bottom of page], so hmmm.  ok.  taking my mom out to the gardens of the personal care home enjoying outdoor time together and laughing til our stomachs hurt.  a very good summer memory ...

Bonus:
What food says SUMMER to you?  watermelon, iced tea and bbqs (:   thanks for asking !
and now that i've been the rounds of all the other posts, i have to add more ~ saskatoons, corn on the cob of course! rhubarb anything! roll kuchen with the watermelon, and potato salad. 
by the length of my list it looks like food says summer to me! but, thankfully, it just looks that way ;)
 



HUGE thanx to Kate of Katie Blair Designs for the gorgeous cherry tea pitcher pic!
PERFECT illustration for faith, hope & cherrytea wouldn't you say?
Kate's recipe available here  with MUCH more for your enjoyment ...

memories ...

today's friday five game from rev gals is a walk down memory lane.  the bonus question of a song to sum up a memory is what really caught my eye, so had to play!  here's what sally asked ~ how would you respond?  your reflections will be enjoyed by more if you're willing to share in the comments (:
This year Tim and I have planted and nurtured a vegetable garden, and I have just spent the morning preparing vegetables and soups for the freezer, our veggie garden is producing like crazy and it is hard to keep up with, that said it'll be worth it for a little taste of summer in the middle of winter :-). That got me thinking of the things I treasure, memories are often more valuable than possessions. How about you, can you share:
*  A treasured memory from childhood?  particularly remembering my father teaching me to ride a bicycle.  not only the laughable memories of that evening, but the resulting gift of freedom.  i was now independent.  able to venture farther afield and was blessed to live in a rural town where that was possible.  out gathering brown-eyed-susan bouquets from roadsides, discovering a wider world in my explorations.  yes, a well treasured memory...
*  A teenage memory?  learning to drive!  yes, another step of freedom and how beneficial not only to the time but my future.  living rurally it was a necessity that's stood me in good stead wherever i've lived.  huge gratitude to my dad for supporting me in providing the car and opps to practice !
*  A young adult memory?   excellent opportunities offered for positions requiring responsibility - stretching me, challenging and allowing the growth needed in different areas.  thinking of the period of time i served as librarian of the church.  purchasing, cataloguing, culling old stock from the shelves, loaning, stocking shelves, 'hiring' help - probably more accurately 'recruiting', marketing, and expanding.  good memories of times that added strength to my confidence and capabilities as a young woman.
*  A memory from this summer?  definitely would be my daughter's wedding!  a gift of relationships, a gift of time, a gift of family, a gift of beauty, a gift of memories ... lovely!

*  A memory you hope to have?   grandbabies??
*  Bonus- a song that sums up one of those memories ?
one that seems to actually fit all of mine would be crosby, stills, nash 'teach your children' ...
You, who are on the road must have a code that you can live by.
And so become yourself because the past is just a good bye.
Teach your children well, their father's hell did slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams, the one they fix, the one you'll know by.
Don't you ever ask them why, if they told you, you would cry,
So just look at them and sigh and know they love you.
And you, of the tender years can't know the fears that your elders grew by,
And so please help them with your youth, they seek the truth before they can die.
Teach your parents well, their children's hell will slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams, the one they fix,the one you'll know by.
Don't you ever ask them why, if they told you, you would cry,
So just look at them and sigh and know they love you.

*  and what of your memories?  meaningful memory songs?  care to share? 
we'd love to listen !