A couple of days ago I wrote a post Visions in an Empty Glass following an amazing God moment at church. I continue to savour the images that experience generated for me. God moments like this are not to be taken lightly or dismissed quickly. I am also savouring the new images that post has stirred, finding that I need to pause over each comment, draw breath and allow God to speak to me afresh. Not only are God moments for our edification and learning, the responses that well up from within us and others to these moments are also to be listened to and savoured.
My colleague Andy Wade wrote:
Such powerful images! Change is the state our faith was created for. Not change for change sake, but change that sees us transformed more and more into the likeness of Jesus. I love the imagery of forming/creation – something we all experience by our very existence. Then the filling – we’ve all been filled – it is our breath, our life. The transformation into wine begins as we begin to know Jesus as Saviour (added the “u” for your benefit) Perhaps this is another image of what it means to be “born anew”. Now on the path of “aging”, we are “new wine” in the process of becoming the rich, full-bodied flavour of Christ in the world.
Change is the state our faith was created for. So many of us run from change. We get set in our ways and don’t want to move. I know how easily I get caught up in the familiar routines, once life giving and transformative, now rigid and stagnating.
God makes us all beautiful, handblown goblets, formed from the sand (dust of the earth, but that is not all there is to God’s creativity in our lives. We are made to be transformed.
It occurred to me as I meditated on this that a glass is transparent, the beauty and the glory of God shines through its emptiness. A glass filled with water still allows light to shine through and if you catch it at the right angle, you might see a rainbow. But a glass full of wine is not transparent, it absorbs the light. It glows with the light, and it is only in the drinking of it, really the sharing of it that its full beauty is revealed, not the beauty of the vessel which is our bodies but the beauty, the wonder, the richness of the Spirit that now dwells within.
I shaped you as an empty glass, have filled you with living water and am transforming it into wine.
What imagery do these words I felt God spoke to me (and yes i have changed the original word cup to glass) bring to your mind? Please consider sharing them as I feel there is still more that God wants to speak to all of us about from this vision.
This morning my heart grieves for those who have lost family and friends in the ongoing violence in Gaza. Having worked in refugee camps, I know the horrors that those whose lives are touched by war, face. This is not a question of who is right and who is wrong. I believe that none of us have the right to decide that another person’s life should be cut short. I believe God grieves when those who are made in the image of God kill and maim each other. God is a God of peace not of war. This type of death and violence is a distortion of God’s intention for all persons.
Out of my grief this morning I wrote this prayer which I hope you will pray with me:
God we enter into your tears today.
We weep with you for innocent lives lost.
Our hearts groan with grief for life distorted by death.
We do not know how to pray,
But your Spirit groans within us,
With sighs too deep for words.
When our needs burden us,
And the pain of our world overwhelms,
Your Spirit is here.
It breathes in all people,
In all places.
Lord may it breathe today
Peace in the midst of war,
Comfort in the midst of horror,
Life in the midst of death.
Amen.
On Sunday at church I had a vision. No I don’t think I am going off the deep end but I do believe that God touched me in a special way. As the rector lifted the empty cup, a handblown clear glass chalice, before filling it with wine for communion it caught the light and sparkled in the glow. I felt the love of God sweep over me.
I shaped you as an empty cup, have filled you with living water and am transforming it into wine.
It was a profound experience that I carry with me as I go through the week. It is the centre of my reflections each morning as I do not believe that this was meant to be a momentary experience but an enduring learning opportunity. You may like to spend time on this guided meditation God led me through as a result.
This morning I searched for scriptures that connected to the three images in these words. The first imagery that came to mind was from Isaiah 64:8 (The Voice)
Still, Eternal One, You are our Father.
We are just clay, and You are the potter.
We are the product of Your creative action, shaped and formed into something of worth.
Even the empty vessels that we are are shaped by God’s creative action, not for destruction but into something of worth. Read through this scripture in several translation and allow God to speak to you of your worth as a vessel of the living God.
The second scripture that came to mind is John 4:10 (New Living Translation)
Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”
God’s desire is to fill all of us with living water, all we need to do is ask.
The third scripture that I meditated on was John 2:1-10, the wedding at Cana (New Living Translation):
The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.”
“Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”
But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions.
When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!”
Jesus kept the best till last. The wonder of the transformation Jesus brings about in our lives is that, like a good wine, is that it continues to improve with age. And the banquet at the end of time will bring out the best wine in all of us.
But the thing about wine is that it must be shared to be appreciated. We must give it to others to drink for it to be fully enjoyed.
So much to think about here. So much that God is still saying to me. Would love to hear what God might say to you through this too.
Well it has happened. We have just launched our first kickstarter campaign. We are starting a new venture into E-courses and ask you to help us launch this. We think that this is part of the exciting future of Mustard Seed Associates, and I mean E-Courses, rather than a single e-course. We’re starting with Re-Imagining How We Pray this fall, based on the popular book Return to Our Senses, which has brought many of you to this blog, but that’s just the beginning. Seminars and workshops reach 10, 20 or 50 people in one place at one time, E-courses can literally reach thousands from England to Australia. People can work at their own pace, take time to reflect and renew. This we believe can strengthen peoples’ faith and transform their prayer life.
We want to bring the type of collaborative exploration that we do here on the Godspace blog to a much wider community of Mustard Seed Associates – and this is how you can help us do that.
These E-courses are an an exciting new way to offer everything MSA is about – inspiring, connecting, creating – unleashing the creative potential of ordinary people to make a difference in our communities and our world, and the place to start is, we believe with spiritual formation. So please consider giving us a kickstart and joining this exciting campaign so that we can help people around the world reimagine how we pray.
MSA Is A Happening Place
There is so much happening at Mustard Seed Associates at the moment that it is hard to keep track. This is turning into a very busy but fulfilling season and I thought you might appreciate knowing about some of the things that keep me busy.
Last week I sat at my desk reflecting on a collage sent by a person who just finished reading Return to Our Senses. It includes the words, “Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the sight”. I feel that these are prophetic words for us in MSA. This is a happening place and I am filled with anticipation as I consider the many places in which we feel our hearts are seeing what is still invisible to our sight.
Celtic Retreat Almost Here
Our 23rd Annual Celtic prayer retreat, August 9th, is on the horizon. Monday we visited the site to clear prayer trails and cut back nettles. Matt and Sundee Frazier have written special music for the event. Andy Wade is working on new prayers for our trails, and Cory Baker, our summer intern, is helping to develop the children’s program – including ideas for making butter and a solar cooker in the afternoon. Our theme, “Brigit and the Hospitality of God”, has stirred our imagination to consider new ways to express and embrace the hospitality of God. We hope you can join us for this exciting event.
Watch our new video about the retreat and see what all goes on when we get together!
Doors and Windows Arrived at Mustard Seed Village
On Tuesday we again drove up to the island to help offload the windows and doors for our building. They should be installed by the time of the Celtic retreat. This is an amazing structure – even our insurance agent is impressed with its beauty. We appreciate your prayers as we are still looking for barn siding we can recycle to finish the walls. And if you have carpentry skills and would like to volunteer to help us finish the construction, we would love to hear from you.
There are other ways too that you might like to be involved and help us bring into reality that which is still invisible to our sight. Our Mustard Seed Village grounds manager, Doug Woods, is looking for volunteers to help maintain the prayer trails.
Introducing Our Summer Intern
I am excited to introduce our new summer intern, Cory Adam Baker, graduate student at Seattle Pacific University Seminary. Cory will be with us for nine weeks, engaged in a variety of responsibilities that incorporate practical skills with spiritual learning and outreach into the community. This is the first time we have had an intern work with us for 30 hours/week, and we are excited about the potential for the development of an ongoing discipleship program that involves a residential internship with the MSA team. Here too our hearts are speaking of something that is not quite visible to our sight. Pray with us and expect to hear more as this takes shape. And, if you are interested in an internship like this for a couple of months or a year, we would love to hear from you.
Kickstarter Campaign About to Start
Our kickstarter campaign to help fund the development of our upcoming e-course, “Reimagining How We Pray”, will be launched next week. Have you conducted a campaign like this? Would you like to give us a little advice? We are currently looking for a few people to preview the campaign and give us feedback, so let us know if you are interested.
I am particularly grateful for the invaluable help that has already been given by Chris Yaw who runs the online learning organization Church Next. His expertise has saved us hours of work in the development of this course, which is based on our popular resource, Return to Our Senses, and will explore the many ways we connect to God in ordinary life. There will be six modules in this course, each with a prayer, a short teaching video, and an interactive exercise. We believe it will revolutionize your prayer life and enable you to develop a rich and vibrant relationship with God.
Seeing into Our Hearts
At Godspace we continue the series, Hospitality Opening Doorways to the Kingdom. I am learning so much from the guest posts about the concept of hospitality and its centrality to the gospel. Many are bringing into reality things that are stirring in my heart. In case you missed some of this enriching series, the list of posts is available here.
On the MSA blog Hailey Joy Scandrette’s post, Wanted: Spiritually Fulfilling Lifestyle To Suit Idealistic Millenial, is a wonderful read and Andy Wade’s continuing insights drawn from nature, like Slime mold – Won’t Believe What Happened Next, continue to inspire and enrich my life.
And don’t forget to download our newest resources, An Introduction to Celtic Spirituality and Resources for Creating a Faith Based Community Garden, and share the links to these with your friends.
Looking Forward to What is Not Yet Visible
As we move into the second half of the year, there is much stirring in our hearts that is still to become visible. Tom is writing a new book on social enterprise and faith. Andy and I are working on another book on food, faith, and spirituality. And Kristen Carroccino, who works with us one day a week, is pulling together an exciting new devotional book based on the blog series, Coming Home to the Story of God.
Events planned for the rest of the year that you might like to put on your calendar now include:
- Justice at the Table – please note the date for this has been changed to October 18th.
- Pre-Advent retreat – November 15th
- And keep your eyes open for the launch of our first e-course, too.
This is an exciting time to be a Mustard Seed Associate. We appreciate your support and prayers as we move forward into the work God has planned for us.
Today’s post is another in the series Hospitality: Opening Doorways to the Kingdom.
Touch your own loneliness
And there you may be
Able to accommodate another’s loneliness
So it’s hope they see.
“Ministers who have come to terms with their own loneliness and are at home in their own houses are hosts who offer hospitality to their guests.”
~ Henri J.M. Nouwen (1932-1996)
LONELINESS is a great and untapped ally, if only we can be honest in our lack. The greatest thing about loneliness is it’s something we all suffer. It therefore connects us intrinsically with each other and our own persons. As soon as we connect these ideals of lack, we determine that the upper limits of humanity are reached in simply being who we are – creatures of heaven subsisting, but for a time, here, on planet Earth.
After Earth all will make sense. It will make sense again as it has always made sense.
In our loneliness – in all its myriad forms – we will suffer as we will. But if we take that suffering as assumed, we have something for all other persons to cling to, if or when they need it. This is nothing about dependence – the other person on us or we on them. No, it’s about a safe haven where no pretence survives and connection flows between two beings made in the image of God.
Wherever there is truth, there is safety. That’s because in the truth is grace. Because loneliness is an existential truth – that all who exist suffer loneliness – it is an abiding fact of life that offers goodness, not horror; hope, not despair.
In itself, loneliness is the answer, for loneliness is the invitation to entry upon the Divine. God meets us there. There we will recognize God.
The best ministers offer not their skills, their knowledge, their gifting, and their experience, but, according to Nouwen, they offer their very selves. They are vessels of comfort in their own beings. They afford those who call into their home, lodging, free of board and keep, for space is determined on the eternal need. No material thing comes close.
Being of this modus operandi, there is no reason for self-doubt on either side – the minister or the ministered-to. There is every assurance afforded by simple authenticity – when two can be one together, invoking the eternal space where God is mysteriously present. Two, in this way, transcend loneliness, for they have overcome, in the moment, every worldly need.
***
Loneliness is a true ally if we can accommodate a new truth: loneliness connects us all. Tap into loneliness with another human being and see what God does!
© 2014 S. J. Wickham.
Today’s post is written by Steve Wickham who is a regular contributor to this blog from Perth Australia. He is a Baptist Pastor who holds Degrees in Science, Divinity, and Counselling. Steve writes at: http://epitemnein-epitomic.blogspot.com.au/ and http://tribework.blogspot.com.au/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8227631
Deep peace of God to you
I wrote the following prayer this morning during my devotional time and posted it on the Light for the Journey Facebook page. My mind keeps returning not just to the prayer but to the posture I suggest we adopt for the prayer. I realize more and more how much we all need not just prayers to pray, but actions that go with those prayers – actions that call us focus inwardly to meditate, rest, and listen, or actions that call us to move out and get involved in God’s world.
Let the deep peace of God fill you
This prayer also arose out of a time of walking round my garden yesterday after it had rained, the first time for about six weeks. The raindrops glistened on flowers and leaves, the air was fresh and fragrant, and everything seemed to have grown exponentially overnight. The sense of God’s presence was electrifying, drawing me into the wonder of God’s abiding love.
Let the deep peace of God be ever present to you
So, before you read this morning’s prayer take a moment to calm your spirit. Sit quietly in a comfortable chair, or go out and walk around your garden. Sit and imagine something or someone who calms and quietens your soul. Sit with the palms of your hand facing upwards, open to God. Take a few deep breaths in and out until you feel relaxed then say the prayer:
Let the deep peace of God
Penetrate your heart.
Let it flood your soul,
And overflow your spirit.
Let the deep peace of God
Fill you with hope and trust.
Let it bring you rest,
And surround you with tranquility.
Let the deep peace of God
Be ever present to you.
Let it guide you forward,
Into the embrace of God’s love.
When you finish sit in quiet for a few minutes more. Allow the peace and the love of God to penetrate deep within you. Perhaps you would like to write the prayer out and take it with you so that you can pause at intervals throughout the day to pray it again and allow it to resonate deep within your being.
Let the peace of God lead you to God’s love
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