Father God, every word in scripture points to the gift of hope that we have because of Christ Jesus. The Christmas story wasn’t the beginning of that message of hope because the old testament is full of glimpses of your plan to redeem your people and restore them into a relationship with you, but we are able to truly begin to see and understand just how great your love for us is when we read the story of Jesus’ birth in scripture.
Help us to see that you are with us. Nothing is too difficult, too messy, or too dirty for you. Jesus came to give us the gift of eternal life through the salvation that only you, our Heavenly Father, can give when we believe on your Son, repent of our sins, and confess Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
That first Christmas, you gave us the gift of hope wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. Thank you, Father, for your immeasurable gift. In Jesus’ precious name, we pray. Amen.
Good day!! Welcome back to another edition of the GSM blog. Once again, my name is Dave Good and it is my honor to spend the next few minutes with you.
Today, I would like to talk about preparing your soul for eternity. No one knows how long they will have on this earth. I’ve seen people live 100 plus years and I’ve seen some lose their life at a very young age. Some are taken in the blink of an eye, due to a tragic accident or sudden illness, while others pass away slowly after a long battle with cancer or some other fatal illness. The point I’m trying to make here is that we just don’t know when our time is up.
I believe we serve an extremely graceful God who gives us every opportunity to secure a place with Him in heaven. I think back to the criminal hanging on a cross next to Our Savior on Calvary.
“Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”” (Luke 23:39-43 NKJV)
While one criminal was mocking Jesus, the other criminal was able to see the truth. The criminals deserved to be put to death for the crimes they committed but Jesus did not deserve to die. The criminal’s declaration of his own sins and the realization of the injustice of Jesus’s innocence was the first step to securing his salvation.
If you put yourself in the criminal’s shoes you might be able to sort through his thoughts while hanging on a cross next to Jesus. The criminal knew what he did wrong. We are not told specifically in the story but you could imagine maybe murder, blasphemy, inciting a riot, or a threat to the powers to be, the truth is we just don’t know what he did. Whatever his crime was he deserved to be on that cross.
On the flip side, this criminal must have been aware of the life of Jesus. If you were living anywhere around Jerusalem, the works and miracles of Jesus were well known and talked about. The criminal must have figured things out as his life was hanging in the balance. He acknowledged Jesus and was offered salvation.
The reason I’m bringing this up to you today is because it’s never too late to secure your eternity. The criminal next to Jesus had only hours to live and I’m sure his life involved a lifetime of wrongdoings just like us. Jesus offered salvation at the very last minute and promised him a place in heaven. The only thing the criminal had to do was acknowledge and have faith in who Jesus was.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,” (Ephesians 2:8 NKJV)
Jesus offers us grace, despite all that we have done wrong, if we only have faith. We need to have faith that Jesus lived a sinless life, died on a cross, and rose from the dead three days later. He paid the price for our sins and restored us to the Father. There is no other way.
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6 NKJV)
Friends, I’m not sure what your past looks like or what sins you have committed over your lifetime but I’m here to tell you that it’s never too late to get right with God. If you put your faith in Our Savior he promises to meet us in paradise. I don’t know about you but that sounds good to me. Knowing I can spent eternity with the Father is the greatest gift he can give us. I urge you today, don’t put off your eternity. It’s never too late to accept the precious gift of salvation!
Happy Tuesday!!! Friends if your days are anything like mine have been lately I invite you to join me in praying the following…
Jesus, I desire to start this day with you. And yet, my mind keeps flitting to so many things: the projects I want to accomplish, the people I want to talk to, the people I wish I didn’t have to talk to.
I wonder. Are these things distractions to spiritual concentration or invitation to see God in the ordinary? I’m not sure.
Jesus, I know that you are that Center who knows no distraction. So I offer up my mental fragmentation to you, O Lord my God.
May my scatteredness become your gatheredness. As I am contemplating a thousand things, Jesus, may I somehow be contemplating you. Amen. ~
“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.” 1 Timothy 2:1 NLT
Happy Tuesday friends! Today I want to talk about one of the most powerful privileges we as Christians have which is to intercede for others in prayer.
To intercede is simply to go to God on behalf of someone else and, just as Paul is urging young Timothy to pray for ALL people, I believe that God expects the same of us.
Now some people are easy to pray for, right? Your grandmother who has always shown love to you, the father who has lost his son due to a drunk driver hitting him, a political leader whom you agree with.
But what about… your family member who has not shown love to you? Or for the drunk driver that accidentally killed the man’s son and has to live with the consequences the rest of his life? Or that political leader that you don’t agree with (right after these verses Paul actually talks about praying for those who rule over us) and whom you greatly dislike? Not so easy, right?
Just as Jesus came to us because we were in need and not because we were deserving we too need to bring ALL to God’s throne to intercede for them because they are in need—not because they are deserving or because they even are aware that they need God’s help in their life. the reality is that we have all fallen into that box before. Remember Paul’s words to the Romans…
“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” (5:6-8 NLT)
Besides, imagine what your life would look like if you started each day off by praying for others, lifting up their needs, and thanking God for them. I bet you wouldn’t spend nearly as much time focusing on your own troubles or feeding your anger at others. I bet you would start to see others with empathetic eyes and that compassion and forgiveness would come that much easier even in the midst of the most difficult situations.
You see, prayer has the power to change lives but the life that is often most significantly changed is the one doing the praying. Prayer gives us a bigger and better perspective so let us become a people of prayer!
Yesterday my buddy Jack and I took a trip down to the Abbey of the Genesee. While there we observed two of the divine hours… Sext (Noon) and None (2pm) by joining the monks in chanting the chosen Psalms for that day.
It is one of my favorite things to do when I visit there and I even purchased a handwritten copy of the Psalter some years ago which I use when observing the hours.
So, in order to experience this a little yourself, my challenge for you is to choose a psalm, any psalm, and spend at least 10 minutes meditating on it either in silence or rhythmically reading it aloud.
Take notice of the words, the voice of the author, what images come into your mind, and what God might speaking to you through it.
Feel free to share any insights in the comments section. Happy Friday!!!
Ok, technically I work at Supportive Care Orleans but, for the sake of simplicity, I will refer to it here as Hospice since that is the term most commonly used. And my title is Spiritual Care & Bereavement Coordinator but, rather than keep repeating that mouthful, I will just refer to myself as a Hospice Chaplain.
Ok, now that all that is out of the way, what I really want to do in today’s post is answer the question I have been asked the most since starting this role just over six months ago which is, “How Do You Like Working at Hospice?”
I can’t tell you how many times I have been asked some version of that question followed the statement “I couldn’t do it” or “I wouldn’t want to do that”. Of course what they are getting at is that they view ministering to those who are dying as a depressing occupation and having to deal with emotional family members, both before and after the expected outcome , as not much fun either.
I understand where they are coming from, and there are even days when I might agree with them, but overall my experience as a Hospice Chaplain has been very good and, though I may need to explain so that I don’t sound sadistic, I really like it. Here’s why…
I honestly feel like God has both called and equipped me for this role. From ministering alongside hospice for many years as a pastor to being ministered to by the hospice staff and volunteers while caring for my mother I view my primary role as “Comforting others with the same comfort that I myself have received.” (2 Corinthians 1:4b paraphrase mine)
I try to focus on the positives. It is hard saying goodbye again, and again, and again (I get attached quickly as many of you know ) but it is also a blessing to be able to say hello time and again to new patients, new caregivers, and new friends. Just as Tennyson once wrote that, “It is better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all.” I have been so blessed by all who I have come in contact with through hospice that I would definitely agree that I would rather know each person, however brief, and to be saddened when they pass than to never to have know them at all.
I can honestly say that I am in awe of my coworkers and all of the staff at Supportive Care. There are those who have worked in this area for a lot longer than I have but day in and day out they continue to offer quality, compassionate care to whoever comes our way. Their passion and perseverance inspires me to continue on even when the days are long and difficult.
I feel most like a pastor again. As much as I have loved the different ways that God has used me over these past 3 years since stepping out of my role as Lead Pastor and starting Go Scatter Ministries I would say that I missed the fulfillment of walking with others through these transitional seasons of life.
And just in case you think I am romanticizing this role, or writing this while everything is going easy breezy, in the past five days since returning from Cattaraugus Christian Family Camp I have done two funerals, visited several patients at the residence or in their homes for Spiritual or Bereavement Care, performed grief counseling for a number of caregivers and made appts. for others, prepared for the first meeting of our caregivers support group tomorrow, participated in meetings, sent sympathy cards to several family members, called way too many spouses, siblings, sons, and daughters to offer condolences and assess how to best help them as they begin their grief journey, and just today I started early with a crisis call to go and offer support to a family whose loved one would pass hours later and my day ended with the sad news of another patient’s passing which took me by surprise.
For all intents and purposes I should be beyond poured out at this point (all this in 5 days and that doesn’t count my Go Scatter Ministry duties of preaching Sunday morning, counseling at Care-Net for most of the day on Tuesday, writing this blog, etc.) and to be sure I empathize with the families involved and will miss the patients but I also feel poured into as God uses me as His Feet, His Hands, and His Voice as I go and spend time holding a patient’s hand, giving caregivers hugs, or speaking words of comfort to those whose hearts are hurting.
I certainly covet your prayers, as I know all too well how quickly burnout can happen, but also want you to understand how grateful I am to God for giving me the opportunity and privilege to share Christ’s love with others in this unique way.
Good morning friends! As you hit the midpoint of your week, and maybe in need of a boost, I invite you to listen to the lyrics of Patrick Mayberry’s song, “Holy Spirit Come”, and make it your prayer today.
I’m coming with a heart of worship I’m bringing in a brand new song I’m ready to see the unthinkable I’m ready for a miracle
Hearts praying for a fresh encounter Souls looking to the living God I’m ready for a real revival
Oh Holy Spirit come Like a flood, like a fire Holy Spirit fall In this place, fill our hearts Holy Spirit come Like a flood, like a fire Holy Spirit come Oh, Holy Spirit come (Woo!) We’re on the edge of a new beginning God, we know you have so much more We’re looking to a new horizon We’re praying for Your rain to pour
An overflowing of true redemption An overflowing of Your kingdom We’re ready for a real revival
Oh Holy Spirit come Like a flood, like a fire Holy Spirit fall In this place, fill our hearts Holy Spirit come Like a flood, like a fire Holy Spirit come Oh, Holy Spirit come
Oh, can you feel it? Heaven is reaching Oh, can you hear it? Our God is speaking Oh, can you see it? He’s got your healing Oh, just receive it Receive the freedom
Oh, can you feel it? Heaven is reaching Oh, can you hear it? Our God is speaking Oh, can you see it? He’s got your healing Oh, just receive it Receive the freedom
Come, like a flood, like a fire Holy Spirit fall In this place, fill our hearts Holy Spirit come Like a flood, like a fire Holy Spirit come Oh, Holy Spirit come
Good morning friends, I pray that you are doing well. On Wednesday I stopped by the school to drop something off to my wife, she teaches in the Elementary School, and all of a sudden I was hit with the reality of what took place in Uvalde just a day earlier and it was sobering.
As I walked through the parking lot toward the front door I found myself looking around and making sure that nothing looked suspicious. Normally I am not overly aware of my surroundings but even at my son’s baseball game the evening before, which took place just a block away from the Buffalo Tops shootings, I found myself constantly looking behind me to make sure someone wasn’t getting too close to the fence I was sitting in front of. I have talked to others since who also have found themselves experiencing a new sense of paranoia.
It would be easy to justify these thoughts and feelings after all since our school in Albion had a legitimate threat of violence just a couple years ago and because I currently have family in all three schools of the district with Sheryl in the Elementary, Jillian at the Middle School, and both Brendan and Maddie in the High School. That being said, I do not want to live in fear or be suspicious of anyone who seems “different”. I believe an argument can be made to practice caution but not so much that we get consumed with panic.
So how do we not become consumed by all of the things that are happening in the world today? How do we respond without overreacting. I believe the answer is found in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 which says…
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
We respond not in fear but by praying to the One Who has already overcome and by taking captive every thought. Like I shared in last Thursday’s blog, we find peace by putting Philippians 4:4-8 into practice—praying instead of worrying and thinking about things that are true, noble, right, etc.
I pray that as we fix are eyes on Christ that we can once again experience the peace that passes understanding.
Good morning friends, in the midst of yet another terrible tragedy I find myself praying along with Ted Loder in his prayer, “Sometimes it Just Seems to Be Too Much” from his book Guerrillas of Grace.
Sometimes, Lord, it just seems to be too much: too much violence, too much fear; too much of demands and problems; too much of broken dreams and broken lives; too much of war and slums and dying; too much of greed and squishy fatness and the sounds of people devouring each other and the earth; too much of stale routines and quarrels, unpaid bills and dead ends; too much of words lobbed in to explode and leaving shredded hearts and lacerated souls; too much of turned away backs and yellow silence, red rage and the bitter taste of ashes in my mouth.
Sometimes the very air seems scorched by threats and rejection and decay until there is nothing but to inhale pain and exhale confusion.
Too much of darkness, Lord, too much of cruelty and selfishness and indifference…
Too much, Lord, too much, too bloody, bruising, brain-washing much.
Or is it too little, too little of compassion, too little of courage, of daring, of persistence, of sacrifice; too little of music and laughter and celebration?
O God, make of me some nourishment for these starved times, some food for my brothers and sisters who are hungry for gladness and hope, that, being bread for them, I may also be fed and be full.
“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:4-9 NLT)
I love to read this passage during troubling times because it promises what nothing else in this world can… peace. True peace. God’s Peace.
Another reason why I find this passage as a whole both meaningful and believable is because the person who wrote it, The Apostle Paul, was in prison at the time and yet he experienced firsthand the joy of the Lord in spite of his current circumstances. He was on death row and still he was able to experience the peace that can only come from God—the peace that passes understanding. And so, when we are struggling ourselves and find ourselves fixating on our storms, we need to heed Paul’s advice so that we too can receive this promised peace.
In a nutshell Paul shared a two step approach to experiencing God’s peace and both steps entail mastery over our mindset.
The first thing he says to do is to pray about our problems instead of just worrying about them. The reality is that worrying about something does nothing to change the situation but praying can because the One whom we pray to is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent… all powerful, all knowing, and all around us. There is nothing that we can throw at Him that he can’t handle and, whether he chooses to change our circumstances or to change our mindset, “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NIV)
So, the first thing we do is choose how to spend our time and then the second thing we do is to determine what will fill our minds. If you are anxious about everything bad happening in our world right now then I’ve got news for you, turning on the news or going on social media isn’t going to help. You will only feed your fears and allow your anxiety to control your thinking. Instead Paul urges us to fix our minds on things that are constructive and not destructive. Things that are true, and admiral and right. Things are that excellent and praiseworthy. Things that will help us focus on The Problem Solver instead of just the problem itself.
Years ago, when I was still fairly new to the ministry, I found myself laying awake most nights worrying about things that someone had said to me or about me, things that I could not change or control. I had effectively allowed my anxiety over others opinions of me to affect my thinking and rob me of some much needed sleep. Then one time, after suffering a few restless nights in a row replaying an argument with a board member that had taken place, I broke down and opened my Bible up to this passage. As I read it I asked God to help me to do what was written so that I could experience His Peace.
I started by praying to God and simply asking Him to reboot my mind and then I laid there literally coming up with things that were lovely, that were true, that were right, that were admirable, etc. I began to shift my focus from dwelling on what had been done to me to what God had done for me.
After a while I noticed that I wasn’t feeling as restless, I wasn’t feeling anxious or upset, and when I tried to think what it was that had seemed so overwhelming the past few nights I literally could not remember. I was experiencing God’s Peace in such a real way that I drifted off to sleep and woke up the next morning feeling renewed, restored, and ready to reconcile with the person regardless of whether they regretted their actions or not.
Friends, this is just one example but there are many more I could give. Like Paul, I would urge you to retrain your brain by making prayer your default during difficult times and finding those things to think on which are helpful versus hurtful.
I pray you all have a great day today followed by a peaceful, and peace-filled, rest tonight.
Happy Friday friends! The following is a prayer that I wrote inspired inspired by Romans 12:1-21. Let’s pray this together as we close out the week.
Father God,
I desire to worship you today with my body, my mind, and my soul. Help me to die to self so that I can become a living sacrifice for You.
Transform my thinking so that instead of constantly conforming to the world’s ways I will learn to discern and follow Your Will for my life.
Remind me often that I am but one member of a larger body with a mission much bigger than my own. Help me to understand and exercise the unique gifts and skills that You have given me so that I can assist the Whole Body in accomplishing Your Plans and Your Purpose.
Enable me to cling to what is good, hate what is evil, and to choose consistently to do what is right over what is almost right.
Allow me to love others just as sincerely and unconditionally as You have loved me. Help me to love and show hospitality not only to other Christians, or to those who love me in return, but also to those I do not know and even to those who treat me as an enemy with their unkind words and actions.
Convict me to return their cruelty with kindness and to treat them the way I would want to be treated. Empower me not to be overcome by evil but to overcome evil with good.
Challenge me to always choose those words and actions that promote peace and lay the foundation for living in harmony with others. Help me to do everything in my own effort to reconcile those relationships that have been derailed—including making the first move just as You did when you sent Jesus to die for my sins even though I had first separated from You to live for myself.
Lord help me to be in the world but not of the world so that I will shine like a star in the night to those who are still stuck in darkness. Help Your Light within me guide them back to You.
There is a poem by an anonymous author entitled, “I Asked God”, that I like because it helps to see things from a different perspective when life doesn’t feel fair or when it seems like God is not answering our prayers.
If you have felt like this lately please read it and hopefully you will gain a new perspective as well.
I asked God to take away my pain. God said, No. It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.
I asked God to make my handicapped child whole. God said, No. Her spirit is whole, her body is only temporary.
I asked God to grant me patience. God said, No. Patience is a by-product of trials, it isn’t granted, it’s earned.
I asked God to give me happiness. God said, No. I give you blessings. Happiness is up to you.
I asked God to spare me pain. God said, No. Suffering draws you apart from worldy cares and brings you closer to me.
I asked God to make my spirit grow. God said, No. You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful.
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life. God said, No. I will give you life so that you may enjoy all things.
I ask God to help me love others, as much as He loves me. God said, Ahhhh, finally you have the idea.
Hey friends, I decided to take one more week off from taping a “Refill with Randy” episode in order to let my voice get stronger so, instead of me saying, “grab your favorite cup and fill it up”, let’s take some time to meditate on the words of Andrew Rip’s song, “Fill My Cup” and make it our midweek prayer.
“Fill My Cup”
Been walking to a city I cannot see Through the depths of the valley where the sun can’t reach I’ve been high, I’ve been low I’ve been looking for the river that could fill my soul Been walking to a city I cannot see
Fill my cup, Lord Run it over Give me love, give me joy, give me peace Fill my cup, Lord Run it over I am your child in need Lord, I need you to fill my cup
Fill my cup Fill my cup Fill my cup Fill my cup
Been walking over lies standin’ in my way They can say what they want, I don’t want what they say I was born far from home But I’ve been thriving in the wonder of the great unknown ‘Cause I’m drinking from a well from another place
Fill my cup, Lord Run it over Give me love, give me joy, give me peace Fill my cup, Lord Run it over I am your child in need Lord, I need you to fill my cup
Fill my cup Fill my cup Fill my cup Fill my cup
Fill my house up with hoping Fill my plans up with purpose Fill my wounds up with healing Lord, I need you to fill my cup Fill my days up with meaning Fill my future with vision Goodness, grace and provision Lord, I need you to fill my cup
And when I get to that city I cannot see I’ll know that even this valley was a golden street
Fill my cup, Lord Run it over Give me love, give me joy, give me peace Fill my cup, Lord Run it over I am your child in need Lord, I need you to fill my cup
Fill my house up with hoping (Fill my cup) Fill my plans up with purpose (Fill my cup) Fill my wounds up with healing (Fill my cup) Lord, I need you to fill my cup Fill my days up with meaning (Fill my cup) Fill my future with vision (Fill my cup) Goodness, grace and provision (Fill my cup) Lord, I need you to fill my cup
Good afternoon! Today I am sharing a previously published post I came across because I realized as I read it that I needed to hear it again and thought maybe you did as well.
I pray that your week is going well. If not, then I’m still praying for you.
And prayer is what I want to talk about today. I want to encourage you to expand your prayer life. Now most of the time when a pastor issues a challenge concerning prayer it typically has to do with the rhythm, frequency, or duration of your prayers but not this time. This time…
I CHALLENGE YOU TO PRAY UNCOMFORTABLE PRAYERS
And what is an uncomfortable prayer you might ask? I would define it as any prayer that doesn’t fit easily into our Christian Comfort Zone such as…
asking God to meet a GOD-SIZED need (something we can’t control)
asking God AGAIN for something that we still haven’t seen any fruit from (be persistent)
asking God to use you to be an answer to someone else’s prayer
asking God to place HIS AGENDA ahead of yours
asking God to do a miracle (putting Him on the line w/out a Plan B)
asking God why such and such did or didn’t happen to you (real emotions w/out being pc)
asking God for something publicly (like blessing your food in a crowded restaurant)
asking God for healing and forgiveness (confessing your sin)
asking God for the strength to forgive others
Asking God to bless your enemies
You get the picture. Sometimes we get stuck lifting up prayers to God that are short, sweet, safe, and sanitized. What God wants, and what we often need, though is to go off script and have a real conversation with God without pretense. David excelled in this as we see in the Psalms like in…
Psalm 13:1-6 “How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? 3 Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death; 4 my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall. 5 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. 6 I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.”
So follow David’s lead and let God hear your real thoughts, your real fears, your real desires, your real doubts, and your real requests. He already knows what they are anyway so in being real with God we will actually start to be real with ourselves. And that’s when God can start responding to our requests in really awesome ways!
Happy Monday Morning! I am going to be taking a 2 week social media break to start the Lenten Season so there will not be any “Refill with Randy” blog posts or videos until later this month. In the meantime please enjoy the latest GSM Newsletter.
Happy Wednesday!!! Grab your favorite cup, fill it up, and start this day right by joining Randy as he shares a prayer from Ted Loder’s book “Guerrillas of Grace”.
Happy Friday Friends! As we close out the week I wanted to give you another song to meditate on and, knowing that there are many who feel overwhelmed with so much, I thought Anne Wilson’s song “My Jesus” would be a good choice. Watch the video, listen to the lyrics, and cry out to Jesus—the source of all hope—today.
Are you past the point of weary? Is your burden weighin’ heavy? Is it all too much to carry? Let me tell you ’bout my Jesus Do you feel that empty feeling? ‘Cause shame’s done all its stealin’ And you’re desperate for some healin’ Let me tell you ’bout my Jesus
He makes a way where there ain’t no way Rises up from an empty grave Ain’t no sinner that He can’t save Let me tell you ’bout my Jesus His love is strong and His grace is free And the good news is I know that He Can do for you what He’s done for me Let me tell you ’bout my Jesus And let my Jesus change your life
Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah, Amen Amen
Who can wipe away the tears From broken dreams and wasted years And tell the past to disappear? Oh Let me tell you ’bout my Jesus And all the wrong turns that you would Go and undo if you could Who can work it all for your good Let me tell you about my Jesus
He makes a way where there ain’t no way Rises up from an empty grave Ain’t no sinner that He can’t save Let me tell you ’bout my Jesus His love is strong and His grace is free And the good news is I know that He Can do for you what He’s done for me Let me tell you ’bout my Jesus And let my Jesus change your life
Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah, Amen Amen, Amen
Who would take my cross to Calvary? Pay the price for all my guilty? Who would care that much about me? Let me tell you ’bout my Jesus, ohHe makes a way where there ain’t no way Rises up from an empty grave Ain’t no sinner that He can’t save Let me tell you ’bout my Jesus His love is strong and His grace is free And the good news is I know that He Can do for you what He’s done for me Let me tell you ’bout my Jesus And let my Jesus change your life
Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah, amen Amen Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Let my Jesus change your life
This month for my “Refill with Randy” videos I have been reciting different prayers from one of my favorite authors, Ted Loder, in his book, “Guerrillas of Grace”. There are two more videos coming this month, including tomorrow which you will find here, but I wanted to include at least one simply so that you can read and meditate it on your own. So please spend some time reciting the following prayer to God and make it your own.
Spend some time today listening to the song, and meditating on the lyrics of Austin French’s song, “Why God”. Austin also shares the meaning behind the song at the beginning of the video.
Why God Do people have to die? A daughter or a son Sudden and so young Long before their time?
Why God Do people fall apart? A promise and a ring Becomes a broken thing A road that got too hard?
I don’t understand But I understand
Why God, I need You It’s, why God, I run to Your arms Over and over again It’s, why God, I cling to Your love And hold on for dear life And I find, You are right by my side
Why God Do we feel so alone? Every single day Fighting through the pain Hoping there is hope?
I don’t understand But I understand
Why God, I need You It’s, why God, I run to Your arms Over and over again It’s why God, I cling to Your love And hold on for dear life And I find, You are right by my side, ooh…
Give me a faith stronger than I have I need to know when it hurts this bad That You hold my heart when it breaks And I’m not alone in this place
That’s why God, I need You Why God, I run to Your arms Over and over again It’s, why God, I cling to Your love And hold on for dear life And I find, You are right by my side Always right by my side Even here in the why… God
If you have had a difficult week and don’t know what to pray watch the video and meditate on the lyrics to Zach Williams’ song “Heaven Help Me”.
When I can’t find the words When I can barely breathe I’m falling on my knees Heaven help me, Heaven help me
When I can’t feel You near And I can’t hear You speak I’m falling on my knees Heaven help me, Heaven help me
Help me, help me ‘Cause I can’t walk this road alone And I can’t do this on my own Tell me, tell me I just need to hear You say That everything will be okay
When I don’t understand When I don’t think I can I know You have a plan So Heaven help me, Heaven help me
Help me, help me ‘Cause I can’t walk this road alone And I can’t do this on my own Tell me, tell me ‘Cause I just need to hear You say That everything will be okay
Help me believe it When I can’t see it Help me to know it When I can’t hold it Oh, help me believe it When I can’t see it Help me to know it When I can’t hold it
Help me, help me ‘Cause I can’t walk this road alone And I can’t do this on my own Tell me (tell me), tell me (tell me) I just need to hear You say That everything will be okay Oh, I just need to hear You say That everything will be okay
When I can’t find the words When I can barely breathe I’m falling on my knees Heaven help me, Heaven help me
Happy Friday! Today’s blog is simply an assignment for you to complete over the weekend… Rest in the Lord.
In Mark 1:35 it says that “Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.”
If you’re like most people you have had a busy week filled with ups and downs, quotas and deadlines, work and play, etc. and you are entering into the weekend a bit drained. That’s just how Jesus felt after ministering to people, healing them, casting our demons, and so forth and so he got up early, went to a solitary place, and spent time with His Father.
Now the purpose of this was two-fold: (1) to get away from the noise and constant demands so that he could recharge physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, and (2) to get still enough to be able to Hear His Father and understand what he should do next.
Friends, if it’s necessary for Jesus then you had better believe that it’s necessary for us so take some time over the weekend to go where you can be alone with The Lord for a little while and simply spend time talking, and more important listening, to Him. Allow Him to refresh you and give you direction so that you spend the next week living purposely for Him and not just spinning your wheels hoping that you are doing the right things.
Go to The Shepherd and He will give you rest.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.” (Psalms 23:1-3 NLT)
[This week I am sharing about the different hours of The Divine Office. If you are new here I would suggest going back and reading Monday’s (10/25) post to get a better understanding of what this is and why I am sharing about it.]
Compline comes from the Latin which means to complete. It is the final prayer before going to bed. It marks the completion of our day and is considered to be a daily exercise in the act of dying.
Luke 2:29-32 “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!” (NLT)
Psalm 121:1-8 “I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.” (NLT)
Be our light in the darkness, O Lord, and in your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Be present, O merciful God, and protect us through the hoursof this night, so that we who are wearied by the changes andchances of this life may rest in your eternal changelessness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Look down, O Lord, from your heavenly throne, andillumine this night with your celestial brightness; that bynight as by day your people may glorify your holy Name;through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Visit this place, O Lord, and drive far from it all snares of the enemy; let your holy angels dwell with us to preserve us inpeace; and let your blessing be upon us always; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, orweep this night, and give your angels charge over those whosleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love’s sake. Amen.
————————————————- O God, your unfailing providence sustains the world we livein and the life we live: Watch over those, both night and day, who work while others sleep, and grant that we may neverforget that our common life depends upon each other’s toil; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ————————————————- Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awakewe may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
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The Lord Almighty grant us a peaceful night and a perfect end. Amen.
[This week I am sharing about the different hours of The Divine Office. If you are new here I would suggest going back and reading Monday’s (10/25) post to get a better understanding of what this is and why I am sharing about it.]
Vespers, celebrated at dusk, takes on the character of evening when day is almost over and our work has come to an end. This hour is marked with rest and contemplation of the day’s successes and failures. It is often marked by thanksgiving for the day just past and a sacrifice of praise for the night yet to come.
Psalms 141:1-2 “O Lord, I am calling to you. Please hurry! Listen when I cry to you for help! Accept my prayer as incense offered to you, and my upraised hands as an evening offering.” (NLT)
Psalms 119:55 “I reflect at night on who you are, O Lord; therefore, I obey your instructions.” (NLT)
Praise From All Creatures
Praise be to you, O Lord Who spins shining stars across the wondrous heavens And stretches out the seas, Who lifts the dawn into place And sets boundaries for night, Who awes the earth with storms And gentles it with green, Who gives everything a season And breathes life and love into the dust of us. Praise be to You.
Praise in all things, For all things, The soft slant of sunlight, The sweat of battle, a song in the wilderness, the evening breeze, the deep breath, the tended wound, mercy, quietness, a friend; for the miracles of the daily, the mysteries of the eternal. Praise be to You.
Praise from all creatures, Laughers and list-makers, Wonders and worriers, Poets and plodders and prophets, The wrinkled, the newborn, The whale, and the worm, From all, and from me. Praise, praise be to You For amazing grace.
[This week I am sharing about the different hours of The Divine Office. If you are new here I would suggest going back and reading Monday’s (10/25) post to get a better understanding of what this is and why I am sharing about it.]
None, refers to the ninth hour, roughly mid-afternoon. Much like with Prime, it is a time to pray for perseverance and for the strength to continue bearing fruit. It is a time when one becomes aware of the sun’s eventual setting and the strength one needs to cope with the demands and responsibilities of life.
Philippians 3:7-21 “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” (NIV)
STAY STEADFAST MY SOUL
Stay steadfast my soul when the waves seem too high When my confidence wanes and my well has run dry
Stay steadfast my soul when the hurts of ministry cut deep When I am sad when I am tired without tears without sleep
Stay steadfast my soul when from depression I can no longer hide It is always hungry all consuming yet never seems satisfied
Stay steadfast my soul when other’s voices drown out my own When their troubles and their vices on my weary shoulders find a home
Stay steadfast my soul for it will all come to an end When my Savior and Lord comes back again
Stay steadfast my soul continue to be fervent And on that day He will say Well done faithful servant
[This week I am sharing about the different hours of The Divine Office. If you are new here I would suggest going back and reading Monday’s (10/25) post to get a better understanding of what this is and why I am sharing about it.]
Sext is Latin for the sixth hour. It takes place at midday when the sun is overhead and one has become tired and lost their motivation. It is a time for earnest prayer to resist temptation, to keep from being overcome by the demands and pressures of life. We are reminded of Christ being crucified at the sixth hour and we unite ourselves with Him. One is aware of one’s failures and mistakes and prays for true conversion even to the point of sacrifice.
I don’t know about you but this describes me after lunch when it’s hard to concentrate, easy to fall into a FB scroll spiral, and the only thing I am motivated to do is take a nap. It’s this time of day that I need be that much more intentional about how I spend my time. When I was pastoring I would often plan visitation at this time because then I was alone so I wouldn’t be tempted to go into a social media spiral and it was much easier to pay attention to another person than whatever project I was currently working on.
Psalm 55:16-23 “As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. He rescues me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me. God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change— he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God. My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant. His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords. Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. But you, God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of decay; the bloodthirsty and deceitful will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in you.” (NIV)
In the strong name of Jesus Christ I stand against the world, the flesh, and the devil.
I resist every force that would seek to distract me from my center in God.
I reject the distorted concepts and ideas that make sin plausible and desirable.
I oppose every attempt to keep me from knowing full fellowship with God.
By the power of the Holy Spirit I speak directly to the thoughts, emotions, and desires of my heart and command you to find your satisfaction in the infinite variety of God’s love rather than the bland diet of sin.
I call upon the good, the true, and the beautiful to rise up within me and the evil to subside.
I ask for an increase of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
By the authority of almighty God I tear down Satan’s strongholds in my life, in the lives of those I love, and in the society in which I live.
I take into myself the weapons of truth, righteousness, peace, salvation, the word of God, and prayer.
I command every evil influence to leave; you have no right here and I allow you no point of entry.
I ask for an increase of faith, hope, and love so that, by the power of God, I can be a light set on a hill, causing truth and justice to flourish.
These things I pray for the sake of him who loved me and gave himself for me.
[This week and next I am sharing about the different hours of The Divine Office. If you are new here I would suggest going back and reading Monday’s (10/25) post to get a better understanding of what this is and why I am sharing about it.]
Terce simply means “third hour” in Latin is prayed mid-morning around 9am. Traditionally it is dedicated to the coming of the Holy Spirit which took place at mid-morning as stated in the account of Pentecost in Acts 2. It is time to ask for a fresh refilling of The Spirit and for strength for the day.
Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (NIV)
Psalm 51:10-12 “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” (NIV)
[This week and next I am sharing about the different hours of The Divine Office. If you are new here I would suggest going back and reading Monday’s (10/25) post to get a better understanding of what this is and why I am sharing about it.]
Prime, which is celebrated during the first hour of daylight, is a minor hour which many stopped observing around 1970. I include it however because it began in the 4th Century for a reason I find a bit humorous and one that I that I thought some on here might relate to.
Typically the monks would get up and begin their day with Lauds at Daybreak but some of the “lazy” ones would sleep in and not start their day until Terce. As a way of compromising with these monks who needed more sleep, but who they didn’t want to start their day without prayer and devotion, the practice of Prime began by offering a chance o pray and read Scripture together as the monks met to start their tasks for the day and it took place in between Lauds and Terce.
So for you non-morning people out there, who need more than just a cup of coffee to start your workday, this hour was created for you. 😇
Psalms 5:3 “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” (NIV)
Colossians 3:23-24 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (NIV)
Jesus, I desire to start this day with you. And yet, my mind keeps flitting to so many things: the projects I want to accomplish, the people I want to talk to, the people I wish I didn’t have to talk to. I wonder. Are these things distractions to spiritual concentration or invitation to see God in the ordinary? I’m not sure. Jesus, I know that you are that Center who knows no distraction. So I offer up my mental fragmentation to you, O Lord my God. May my scatteredness become your gatheredness. As I am contemplating a thousand things, Jesus, may I somehow be contemplating you. Amen.
[This week and next I am sharing about the different hours of The Divine Office. If you are new here I would suggest going back and reading Monday’s (10/25) post to get a better understanding of what this is and why I am sharing about it.]
Lauds is celebrated at sunrise when the night is dispelled and the new day is born. The Church has always considered the sun to be a symbol of Christ rising from the dead. We thank God for the first light at the beginning of creation and for the second light that came into the world—Christ. This hour is filled with joyful prayers and songs.
Genesis 1:3-5 “And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.” (NIV)
John 1:1-9 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” (NIV)
John 8:12 “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”” (NIV)
“Light of the World” by Lauren Daigle
The world waits for a miracle The heart longs for a little bit of hope Oh come, oh come, Emmanuel A child prays for peace on Earth And she’s calling out from a sea of hurt Oh come, oh come, Emmanuel
And can you hear the angels singing Glory to the light of the world Glory the light of the world is here
The drought breaks with the tears of a mother A baby’s cry is the sound of love Come down, come down, Emmanuel
Oh, He is the song for the suffering He is Messiah, the Prince of Peace has come He has come, Emmanuel
Glory to the light of the world Glory to the light of the world Glory to the light of the world Glory to the light of the world
For all who wait For all who hunger For all who’ve prayed For all who wonder Behold your King Behold Messiah Emmanuel, Emmanuel
Glory to the light of the world Glory to the light of the world Glory to the light of the world
Behold your King Behold Messiah Emmanuel, Emmanuel The world waits for the miracle The heart longs for a little bit of hope Oh come, oh come Emmanuel
Shed your clear light on our hearts, Lord, so that walking continually in the way of your commandments we may never be deceived or misled. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, (one) God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Some of you may be familiar with a candlelight prayer vigil, where you gather together and stay up late praying for.a specific purpose, and that practice comes from the same concept of what is practiced here in The Daily Office.
Vigils are prayers offered up in the middle of the night when one would normally be sleeping but instead is up waiting and watching in prayer. It is a time of learning to trust the darkness as one is immersed into the mystery of the night. It has also been referred to as “purposeful sleeplessness” with the focus on staying awake to watch for The Bridegroom.
When I started staying at The Abbey of the Genesee this was the first office and it was celebrated right after the Monks woke up at 2am. Since then it has changed and now Vigils are being celebrated at 3:30am. Here are some Scriptures and a prayer to meditate on…
Psalms 119:145-148 “I call with all my heart; answer me, Lord, and I will obey your decrees. I call out to you; save me and I will keep your statutes. I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises.” (NIV)
Luke 12:35-40 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (NIV)
“Night Time”
(a prayer poem)
As the darkness draws in, you are the light in my heart As the air turns colder, you are the warmth in my soul As the stars are revealed, you renew my spirit As the moon shines, I know I am held safe in your arms.
Happy Monday! I’m praying that your week is already off to a great start and just keeps getting better. 😇
Both this week and next I want to draw your attention to a different hour of The Divine Office, also referred to as The Daily Office, each day. If you are unfamiliar with this terminology, or the practice of pausing to pray and read Scripture at set times throughout the day, then you are not alone. Many Protestants, like myself, have never even heard of this practice let alone observed it. In fact, it wasn’t until over a decade ago while doing my doctoral work at Northeastern Seminary that I first learned about it. I then stayed at The Abbey of the Genesee in 2012 for my initial experience of practicing it. And though I don’t even attempt to observe them all on a consist basis, outside of when actually staying at The Abbey, even observing one in the Morning and one in the Evening helps me draw closer to The Lord by facilitating a rhythm of contemplation throughout each day. It is for that reason that I would like to share a bit here because I have found it to be a a very beneficIal part of my personal devotional life and you may find the same to be true for you.
There are what are determined to be Major Hours and minor hours and, depending on your tradition, some may observe all or only a few. The hours I will be sharing about are as follows:
Vigils (during the night, at about 2 a.m.)
Lauds (at dawn, at about 5 a.m.)
Prime (early morning, at about 6 a.m.)
Terce (mid-morning, at about 9 a.m.)
Sext (midday, at about 12 p.m.)
None (mid-afternoon, at about 3 p.m.)
Vespers (evening, at about 6 p.m.)
Compline (before bed, at about 7 p.m.)
Every morning I will share about the purpose of one of the hours and will provide a hymn, chorus, Psalm, or prayer that you can use as part of your own personal praxis. Unlike the more traditional observation of the hours I will sometimes add contemporary prayers and songs into the mix. For example, let’s start the week off by praying together the…
“PRAYER FOR THE WORKPLACE” by Anonymous
Dear Heavenly Father,
As I enter my workplace today, I invite you to join me so that everyone here will sense your presence. I give you this day and ask you to work through me by the power of the Holy Spirit.
May I convey your peace, just as I am aware of your comforting proximity at all times. Fill me with Your grace, mercy, and power to serve you and others in this place.
Lord Jesus, I want you to be glorified in my life and in this place of business. I pray you will be Lord over everything that is said and done here.
God, I thank you for the numerous blessings and gifts you have given me. May I bring honor to your name and spread joy to others.
Holy Spirit, help me to depend on you wholly today. Renew my strength. Fill me with physical and spiritual energy so that I will be the best employee I can be. Give me eyes of faith to see from a heavenly perspective as I do my job.
Lord, guide me with your wisdom. Help me to work through every challenge and conflict. Let me be a beacon for you and a blessing to my coworkers.
My prayer is to be a living witness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In the name of Jesus,
Amen.
Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people.“
Colossians 4:2 “Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.” (NLT)
I love how Paul places the emphasis here on having an alert mind and a thankful heart when we pray.
How many times have you rattled off a recited prayer before a meal or during a church service without a thought about what you’re saying?
Or how many times have you neglected to thank God for an answer to prayer or taken for granted some of the blessings in your life that others would be more than grateful for if they were in your shoes?
We’ve all done it, right? Not intentionally but it’s easy to get busy, to get distracted, or to get caught up just going through the motions. That’s why Paul reminds us to go to God intentionally, considering what is coming out of our mouths as well as what The Spirit is speaking to our hearts, and to learning to be grateful to God for all that He has done.
I encourage you to take even ten minutes today to do just that. Pray on purpose with the expectancy that you will encounter the Creator of the Universe and praise Him for all that He is and all that He has done.
At one of my stays at The Abbey of the Genesee I took note of how fast people drove down the road next to the walking path from the Retreat Center to The Abbey because it seemed liked such a juxtaposition and, as a result, I wrote the following poem. As you read it think about your week ahead and make a conscious decision to enter it hurried and overwhelmed or at a slower pace, spending time in prayer and pause.
As the cars and trucks speed by filled with people with hurried schedules and urgent appointments inside there are others moving slower focused and steady but slower
They too have full days work to be accomplished a schedule to follow commitments to keep Their urgency though is in their being not their doing
There are prayers to be said and psalms to be read psalters to create and bread to bake but the most important moments of the day are filled with silence solitude spirit speaking to Spirit
As you pause to read this in the middle of your week I want to talk to you about Practicing the Pause.
In my post last Friday I shared about spending time in Silence & Solitude, learning to listen to God, but the reality is that as Christians we are to become people who pray perpetually.
Now that doesn’t mean that we should all just hide away in our prayer closet all day, every day rather that we you become the type of person to whom prayer becomes a second language that you use throughout the day to talk with your Father.
When Paul exhorts us to “pray continually” in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 I don’t think that he is asking us to become “so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good” as the saying goes but, rather, to learn to be in constant communication with the Father—through the Son—as directed by The Holy Spirit.
And I believe the key to praying continually is to practice a holy PAUSE
Before you get out of bed in the morning PAUSE and ask God to make His Agenda your agenda.
Before you eat PAUSE and thank God for all that He has provided for you.
Before you make a big decision PAUSE and ask God to give you wisdom and discernment.
Before you speak to, or about, someone PAUSE and ask God if it is beneficial for building them or others up.
Before you leave your house each day PAUSE and ask God to give you an attitude worth catching.
Before you go to bed at night PAUSE and thank God for all of the blessings of the day.
I could list more but you get the picture. I encourage you to try it and let me know how it goes.
“How are you feeding yourself spiritually these days?” So far we have talked about different methods for digging into God’s Word and about the benefits of creating sacred space in our calendars for silence and solitude. Yesterday I shared some of the ways I have done this on a daily basis and today I’ll write about creating space in our calendars for longer times of this on a monthly and quarterly basis. And just in case you are wondering why I am not including a weekly basis here as well it is because I will be sharing about that in a different post focusing on all of the aspects of Sabbath keeping, So for now let’s start with monthly.
Once a month I like to get away to a specific place, anywhere from a few hours to a good portion of the day, for a mini-spiritual retreat. It could be somewhere close by or a couple hours drive but the main thing is that I go somewhere that I can be alone, for the most part, and spend a significant amount of time away from my devices and other distractions.
In the past I have…
hung out at a friend’s place while they were at work
hijacked a room at a church or some other organization
sequestered myself in the Conference Room of a local Bed & Breakfast
walked around Holley Falls
Sat under a tree at a park
spent time at a campground
gone to a Christian retreat center
There are more that I could list but that gives you a sense of some of the places that I have chosen to go to. As you can see, there are some similarities and the first and foremost one is that they are all FREE!!! Taking money out of the equation also helps take away the excuses we make about getting away.
And while I am spending time at these places I typically bring a few things…
my phone (on airplane mode) so that I have access to my camera as I love to take pictures while I am out on a prayer walk – especially at a place like Holley Falls.
My Bible and a Retreat Book that gives me a devotion to read and then asks questions or offers prayer suggestions to help guide my time
A notebook and pen for the dual purpose of writing down anything The Lord is saying to me as well as jotting down the multitude of things that I need to do and that always come to my mind during these times. The main reason I do this is because if I can write them down then I don’t need to keep trying to remember them throughout.
That’s it. Pretty simple. Basically I spend time in listening prayer mode but also have on hand tools to help me stay focused when other voices, including my own, start to get too loud to hear The Voice of The One Who I truly want and need to hear from. So that is what I do for my monthly retreats and my quarterly ones are similar though longer and with a few more elements.
I have done these 3-5 day retreats in different places but by far the one that I go to the most and and have gotten the most from over the past decade is The Abby of the Genesee. This is a small Trappist Monastery in Western New York where I truly experienced Silence & Solitude for an extended period of time and it remains a sacred place that I hold dear to my heart. And it’s also here they literally make Monk’s Bread!!!
Beyond the fact that I bring a few more books into the mix, my focus is pretty much the same as my monthly retreats except that: (1) there is a minimal fee for room & lodging and (2) since the majority of the time there is spent in silence I do participate also in some of the speaking events hen they are offered which include: observation of The Daily Office (corporate worship at different times through the day and night which including chanting,singing, and sometimes a short homily), seminars which are given twice a week for roughly an hour on a certain topic or segment of Scripture, and one on one Spiritual Direction with a monk. For me this is most beneficial because it helps me to process out loud with someone what God has been speaking to me in my silence up to that point.
So there you have it. If anyone wants more details about specific books I might recommend, places to go, or other things that I use to aid my effort to sustain the practice of silence and solitude, in spite of my ADHD and extrovert tendencies, I would be happy help. Also, I only mentioned a few practices and methods to that I feed myself spiritually in these posts but would love to hear what other things you are doing as well.
The question this week is, “How are you feeding yourself spiritually?” So far I have shared different methods for getting into The Word but today I want to shift the discussion to prayer. And, since we are focusing on finding nourishment for our souls, I want to look at the more passive aspect of prayer—listening.
Most of the time when someone says they are going to pray they mean that they are going to petition God for something, for themselves or someone else, but the reality is that for us to experience prayer as it was meant it needs to be a two-way conversation.
I must confess that for me listening doesn’t come easy. I write and speak words for a living and am used to shaping a conversation but when it is time for me to open my ears and close my mouth it feels like foreign territory. That is why I have to be very intentional when it comes to setting aside time on a regular basis for silence and solitude.
The reality is that we live in a very noisy, fast-paced world where there is little margin for quiet time with God if we do not purposefully build it into our schedule. For me, I try to find some sense of this on a daily, monthly, and quarterly basis. I’ll start with daily here and then share more about monthly and quarterly in tomorrow’s post.
As a father of four it can be difficult finding sacred space to do this. Sometimes I feel like Jesus who was overwhelmed by all the people constantly crowding around him and so he had to sneak off by himself early in the morning to the solitary places.
For me this often means either getting up earlier or staying up later than everyone else. I have also found being on the lawnmower with my noise-canceling headphones on helpful. When I was at the church I would regularly hang a “Do Not Disturb” sign on my office door so that I could spend uninterrupted time listening to The Lord.
Even if it’s for just 10 min. a day in order to hear and learn to recognize The Shepherd’s voice more clearly on a more consistent basis above all the other voices in this world, including your own, it is worth it. And once you start really hearing Him, and wanting to hear Him louder and clearer, you will want to find longer stretches of time to spend with Him. I will share more about that tomorrow.
Today’s post is meant to facilitate a short pause in your day/week in order to fix your eyes back on God. In the midst of your busyness, your circumstances, your deadlines, your chaos, it’s an invite to pause… to be still… and to be reminded that HE is God.
Simply read through each line of Psalm 46:10a meditating on the meaning of the words left in each phrase. If you would like I have also embedded my episode of “Refill with Randy” that came out today and adds some audio/visual elements to this practice.
Lord of all pots and pans and things, since I've no time to be a great saint by doing lovely things, or watching late with Thee, or dreaming in the dawnlight, or storming heaven's gates, make me a saint by getting meals, and washing up the plates. Warm all the kitchen with Thy Love, and light it with Thy peace; forgive me all my worrying, and make my grumbling cease. Thou who didst love to give men food, in room, or by the sea, accept the service that I do, I do it unto Thee. Amen
This is the prayer of Brother Lawrence, a monk who worked in the kitchen, who sought to speak to and honor God in all that he did. Now you may not think that praying while brushing your teeth or taking a shower is “holy” but in the day and age that we live in as ideal as it would be to always get away to our prayer closet it’s not often practical. Besides, we are to “pray continuously” in all circumstances so why not practice at the start of each day so that you will continue communing with God throughout the day.
I took this photo at one of my favorite places to go for study, silence, and solitude… Holley Falls. The prayer that I have paired with it with was written by Richard J. Foster in his book Prayers from the Heart.
I find that whenever, and wherever, you are when preparing to start your day that a good practice is to go somewhere out of earshot of the noise and chaos of this world and to pray a prayer like this one.
I remember taking this photo a few years back while staying at The Abbey of the Genesee. Little things tend to catch my eye and so I was drawn to this one lone leaf holding on while all the others had already fallen.
As we prepare to say goodbye to the year 2020 I felt it fitting to pair this picture with this prayer. As we move into 2021 I would encourage you to cling to the good of the year past while letting go of all bitterness, anger, hurt, unforgiveness, and anything else that would keep you from moving forward.
With just a week before Christmas please take time today to reflect on this Christmas Prayer written by Robert Louis Stevenson and then continue it with your own words as you consider what you want to thank God for in relation to the first Christmas and what you want to ask Him for this next Christmas.
FYI – each week of Advent starting on Sunday each of our TAKE 5 bloggers will take turns answering a question or commenting on the same theme. That takes place Sun-Thur. On Fridays I will be posting an Advent Prayer that coincides with that week and then on Saturday I will simply post a passage of Scripture for you to meditate on your own.
O’God of Christmas past and of Christmas still to come. We pray to You during this first week of Advent and ask that you fill our hearts with the same longing for Messiah as those who watched and waited centuries ago. Help us to be mindful of all of our desires at this time and to cleanse our hearts by casting aside any that take our eyes off of You. Let us live is such a way that should Christ return tonight he will find us doing those things expected of us and be pleased. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Refill with Randy 