Follow Me

Mark 1:16-20

 Jesus begins his ministry by calling Simon, Andrew, James and John: “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”   “Follow” seems like such a straight forward word. It means to go behind, go after, pursue or tag along. Yet, like most words its meaning and thus the credence we give to it have everything to do with the particulars of how we understand and put it into action.

 We follow lots of people and things in this world. We follow musicians, writers, sports teams, personalities and commentators. We follow people on Facebook and Twitter. We follow people on the interstate and in check out lines. What does it mean to “follow” this Jesus?

 Biblical scholar, Walter Brueggeman writes: “Where the gospel of God’s reign is preached, people are called to absolute obedience. The abruptness of the disciples’ departure (from family and the family fishing business), and their instant acceptance of Jesus’ invitation to “fish for people” underscore the sharp demands of discipleship. The message of God’s reign is not for the tentative and indecisive, because it necessitates wholehearted allegiance. It brings a severing of old relationships and securities. It puts people to following Jesus, the one whose person and ministry embody God’s reign.”

 What do we really mean when we say we are “followers” of Jesus? Are we prayerfully watching for Jesus’ lead? Are we seeking God’s guidance in the fabric of each and every day? Or is our following more distant, less involved?

 Sounds like a great question for Lent, doesn’t it? How will we will be “followers” of Christ this week?  Will that following make a real difference in how we live and engage others?  Or has our following Jesus become just another one of the many followings we participate in each day of our lives?

 ~ Rich Greenway

"A Portable Sanctuary of the Heart"

Psalm 139

Psalm 139

“You are the one who created my innermost parts;
 you knit me together while I was still in my mother’s womb.  I give thanks to you that I was marvelously set apart.
 Your works are wonderful—I know that very well.”  -Psalm 139:13-14

This Psalm is so powerful because the Psalmist knows that he (or she) belongs to God.  The Psalm conveys a self-confidence, an identity in God, that we long to emulate. 

The practices of prayer and solitude shape us into people who can pray Psalm 139 with full conviction.  Because these practice shape us into people who rest in God, who are nourished by God, who are animated by God.  These are the fruits of solitude and prayer – a deep relationship with God that gives us a deep sense of self and purpose.

Richard Foster describes it as this:

“If we possess inward solitude we do not fear being alone, for we know that we are not alone.  Neither do we fear being with others, for they do not control us.  In the midst of noise and confusion we are settled into a deep inner silence.  Whether alone or among people, we always carry with us a portable sanctuary of the heart.”

We are on a journey this Lent.  And every journey ends somewhere.  What is your destination?  How do you hope you will be different at the end of Lent?  How do you hope you will have grown?  My prayer is that we all come to a deeper awareness of the “portable sanctuary” within us, the privilege to be in God’s presence anywhere, at any time.  

~ Laura Johnson

Finding God in Silence

1 Kings 19:11-13

Elijah did not hear God in the splitting earthquake, or the mighty fire, or the rushing wind.  It was in the thin quiet of silence.  God is heard in silence.  God is active in silence.

There is wisdom in the old proverb, “all those who open their mouths, close their eyes.”  When we fill our world with talking, with background noise, with distractions, we close our eyes (and our ears) to what God is up to around us.  To what God is saying to our hearts.  Silence is a gift of prayer and solitude.  For in silence we have the opportunity to hear God’s still small voice that often gets drowned out by the noisiness of our world.  

Today I invite you to spend some time in silence.  Try to carve out 10 minutes for silence.  In these 10 minutes try to direct your heart towards God.  It might feel like an eternity.  Your mind might wander and think about your favorite TV shows, what you’ll cook for dinner, what you have to do tomorrow.  That’s okay.  When you catch yourself, redirect your thoughts to God.  To the silence.  Listen for God’s still, small voice.  May this practice bring you rest and a sense of God’s presence.

~ Laura Johnson

Solitude: The Journey to Inner Fulfillment

Luke 4:1, 14-15

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness,
¹⁴Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. ¹⁵He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

Jesus spent much time alone.  He was even led into the wilderness by the Spirit to be alone for 40 days!  Some of us hate spending time alone, while others (the introverts among us) need it.  Some of us feel lonely in our aloneness, and some of us feel lonely in the midst of great crowds.  Today as we focus on the practice of Solitude, I want to point out that solitude is not the same thing as being alone.  And it is not the feeling of loneliness.  As Richard Foster teaches: “Loneliness is inner emptiness.  Solitude is inner fulfillment.” 

Solitude is the practice of being still and silent in God’s presence.  In a way it is a form of prayer, for it is being available to God and sitting in God’s presence.  It can happen in a deserted place – as Jesus often sought out – and it can happen in a crowded house.  It is about a state of mind, not a place.

Why would we want to practice solitude?  Because our souls cry out for it.  Like a branch needs the tree to nourish and sustain it, so our souls need God.  Solitude is a way to connect with God for direction, for peace, for inner fulfillment.  It is a means of nourishment.

Solitude may not be practical for many of us.  With kids, dependents, and busy households it can be difficult to find any significant time alone.  So with solitude, as with any spiritual practice, start small and be graceful towards yourself.  Savor the “little solitudes” that pop up during the day – a peaceful walk to your car from work, a moment of shared silence before dinner, even that stressful bumper to bumper traffic – these can all be opportunities to experience solitude. 

It is important to note that after Jesus’ 40 days of (very trying) solitude, he was strengthened in the Spirit to go and begin his powerful ministry.  It is through solitude that we are shaped into people who can do God’s work in the world.  Solitude not only brings us inner fulfillment, it also gives us purpose and direction. 

In whatever circumstances – whether alone and lonely, or surrounded by others and exhausted, and everything in between – let us search for a deep inner quiet in God’s presence so we may be nourished for God’s work.

~ Laura Johnson

Praying Always

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
¹⁶Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray without ceasing, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

The Desert Fathers, Christian Monks who lived in the desert in the first few centuries after Jesus, have a lot to teach about prayer. They devoted their whole lives to solitude, simplicity and prayer. My favorite saying is this: "ceaseless prayer soon heals the mind." 

Oftentimes, when I read the invitation in 1 Thessalonians 5 to pray continually I am overwhelmed and feel like I failed even before I started. Clearly, I am missing something. That's why I love the Desert Father's saying so much. For the invitation to ceaseless prayer is an invitation to healing. It is an invitation to live one's entire life in God's presence, as a conversation with God.

In Philippians, Paul urges the Philippians to pray continually and always give thanks. He gives us
a clue of what ceaseless prayer looks like: "if anything is excellent and if anything is admirable, focus your thoughts on these things: all that is true, all that is holy, all that is just, all that is pure, all that is lovely, and all that is worthy of praise” (verse 8).  We pray without ceasing when we fix our minds on the things of Christ, when we meditate on all that is good and all that is God at work in the world.  When we look for God at work even in the most difficult of situations.  When we rest in God’s presence even as we are busy with life’s demands and obligations.  And this is how ceaseless prayer heals the mind.  Because it changes how we see the world.  It teaches us to look for God everywhere. 

To practice praying continually, consider making a list of those things in your life that are excellent, admirable, true, holy, just, pure, lovely, and worthy of praise.  Keep this list nearby so that you can direct your thoughts to it several times a day.  Use this as a spring board to be in constant conversation with God, to be constantly aware that you are in God’s presence at all times in all places.  May we find healing and wholeness for our weary minds and souls in this practice of ceaseless prayer.

~ Laura Johnson

Teach Us To Pray

Tuesday
Teach Us to Pray

Read Luke 11:1-10


Do you pray in public? Do you pray in small groups, at meetings, among friends or family? Why or why not? Too often we Christians are afraid to pray aloud. We think it’s the pastor’s job, or that other person prays so much better than me, or I don’t know what to say. We may not feel like we are expert enough to lead others in prayer. And then, when we get into that secret prayer place to talk with God, these same insecurities hit us and we are stuck. What if I pray the wrong thing? What if I don’t use the right words? What do I have to say to God?

Jesus’ disciples needed help with praying, too. In Luke 11 they asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, and Jesus answered by teaching them what we call the Lord’s Prayer. (Side note: when you have some time, read through each line of the Lord’s Prayer and reflect on its meaning. There is great depth in this prayer that is easy to lose sight of when we pray it regularly.) Immediately after Jesus teaches them this prayer, he tells a parable about a man begging his neighbor for some food to entertain guests. His neighbor gives him the food because the man was bold in asking. Jesus tells us that the power of prayer is not in using the right words or speaking eloquently, it is in asking with faith and boldness. This is what Jesus wanted his disciples to know about prayer, and this is encouraging for us who feel like we are amateur prayers.

There is power in prayer – throughout Scripture prayer is a means of change. Though we often are tempted to believe that we are powerless to things happening in our lives, Scripture teaches us that we are never powerless when we pray boldly. For, as Richard Foster explains, in prayer “we are working with God to determine the future! Certain things will happen in history if we pray rightly. We are to change the world by prayer.” I would add that we are to change the world by bold prayer.

As we explore the spiritual practice of prayer this week, I invite you to be bold in your prayers – no matter how inexperienced or incapable you feel. If you need help shaping your prayers, use the ACTS model – start with Adoration (praise God), move to Confession and Thanksgiving, and end with Supplication (what you and others need). Always remember the important thing is not how eloquently we pray, but that we pray.

~ Laura Johnson  

Week 1 Lenten Disciplines Focus: Prayer and Solitude

Deeper Journey: Lent 2015

Prayer & Solitude

Inner stillness. Living fully present with God.

 

 

       Practice Starters      

     ·  Create a prayer space in your home. Whenever someone is in this space, it

         means they are praying and are given space to do so.

       ·  Start a prayer journal.

       ·  Spend 10 minutes a day alone in silence to sit in God’s presence.

     ·  Guide your prayers with ACTS: Adoration (praise God), Confession,

         Thanksgiving, Supplication (your needs and the needs of others).

 

 

We invite you to share the ways that you are observing Lent this year. What disciplines are you taking on and/or what might you be trying to give up? What questions do you have about particular Spiritual Disciplines? Do you have a particular book that has been helpful for you?

 

Lent

          Lent is a time to take time

               to let the power of our faith story take hold of us,
          a time to let the events get up

               and walk around in us,
          a time to intensify

               our living unto Christ, 

          a time to hover over

               the thoughts of our hearts,
          a time to place our feet in the streets of Jerusalem

               or to talk along the sea and listen to his Word,
          a time to touch his robe

               and feel the healing surge through us,
          a time to ponder and a time to wonder…

         Lent is a time to allow a fresh new taste of God!

                                                   ─Ann Weems



Prayer: Whispering with God

Monday

Prayer: Whispering with God

Read Matthew 6:5-6

 

⁵“And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. ⁶But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

 

Hand cupped over the ear, a quiet voice sharing sensitive information.  Whispering.  It is an act of intimacy, of deep trust.  And to hear someone else’s whisper requires your full attention.

Simone Weil says that prayer is all about attention.  Like whispering, prayer requires our full attention.  She says, “Prayer is the orientation of all the attention of which the soul is capable toward God.  The quality of the attention counts for much in the quality of the prayer.”  When we can give God our full attention, we can have an intimate conversation with God.  We can pray well.

Perhaps this is why Jesus prayed in deserted places.  And perhaps this is why Jesus taught us to do the same – to go to our rooms, close the door, and pray in secret.  Because in deserted, secret places we can give God our full attention.  We can have an intimate conversation with God where we can really share what’s on our hearts.  In a way, Jesus is calling us to whisper with God.  This cannot be done with showy prayers that beg others to respect us.  It is done through heartfelt whispers that trust God and give God our full attention.

Today, I invite you to establish a secret place of prayer.  Where can you go to whisper with God?  Maybe you already have this place – a favorite chair, a beautiful spot outside, a particular route to walk.  If you don’t have one, find one today.  Go there and share what’s on your heart.  For God loves you and loves to hear your whispers.

 

~ Laura Johnson

The Deeper Journey of Lent

First Sunday In Lent 

The Deeper Journey of Lent

Read Psalm 25  http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=291612452

 

“Make your ways known to me, Lord; teach me your paths.  Lead me in your truth—teach it to me—because you are the God who saves me.  I put my hope in you all day long.” –Psalm 25:4-5

Lent is often described as a journey.  Throughout the season of Lent we journey with Jesus through his ministry - through the healings, teachings, and conflicts that led him to the cross.  As we journey through the depths of Jesus’ life and death, we are also invited to journey through the depths of our own life.  We are invited to ask ourselves, “how is it with my soul?” – to take a good look at ourselves and examine if and when we are walking in the ways of Jesus.  Our Lenten journey is to go deeper and deeper into the depths of ourselves so that we might welcome God even there.

The hard truth is - this journey into our depths can be treacherous.  Because, if we are honest with ourselves, we will not always like what we find.  And so, this prayer from Psalm 25 reverberates with us.  “Make your ways known to me, Lord; teach me your paths.”  This is our prayer throughout Lent.  To know God’s ways – to really know them in the depths of our beings.  So that God’s ways are our ways, even without trying.  So that when we look within we see God’s fingerprints everywhere.

The good news is God does not leave us to journey alone.  God walks with us every step of the way.  When we discover beautiful parts of our souls, we hear God saying “Well done, good and faithful servant.”  And when we find those parts of ourselves that we’d rather not see, we hear God whispering, “I love you even now.  Let me make this new.”

And God sends us on this journey with tools.  We call them spiritual practices, or spiritual disciplines.  These tools help us to connect with God and to ourselves.  They help us learn God’s path and discern God’s leading.  Each week throughout these 40 days, we will focus on a different practice.  And we invite you to put them into your spiritual tool belt and use them.  Practice them.  They are gifts from God to help you on the journey.

Laura Johnson