One cold evening during the holiday season, a little boy about six or seven was standing out in front of a store window. The little child had no shoes and his clothes were mere rags. A young woman passing by saw the little boy and could read the longing in his pale blue eyes. She took the child by the hand and led him into the store. There she bought him some new shoes and a complete suit of warm clothing.
They cam back outside into the street and the woman said to the child, "Now you can go home and have a very happy holiday."
The little boy looked up at her and asked, "Are you God, madam?"
She smiled down at him and replied, "No son, I'm just one of His children."
The little boy then said,"I knew you had to be some relation."
Extracted from Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul.
Thursday 25 November 2010
Tuesday 16 November 2010
PRAYING WITH IMAGINATION
Learned this prayer exercise from "Exploring Prayer" by Sue Mayfield.
Imagine you are in a secret garden. Imagine the sights, the sounds, the smells and even the touch on your skin as the gentle breeze sweeps by. You see your favourite bench and walk towards it. As you sit there, Jesus comes to sit with you. He is pleased to see you. He has been hoping you would come.
Think about how do you feel as you sit beside him in the garden? Jesus asks you what you are thinking about - what are the things on your mind? Imagine the things you would tell him. How does he listen? How does He responds? Now he asks you what you need today and what you would like him to give you. Imagine the conversation. Listen to what He has to say to you. When the conversation is over. you say goodbye to Jesus and walk out of the garden. What would you bring with you from the garden? Take a moment to reflect on how you feel.
I find this type of prayer very powerful. So I desire to try it out, but I have no garden to go to. I am very fortunate. Each morning I have to take a 20-30 minute walk by the monsoon drain to the office. It's quiet and pleasant. Before I reach the entrance point, I imagine Jesus is already there waiting for me. Then I greeted him and hold His hand. And together we walk along the drain and talk and talk. I tell him what's bothering me, my disappointments and what I wish to have. Soon I reach my office and we bade farewell.
I find this prayer exercise very refreshing. It's like talking to your buddy or my boyfriend. If that day I cannot walk as weather does not permit, while on the bus, I imagine Jesus waiting for me in the office. I am usually the first one to be in and I have about an hour in the office to myself. So Jesus and I have a good time talking before my colleague arrives.
Imagine you are in a secret garden. Imagine the sights, the sounds, the smells and even the touch on your skin as the gentle breeze sweeps by. You see your favourite bench and walk towards it. As you sit there, Jesus comes to sit with you. He is pleased to see you. He has been hoping you would come.
Think about how do you feel as you sit beside him in the garden? Jesus asks you what you are thinking about - what are the things on your mind? Imagine the things you would tell him. How does he listen? How does He responds? Now he asks you what you need today and what you would like him to give you. Imagine the conversation. Listen to what He has to say to you. When the conversation is over. you say goodbye to Jesus and walk out of the garden. What would you bring with you from the garden? Take a moment to reflect on how you feel.
I find this type of prayer very powerful. So I desire to try it out, but I have no garden to go to. I am very fortunate. Each morning I have to take a 20-30 minute walk by the monsoon drain to the office. It's quiet and pleasant. Before I reach the entrance point, I imagine Jesus is already there waiting for me. Then I greeted him and hold His hand. And together we walk along the drain and talk and talk. I tell him what's bothering me, my disappointments and what I wish to have. Soon I reach my office and we bade farewell.
I find this prayer exercise very refreshing. It's like talking to your buddy or my boyfriend. If that day I cannot walk as weather does not permit, while on the bus, I imagine Jesus waiting for me in the office. I am usually the first one to be in and I have about an hour in the office to myself. So Jesus and I have a good time talking before my colleague arrives.
Thursday 11 November 2010
Sensing God
Extracted from Exploring Prayer by Sue Mayfield:
Think and thank God for all these things:
Your favourite colour
Your favourite sound
Your favourite smell
Your favourite taste
Your favourite physical sensation
Now spend time thinking:
What colour is God?
What does God sound like?
What does God smell like?
What does God taste like?
What does God feel like?
Invite God to reveal Himself to you, and then you could conclude with the following prayer:
God of rainbows, we look for you.
God of waterfalls and whispers, we listen for you.
God of fragrance, we sense your presence.
God of salt and sweetness, we taste you and know that you are good.
God of strength and tenderness, touch our lives.
Amen.
Think and thank God for all these things:
Your favourite colour
Your favourite sound
Your favourite smell
Your favourite taste
Your favourite physical sensation
Now spend time thinking:
What colour is God?
What does God sound like?
What does God smell like?
What does God taste like?
What does God feel like?
Invite God to reveal Himself to you, and then you could conclude with the following prayer:
God of rainbows, we look for you.
God of waterfalls and whispers, we listen for you.
God of fragrance, we sense your presence.
God of salt and sweetness, we taste you and know that you are good.
God of strength and tenderness, touch our lives.
Amen.
Questions of faith
Read "Exploring Prayer" by Sue Mayfield and enjoy it very much.
Binding and Loosing Prayer:
Liberating god, we pray for our world.
May your people care for the environment, respect each other and live as you intended.
Hear our prayer and set your people free.
Merciful God, we pray for countries where there is war.
May hope and vision untangle the cords of hatred and division and may those whose lives have been blighted by violence be liberated from bitterness.
Hear our prayer and set your people free.
Compassionate God, we pray for those who live in poverty.
May they be set free from the bondage of other people's greed and indifference and released from the chains of injustice and despair.
Hear our prayer and set your people free.
Life-giving God, we pray for those whose lives are dominated by illness, disability or pain.
May they find comfort and relief and the liberation of loving care.
Hear our prayer and set your people free.
Powerful God, we pray for those in the grip of addition or debt and for those whose lives are spoilt by vicious circles of abuse and neglect.
May the truth set them free and your healing untie the yoke of their oppression.
Hear our prayer and set your people free.
Father God, we pray for all whose lives are ruled by fear and for those whose minds are tied in knots with worry or depression.
May they know the freedom of peace that only You can bring.
Hear our prayer and set your people free.
Binding and Loosing Prayer:
Liberating god, we pray for our world.
May your people care for the environment, respect each other and live as you intended.
Hear our prayer and set your people free.
Merciful God, we pray for countries where there is war.
May hope and vision untangle the cords of hatred and division and may those whose lives have been blighted by violence be liberated from bitterness.
Hear our prayer and set your people free.
Compassionate God, we pray for those who live in poverty.
May they be set free from the bondage of other people's greed and indifference and released from the chains of injustice and despair.
Hear our prayer and set your people free.
Life-giving God, we pray for those whose lives are dominated by illness, disability or pain.
May they find comfort and relief and the liberation of loving care.
Hear our prayer and set your people free.
Powerful God, we pray for those in the grip of addition or debt and for those whose lives are spoilt by vicious circles of abuse and neglect.
May the truth set them free and your healing untie the yoke of their oppression.
Hear our prayer and set your people free.
Father God, we pray for all whose lives are ruled by fear and for those whose minds are tied in knots with worry or depression.
May they know the freedom of peace that only You can bring.
Hear our prayer and set your people free.
Monday 1 November 2010
Worship God
The main or chief activity of heaven is the worship of God. Each day this week, I will choose one thing that can be an inspiration to worship God here on earth. Perhaps one day it might be a sunset, next it might be the pleasure of a good meal!
I woke up this morning with a strong breeze in my neighbourhood. I realise that wind is something that God gives us. I don't understand how wind is created (what hot air rises etc) but I know that God is the Creator and I choose to worship Him. I can see God in the wind!
I woke up this morning with a strong breeze in my neighbourhood. I realise that wind is something that God gives us. I don't understand how wind is created (what hot air rises etc) but I know that God is the Creator and I choose to worship Him. I can see God in the wind!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
