Meditation: He is Near

In my blog last month, I said we would do a guided biblical meditation together, learning how to be still, quiet our minds and listen to God through His Word.

To listen, you need to find a quiet place, free from distractions.

It is helpful to do a little relaxation before you begin. If your mind is racing and your body is tense, it is difficult to receive the benefits of meditation.

Take 3 slow breaths from the belly… 1 … 2 … 3 … Always inhale through the nose; you can exhale either through the nose or mouth. Notice any tensions in your body. If your arms are gripping the chair, release them. If your neck and shoulders are tense, slowly let go of that tension.

Take another 3 slow breaths … 1 … 2 … 3… As you inhale you may say, “Come, Lord Jesus” or “I breathe in peace”. As you exhale, you may want to say, “I release fear, tension, pain”, or another word that is meaningful for you.

Join me in meditation on He Is Near, click on the following:

Shalom,

Ruth G.

Hope

I had the pleasure of going out without my son and husband today. Enjoying my time, I drove more leisurely than usual, and I found myself taking in the sights of my city in the early spring. The boulevards were newly melted and very brown, there were big piles of sand and gravel along the sides of the road that the melting snow had left behind. People on the sidewalks were dodging mud, ice, and puddles while trying to run or push strollers. I found myself observing two very different viewpoints that I could have about what I was seeing and observing. 

I could see the city and its weather at this time as what it truthfully is: the ugliest time of year. Dirty, unpleasant, and downright messy. On the other hand, I could look at it as what it also truthfully is: A season of hope.

I couldn't help but breathe in the air, and smell the hint of spring lingering in the air. I had to remove my winter jacket, because it was just too warm. I was picturing those brown boulevards green with new grass. I was truly picturing my family going for a walk for ice cream, while my son pedaled his new bike beside us as my husband and I walked hand in hand. Hope is the only word that I could use to describe what I was feeling as I was driving.

With all the negative winter statuses that I have read on Facebook, it definitely felt refreshing to have a mindset of hope. It made me think of a song our Sunday School kids sing on Sundays.

Psalms 33:20-22 says, “We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, LORD, even as we put our hope in you.”

I couldn't help but think about our spiritual conditions. When we are in a rough place going through a struggle; when we are waiting for a promise from the Lord to come to be; when we are find it hard to see the positive side of a situation, and all we see is the dirty ugly parts of our situation, we can certainly use a good dose of hope. 

There are many times in life when I can use a good dose of hope. I need to choose to hope in the Lord. I need to choose to see what will be ahead, while focusing on the Lord. The God we serve is unfailing, and the source of all hope. If there is anything or anyone to put our hope in, it is our almighty, all powerful, all knowing God.

Kourtnay K.

Consequences

There are always consequences for our choices and decisions. I believe this and I've tried to instill this in our children. However, sometimes we aren't aware of the far-reaching ramifications of the decisions we make. Both positive consequences and/or negative consequences.

Matthew 27:3-5 says, “When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man.” “What do we care?” they retorted. “That’s your problem.” Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself.”

I’ve always found Judas to be an interesting individual. Actually, I find Jesus’ decision to ask him to be a disciple and his acceptance of him very challenging. Jesus knew who and what Judas was. He also knew, before Judas betrayed him with a kiss, what he was going to do. My humanity just wants to stomp my foot and say that’s just not right, but I also humbly realize Jesus KNEW Judas and still choose him. (This really challenges to be more like Jesus!) Even though I did not betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver I’ve sinned – repeatedly. I’ve hurt Jesus (and others) with my words and my actions, and I’ve hurt those Jesus loves (and those I love) with my words and my actions.

So what does it look like to love individuals in spite of their actions? Or what does it look like to live with the consequences we live with because of someone else’s actions?

In some strange, weird way I feel a connection with Judas who, perhaps thought he could make a quick buck (or thirty pieces of silver), but was left with a consequence he couldn't live with. How many times have we been left with the consequences of our decisions and it was nothing like we imagined . . . or perhaps we didn't even take the time to think through the consequences of our decisions or actions. And hopefully, somewhere in the midst of this we learn to offer grace – to others and to ourselves.

I think it really helps when we can learn to love others without expectations – better known as unconditional love.

I am thankful for the cross . . . where My Saviour took all of my sins so I could have direct access to my heavenly Father.

I am thankful for God’s redemption . . . buying back something (ME!) that is already His.

I am thankful for God’s grace . . . receiving what we don’t deserve – full access to a sinless, perfect Heavenly Father.

I am thankful for the cross and the consequences I receive when my Saviour chose to go to the cross for me.

I am thankful for the opportunity to spend my eternity in heaven.

We live with consequences everyday based on the choices and decisions of ourselves and others. I hope you will take some time to reflect on the consequences of your decisions as you think of the decision Jesus made when He went to the cross for you.

Jo-Ann

Sing?

Sing, sing, sing…

How often in scripture are we encouraged and even commanded to lift our voices in song?

“Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him.” (Psa.33:1)

“Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. (Psa. 47:6)

“Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds- his name is the Lord – and rejoice before him.” (Psa68:4)

Music is such a gift to us – and one that we can use to return our offerings of praise and thanks.

Music can bring comfort and encourage.

Music can sound the battle cry and signal victory.

Music can unify us as we lift our voices together.

Music is the sound of praise.

Offering praise even through music can be a sacrifice though…when the lifting of my voice does not come easily…when the words and melody catch in my throat…when it is quite simply an act of the will…an act of obedience…I will sing…

There are times…days…seasons, when the music stops. When it is just not possible.

“By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. There on the poplars we hung our harps, for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said ‘Sing us one of the songs of Zion!’ How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?” (Psa. 137:1-4)

A time of captivity. Maybe you have had one. Maybe you are in one.

Though it may seem to go on forever, remember…it is not a forever thing!

Remember God’s words through Jeremiah… “I know the plans I have for you…” (Jer. 29:11)…those words were to these people at this time…these people in captivity…the ones who sat down and wept and hung their harps on the trees.

Now, listen to this Psalm:

“When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’ The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” (Psa. 126:1-3)

The captivity ended.

Yours will too.

But…while you are there…while you walk the valley, know that God has a plan…even in the moments when you are sitting by the river weeping. If you have hung your harp on a tree thinking that you can never sing again….well there are promises…even for that!

“…weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” (Psa. 30:5b)

“He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.” (Psa. 40:3a)

Morning follows night. Always!

He will put a new song in your mouth!

Ruth U.

Post Easter Thoughts . . .

I've been thinking of scars lately. It began on Easter weekend . . . Good Friday actually.

Many of us carry physical scars from surgeries, sport injuries or a run-in with an object. As well, many of us also carry scars from sharp words spoken, needed words left unspoken and careless words spewing from the mouths of others. All of this got me thinking about the physical and emotional wounds we carry. As these wounds heal over we are left with scars.

Now I have a scar on my shin from a playground incident in grade 5. I hardly notice it anymore . . . I’m just used to it. But it’s still there, it’s still noticeable and it still hurts, a lot, if I bang my shin. But it’s a scar, it’s healed and healed well, but it’s still a scar.

This may seem like an obvious conclusion but, SCARS ARE HEALED WOUNDS. As I think about this conclusion it has caused me to think about my scars differently. They are HEALED wounds. The needed outcome is for a wound to heal well. There is such a thing as a wound not healing well and professional intervention being needed. You see, this is exactly what professionals are for – to help us when we need them. To do surgery to remove scar tissue, or to work through emotional hurts so we can lessen the negative impact we have on others. We can attempt to avoid all wounds in life, but I’m pretty sure it is highly unlikely. We live in a fallen world and I don’t believe we will be able to come through completely unscathed. So perhaps we should adjust our expectations. Focus our attention on healing well, not on the fact we have a wound, either physical or emotional, but on it healing well. Even if that means we have a scar . . . because remember – SCARS ARE HEALED WOUNDS.

Let me go back to Good Friday for a minute. If I’m really honest I find it difficult to understand why Jesus would willingly go to the cross for me. I am humbled and overwhelmed. Then my mind jumps ahead to Easter Sunday and I am eternally grateful for Jesus’ sacrifice and I rejoice because of Jesus’ power over death. I now have access to God, the Creator of the universe, because Jesus was wounded for my sins and He carried the weight of my sins to the cross.

Jesus’ wounds weren't even scars yet when He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” John 20:27.

Nonetheless, those wounds remind me of God’s healing . . . in my life and in the lives of others.

Scars are a form of healing.

Scars show God’s hand of healing in our lives.

. . . which reminds me of the redemption of the cross

. . . which reminds me to REJOICE and be THANKFUL!

Jo-Ann P.

If Your Heart's Still Beating, It's Worth Healing

God.

God loves.

God loves you.

Three complete sentences. Beginning to end – complete. Author. Finisher. Life redeemer.

We don't have to have a sordid past to have an unhealthy heart. Life exposes us to many mean things. Much of this hurt can lie far out of our control too. 

Don't close yourself off. Instead, do the work. Find hope and healing at the cross. As we have just come through Easter weekend, I consciously ignored the chocolate eggs and bunnies and focused my eyes on the old rugged cross. 

We've all likely spent time reflecting on God's sacrifice on that tree – but it didn't stop there – He is greater than even all that! Yes, He knows even those things we think make us the most unlovable of all, and yet...He loves us. He continues to indwell us.

Feeling condemned? Do you find yourself becoming cynical? Recognize these as Satan’s lies.

God's method of healing a broken heart is to love it to death. The result is a new heart left in its wake. One that can be filled with faith instead of fear. Fear can be all consuming. The key is to be filled so full of the Holy Spirit that there is no room for thoughts that choke the life out of us.

Embrace the unfailing love of God; explore it till you know it and can feel it. Then, share it with everyone around you. Let's not leave anyone out from knowing His redeeming love. The one that goes beyond that day on the cross. See Who He Is and know who you are!

“How great is the love the Father lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!

And that we are!”  1 John 3:1

Press in and press on,

Giselle

Taking Back Christian Meditation

Christians have been wary of meditation - and rightly so, as non-Christian influences have permeated the practice of meditation. The good news is that recently, there has been a renewal of Christian meditation.

Back to the basics. Christian meditation was practiced for centuries. It was a hallmark of the early Christian church, and even prior to Christ’s coming, meditation was mentioned many times throughout the Scriptures. In Joshua 1:8, God commanded Joshua to meditate on His Word day and night, to ensure that he would obey it. The Psalmist says in Psalm 1: “Blessed is the man who delights in the law of the Lord, and in His law, he meditates day and night”.

Meditation was a way of life for the early Christians. It was a regular discipline pursued for the purpose of deeply knowing God. Brother Lawrence wrote about ‘practicing the presence of God’ continuously throughout his day. While the Quakers went about their work they whispered ‘breath prayers’ like ‘Lord, have mercy’ and ‘Come, Lord Jesus’ to help them focus on God.

Benefits. In our stressful, fast-paced society, the benefits of meditation are well documented. Dr. Archibald Hart is a Christian psychologist and author of  “The Anxiety Cure”. In his book, he says that “not only is meditation valid, but I would go a step further and say that it is essential to the Christian’s life. Research indicates that the benefits of meditation are overwhelmingly positive. From Olympic athletes to business executives, meditation has been found to be very beneficial. To be Christian, meditation must depend for its results not just on the physical value of meditating, but of the very action of God’s grace as well. It is the action of the Holy Spirit within the soul of the believer, releasing the presence of God to be felt and experienced down to the very marrow of every bone that brings healing.” (italics mine).

The greatest benefit to the Christian is that, in meditation, we stop looking inwardly, struggling with our human perspective. We end our self-absorption (navel-gazing, if you will) and we become God-centered. In Godly meditation, it’s not about us – it’s about Him. It is a dynamic process where we encounter the presence of a living God and His truth.

Ways to meditate. One way the early Christians taught us to meditate was to read a verse of Scripture, slowly contemplate the text and ask God how it applies to us. We let the text work itself within, listen to His voice through His Word and then rest in His promises. Another way to meditate is to reflect on the nature and names of God, using meaningful Scriptures and word pictures that demonstrate His character. Meditational prayer, worship in music, contemplating nature, and silent contemplation are other means of meditation, and are often interwoven as we seek to come near to God.

Biblical meditation is primarily a time of listening. This is not the time to dissect a Bible verse or to bring our shopping list to God. It is a time of quieting the mind, being still, and listening.

In my blog next month, we will do a guided biblical meditation together, learning how to be still, quiet our minds and listen to God through His Word. 

James 4:8, “Come close to God and He will come close to you.”

Shalom,

Ruth G.

Soundtrack

A movie soundtrack is a collection of songs that evoke emotion, mood, and atmosphere as you watch the images onscreen. Imagine movies without soundtracks. No “Eye of the Tiger” as Rocky faces an opponent in the boxing ring. No grand, sweeping orchestra playing as the boy finally kisses the girl. No ominous minor melody as Jaws is about to attack. These songs give us clues as to how we should feel and what’s going to happen next. Music intensifies the movie experience.

Each of us has a soundtrack playing in the background of our lives. There are statements running through our heads that impact how we feel and how we behave. Our soundtrack can consist of things others have told us such as “you’re so pretty/ugly/stupid/smart/bad/good” or what we believe about ourselves such as “I’m not good enough/I suck compared to so-and-so/I don’t deserve blank”. These statements can be positive or negative. They may contain truth or they may contain falsehood. I cannot rely solely on others to carve out my identity. I certainly cannot rely on my feelings to determine who I am. They can change on a whim and are not to be trusted. The only source I could look to for unwavering truth is the God who created me and loves me unselfishly.

A verse that speaks to me significantly is Zephaniah 3:17 which says, “For the Lord your God is living among you He is a mighty Saviour He will take delight in you with gladness With His love, He will calm all your fears He will rejoice over you with joyful songs”

I wonder what kind of songs God sings over me. Maybe His songs are sprinkled with words we find in the Bible like:

“I love you”, “I take delight in you”, “Do not fear – I am with you”, “I won’t leave you”, “You are my son/daughter”, “You are a co-heir with Christ”, “You are a new creation”, “You are chosen and dearly loved”.

These are the kinds of songs that bring me joy and calm my fears. These are the kinds of words that I can settle into and let define me. This is the kind of soundtrack I want to inform my thoughts, feelings and actions.

Here’s a link to a list of 100 things God says about you: 

http://teachingsundayschool.blogspot.ca/2010/02/100-things-bible-says-about-me.html

Brenda E.