Recommended Reading: RW Article about Ryan Hall

August 7, 2008 By 1 Comment

The story about Ryan Hall in Runner’s World is as much about his faith as his running, because it’s a profile on the young man himself, and he’s fully committed to the Lord.

Here’s the teaser:

A decade ago, God told Ryan Hall to run. Now Hall’s a 2:06 marathoner and an Olympic favorite. His story is almost beyond belief.

The people at his church, his family, and Ryan himself seem to have a faith that is inviting, inspiring, and real–real as in authentic, but also as in realistic.

I really enjoyed getting to know Ryan Hall. I think you will, too. That’s why I recommend that you put this article on your “To Read Online” list.

The article is long. If you decide to read it–and I hope you do, whether or not you’re a Christian and whether or not you’re a runner–set aside a stretch of free time or bookmark the exact page you’re on when you stop, to make it easier to read it in chunks.

Early in the article, Ryan is quoted as saying: “The goal of my life is just to follow in the footsteps of Jesus as closely as I can.” That’s a humble–yet the highest–life goal for an Olympian.

Happy reading (and running, and praying, and studying God’s Word, if you’re so inclined).

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How Does Traveling Affect Your Personal Devotions?

July 17, 2008 By 4 Comments

When we boarded one of our flights on the way back, I noticed a man in First Class with his eyes closed, mouth moving, murmuring. On his tray was a liturgical book of some kind with lots of colorful ribbons marking pages.

I glanced at my watch and wondered, “What would he be praying? Vespers?” And I was impressed at his devotional commitment. This guy probably prayed whenever and wherever he was…obviously he prayed on the plane as soon as he settled in. Would he stop and pray while waiting in line at the Eiffel Tower? While on a ride at Disneyworld? While driving to the beach?

And Ann V. at Holy Experience recently traveled to Paris, with her deep, contemplative soul soaking in every moment at a prayerful level. I read her posts, smiled, and sighed.

And then I looked at myself and wished I’d been more consistent with my own devotions on the long trip.

It got me wondering, What do other people do? What is their prayer life like on the go? Do they keep their prayer journal going every day and stick with their Scripture reading schedule?

With so many people taking summer vacations and business trips, I think we would benefit from reading each other’s stories. So I’m suggesting a blog carnival:

How does traveling affect your personal devotions?

Do you adapt them for the trip in some way? Do you change anything or follow the same pattern and schedule, regardless of the day’s plans?

You can write up a post at your site and put the link in the comments. As they roll in, I’ll edit this post to put them in a prominent spot in the text.

Or you can just go ahead and describe your experience in the comments.

Consider some of the following variables for us to best appreciate your response:

  1. Give us an idea of your own personality (are you a disciplined person by nature, or a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants spontaneous and flexible person?).
  2. Briefly explain your what you ordinarily do at home (do you have a special spot, a stack of books, an elaborate colored-pencil method of study and marking up texts?).
  3. Describe your last trip(s). Did you take an organized tour with a group of people? Was it a low-key beach vacation with family, or a fast-paced sightseeing tour of big cities? Did you travel by plane, train or automobile? How long was it? With kids or solo? Business or pleasure?
  4. What were your personal devotions like on that trip?
  5. How important is it to you to keep them up while traveling?

You don’t have to answer all or any of those questions, but giving us an idea of your circumstances will help us better appreciate and envision your struggles and successes.

Please share your stories, insights, ups and downs.

UPDATED: See comments for insights and stories.

Filed Under: prayer, self-discovery, travel, Uncategorized Tagged With: , ,

Jesus, Be the Lord of My Life Today in New Ways

May 25, 2008 By 6 Comments

A couple of months ago, someone introduced this prayer to our church and invited people to commit to praying it for 30 days. Our little family happened to miss almost every weekend service at church that month, so we didn’t end up joining the covenant.

Later, I asked for a copy.

Here it is:

Jesus, be the Lord of my life today in new ways.

Change me any way you want.

Wash me clean from every sin.

Fill me with your Holy Spirit.

Make me a channel of Your love and grace.

Make me an instrument of Your mercy and justice.

Bring glory to Yourself in me and through me.

If it pleases You, use me today to lead persons into this sacred pilgrimage of exalting You as Lord, for all You are by sharing this prayer covenant with others.

I pray in the Mighty Name of Jesus. Amen

As I began praying it, I thought about how radical this is–it’s utterly yielding one’s self to the Lord to have His way with me. “Here I am, Lord; I’m all yours.” Here am I. Send me!

Today I read the story of the rich young man (Mark 10:17-22). The man runs to Jesus and falls on his knees asking, “Good teacher…what must I do to inherit eternal life?” After Jesus reviews the commandments that the man is sure he’s kept since his youth, Jesus says, “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

The man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Could this prayer be similar–with me starting out as hopeful as that young man, eagerly running up to Jesus and falling to my knees, saying, “Jesus, be the Lord of my life…change me, fill me, use me…” Then, when He actually shows me something specific, will I walk away sad because I’m afraid to let go of the life I’m living? Will I be too weak to really let Him be Lord of my life in new ways? Will I be too afraid to let Him change me any way He wants?

I feel like the father in the story in Mark 9. Jesus said, regarding the healing of the man’s son, “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

I want You to change me, Lord; help the part of me that’s afraid to change!

And I’m comforted by what Jesus told his disciples after the rich young man went away. ”With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27).

If it feels impossible to yield completely, remember that with God all things are possible.

Jesus, be Lord of my life in new ways…and help me let You be Lord of my life in new ways.

Filed Under: Bible study, change, prayer, self-discovery, taking risks, Uncategorized, worship Tagged With:

If You Could Ask Jesus Anything…

May 17, 2008 By 8 Comments

In an earlier post, I listed several questions that I find worth asking of myself. Occasionally I ask these questions of others.

Kerry at The Ten 0′Clock Scholar proposed that I ask them of my blog-readers. And I thought, “Why not?”

Here’s the first question:

If you could ask Jesus anything and know you’d get an answer, what would you ask Him?

I got this question from Garry Poole’s Seeker Small Groups book. It’s one of the first things he asks his small groups, because no matter what their background is, everyone’s got unanswered questions.

It reminds me of the Chris Rice song, “Questions for Heaven,” in which Chris lists questions he’s saving up to ask the Lord. Most are curiosity-driven and not necessarily deep theological questions. Chris sings about questions like (I paraphrase to avoid copyright infringement):

  • Why bother with so many stars?
  • Do You play tricks on angels?
  • What happened to the dinosaurs?
  • Where’s Eden–the Garden of Eden?
  • What in the world causes deja vu?
  • Our jokes–do they make You laugh?
  • What are quasars? Feathers? UFOs?
  • Do You have a favorite cartoon?
  • What’s out there past the edges?
  • What’s with taste buds? What about tornadoes?
  • Why did You have us dream?

On a more serious note, Shalee jumped right in on my original post and published her question in the comments:

My question for Jesus would be “What ran through your mind when you resisted temptations, like the naked woman in front of you, the heady feeling of ultimate power, the irritations of having friends who just don’t listen. How did you keep yourself from falling into sin?” I mean, he was human like me, so what did he do to give a resounding “NO” when the temptations gave a strong pull for him to follow his desires rather than those of God. Too often, I know what I should do, but I let those pulls of selfish desires trump what I know God would have me do.

I asked my kids what they would ask Jesus–one of the girls asked if it would be a question to ask here and now, while we’re on earth? Or later, when we’re in heaven? I told her she was free to answer it either way or both ways, if the questions were different. I would say the same to anyone interested in posting their question in the comments–answer it however you wish.

Some of the kids’ questions:

  • Will we have the same bodies in heaven?
  • How will we recognize each other?
  • Will there be animals and pets in heaven?
  • Where is heaven?

So…

What would you ask Jesus, if you knew you’d get an answer?

Filed Under: children, creativity, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , ,

Trees

March 22, 2008 By 9 Comments

tree-sunset.jpg

In the beginning, God created trees.

It wasn’t the first or only thing He created, of course, but He spoke vegetation into existence by commanding the land to produce it. And there came the trees bearing fruit with seed in them according to their kinds. God saw that it was good, and then He closed out the third day. Done.

And to this day, we can think about trees, bearing seed according to their kinds: shagbark hickory, sassafras, dogwood and redbud. Apple, pear and persimmon trees; walnut, oaks, and ash. White pine, blue spruce, buckeye and willow. Beyond the woods of Indiana, there are palms and redwoods, orange and grapefruit trees; fig, olive, jacaranda and eucalyptus trees.

It’s amazing to ponder the miracle of a tree. They begin so small: an acorn, pine cone, sweetgum ball, a whirlygig from a maple tree. From seed, to sprig, to a shoot with an ever-widening root system, it branches out, and a tender young tree stakes its claim in the soil beneath and the sky above, pushing toward the heavens.

While it grows and changes, it faces seasons. With seasons, comes more change: from dormant winter to sap-rising spring, when buds, burgeoning, draw light from the sun to deepen through summer. Fall comes, and trees explode in vivid color before dropping their leaves to return to quiet, solemn, exposed outlines against the gray skies of winter.

A Creator worked seasonal transformation into the bigger change of seed to tree. Change is good, He might say. Without it, there could be no seed, no future trees, no possibility for growth.

Look at a tree if you can; study it, ponder it, sit under it, climb it, rub your hands over it. Then think of the tree and the change, the strength it develops as it lives through another season, another year, earning another ring deep within.

Jesus was present at Creation, His voice somehow joining with the Father and Spirit, speaking everything into existence.

What, then, was it like for Creator-Jesus to come to earth and be immediately placed in a manger, probably rough-hewn from logs cut from trees He Himself first sculpted? What was it like for Creator-Jesus to later become Carpenter Jesus?

As He grew, Jesus would have been surrounded by wood shavings and sawdust, as tables, chairs, chests and cradles were constructed from bark-covered logs stripped by His earthly father, and later, by Jesus Himself.

He would have learned what wood worked best for each piece, shaping it to fit His purpose: He may have carved designs into wooden chalices, whittled a knob for a drawer, and chiseled joints to form a solid bed that would bless some newlyweds. He would have known the earthy smell of freshly sawn wood and recognized a tree from the scent of its discarded chips and scraps flaring up in a fire warming His dinner.

Imagine Him walking the rugged landscape of the Holy Land, made Holy by His presence there, pausing to lean against a fig tree, or reaching to brush his fingertips against an olive branch, privately enjoying the familiar feel of wood, known so well to His rough hands. Jesus even sought the cool silence of trees in the darkness of Gethsemane, as He agonized over the Plan.

How did it feel, hours later, to be hauling His cross, the wood of a tree cut to destroy? The Creator, crushed under the weight of a tree. He felt it against His body, no chance or thought to run His hands over it with the pleasing realization that He had spoken it into existence. Nor would He have imagined it stripped of bark and smoothed into a chair leg or a spinning wheel. His mind was focused on other things, on a transformation He alone could understand…a transformation He alone could bring about.

As the Creator-Carpenter hung, nailed to a tree, splintered wood was the last thing He felt as He let the greatest transformation of all begin.

From that point on, true change, true transformation for each of us was possible. The Creator-Carpenter, as Christ…on a cross.

Let us think of that, as we ponder a tree.

©2002 Ann Kroeker

three-crosses.jpg

 

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Good Friday

March 21, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Yesterday we attended a Maundy Thursday Seder meal at our church.

The children remarked at the confusion–Monday? But it’s Thursday? I pointed out that it’s a near-homonym. Then it became a joke–Maundy? But it’s Thursday! Ha-ha-ha.

Yes, well, anyway, I tried to explain the basics of a Passover meal to my Gentile/Protestant kiddoes. We haven’t observed any kind of Christian-ized Seder meal as a family in our home, nor have we been invited to a Jewish family’s home for a traditional Passover meal. Plus, we’ve been traveling the last couple of years around Easter time and missed any kind of community celebration at a church.

This year, however, we’re in town. So we attended the one our church put together. It was an abbreviated version. Simple. Spare.

I kept thinking back to the one I attended years ago that was led by a man named Steve who grew up Jewish. He wove his own story and memories into the evening, making it very personal.

Evidently there are many subtle variations to some of the elements of a Seder. Steve told us that as the ten plagues were recited, each person was to dip his or her pinky into the wine glass, one dip per plague. He waited to see how many of us naturally licked our pinky and then grinned, “Did you put pinky to your mouth? You just took in all ten plagues!” He recalled how his family used to play that joke on guests.

Before Steve became a Christian, a friend of his had been talking openly with him about Christ. One year, Steve invited this friend over to share the Passover meal with him and his family. This friend sat through the meal astonished at the symbolism that flows throughout the ceremony–three matzahs, the middle one pulled out and broken, half of it wrapped in a cloth and hidden away to be found later by children. These details seem so clear to a believer in Jesus Christ. Father. Son. Holy Spirit. Son is the middle One of the Trinity, broken for us; His body wrapped in a cloth and hidden away to be found later–or rather, not found–by “children.”

The story from Exodus of the blood of the Passover lamb being applied to the doorposts is the symbol on which the entire event hinges.

Because of the blood of the lamb, the people of Israel were passed over by the angel of death. They were spared, not by how good they were or how righteous…only because of God’s plan and provision. Only because of the shedding of innocent blood.

Steve pointed to a hastily drawn doorpost that looked something like this (forgive my own haste and lack of artistic ability–the haste kind of goes along with the first hurried Passover meal, but I have no excuses for the childlish drawings):

doorpost-1.jpg

He reminded us about how the Israelites were to sacrifice a lamb, take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the house where they ate the lambs. He put up a drawing that looked like this:

doorpost-blood-1.jpg

[EDITED: I forgot that there should be blood at the bottom of the doorframe, too, that would have dripped down from the top--and that would correspond to the blood from Jesus' pierced feet.]

The places on the doorframe, he said, correlate to the blood of the Lamb as He was nailed to the cross.

And then he pulled over his drawing a clear overlay of a cross so that it looked something like this:

doorpost-blood-cross-1.jpg

I was so moved by this realization–this connection in Scripture and history and through Judaism to Christianity to me today, that I was stirred to tears that night.

So simple. So clear. So powerful.

And so tonight, Good Friday, I will join again with whoever shows up for that service, to ponder the sacrifice of Jesus, the Christ, the Lamb of God, whose blood was shed for the forgiveness of sins.

John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

By His stripes we are healed.

What was horrible suffering for Him on that Friday thousands of years ago, brought total and ultimate good for us.

It’s a strange way to save the world…but it is good. Very good.

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My Life is Not my To-Do List

March 11, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Our lives are not our to-do lists. We are more than the sum total of all that we accomplish in a given day, week, year, decade or lifetime.

We are not defined by our schedules, activities, appointments, committees, and obligations.

There is more to life than what we do.

And the abundant life is not defined by how much is packed into our Day-Timers or PDAs.

Jesus said, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10b)

Yet we live as if He said, “I came that you might have life and have it so busy and overcommitted that you’re hectic and frantic and can’t think straight and are chugging Maalox on the sly just to calm your stress symptoms.”

We live as if we’re responsible to produce fruit in our lives, when John 15:5 says that our responsibility is simply to abide or remain in Christ. He is the vine. I am the branch. If I remain in Him, I’ll bear much fruit.

Apart from Him, I can do nothing.

Here’s John 15:4-5:

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Today, I do have things to do, places to go, people to see and all that.

But my focus is to remain in Him.

Life is about my relationship with Christ, because my life is in Christ. My life has been paid for by His blood.

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

“When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:4).

My life is Christ’s…

…and Christ is my life.

Because apart from Him, I can do nothing…and yet with Him, all things are possible.

I want to live a life that glorifies Him, that points people to Him and loves them through Him…a life in which conversations are filled with meaning and acts of service are done out of love for the Lord and the joy of obeying and listening to Him. A life in which even a blog post can be devoted to Him.

Remain in Him.

See the fruit of His work in the world…in your life…in the lives of others.

Life is about more than a to-do list.

Life is about whose I am.

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Quiet Time Round-up

March 6, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Hey, Internets (as Boomama and others would say)! Y’all have some brilliant Quiet Time ideas!

Your input has sent me out searching the ‘Net, tracking down links and trying to pull together everything into one post, for easy reference.

Before sending you off, let me just say that I have found that sometimes in my life, I’m undisciplined and need more structure; other times, structure starts to feel too much like a to-do list and I’ve missed the point–that they are tools to help me connect with the Savior and deepen my relationship with Him. Those times, I might need to allow for some spontaneity and creativity in my quiet moments alone with Him. So having a lot of ideas on hand allows me to vary according to my current state.

I hope that this collection of Quiet Time solutions (a combination of the ones I’d pulled together yesterday mixed with the ones you added in the comments) can serve as a launching point to inspire and encourage us all as we seek something richer and more meaningful with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

  • Scribing. Last Sunday at church, two guys in our class said that they are writing out the Bible by hand, word for word, beginning with Genesis. They feel that the act of writing slows them down and brings incredible focus, and they see things in the Scriptures that they never noticed before. They call this practice “scribing.” Susan, an artistic designer and lover of color, tossed out the idea of using colored pencils to add even more to the scribing process–I love that idea!
  • Less Ambitious Scribing: A friend in the class joked that she was doing something similar, but less ambitious, than those guys and said she’s writing out Matthew. Same motivation–to slow down, focus, and interact personally with the Lord via the text. She brackets things that stand out to her, to return to and spend time with in meditation and prayer. Others of you said that you wrote out whatever passage stood out to you in your broader reading plan.
  • Bible Reading Plans.

    * Lots of reading plans in one place: Here’s a link Stretch Mark Mama left with lots and lots of links to reading plans collected in one place by Zondervan.

    * Read the Bible in 90 Days:  This accelerated reading plan was mentioned. I found this website link that I assume is related.

    * One-Year Reading Plans. There are a lot of these plans you can download to follow, reading through the Bible in one year using your own Bible, checking off passages as you go. Here’s one I found in a quick search that also offers the option of a three-year plan. And here’s another from Crosswalk that you can use online that just pops up the reading of the day when you go to the link. If you’re fixing breakfast and have your laptop nearby, you can even click on a “Listen” option and have it read to you.

    * One-Year Bible. This is a reading plan laid out in book form. It actually divides up and breaks down passages into daily readings that include a passage from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms and a Proverb. The sections are dated, so it’s all physically laid out to easily follow–open up to today’s date and read. You can take it with you on errands to read while waiting for basketball or ballet practices to end, which makes it more portable than the online reading plan mentioned above that would rely on Internet access.

    * Search the Scriptures is a three-year Bible reading plan with study questions incorporated into it. It takes the reader slowly and meticulously through the entire Bible. The guy who told me about it meets monthly with a friend who is also on track with the same book to discuss what they’re learning.

    * Vary translations. Someone told me she reads through the Bible every year using a reading program, but chooses a different translation every time, to get a fresh perspective. Kristen M. mentioned that she has a Bible with two different translations side-by-side. 

  • Psalter/Proverbs reading plan is a simple and basic discipline. If all else fails, if other plans fall apart, I can always fall back on this.
  • One Book Daily for a Month. Read one book of the Bible every day for a month. If you read the gospel of John or Romans every single day for 30 days, you’re sure to know it intimately–I imagine the original recipients of Paul’s letters pored over them like that, trying to mine them for all their worth. We have even easier access–you have your copy; I have mine. If we can find the time, this could be a powerful undertaking.
  • Ambitious Memorization. The Belgian Wonder’s grandmother memorized all of James and was working on 1 Peter at the end of her life. A friend of the family in Belgium memorized the entire book of Mark and did a dramatic recitation one time for a special evening that my in-laws said was very powerful. In college, I tried to memorize the Sermon on the Mount. I think I got up to Matthew 5:26 and ran out of steam.
  • Less Ambitious Memorization. For those who can’t embark on a massive memorization project, go ahead and tackle a few verses at a time. Helping my kids learn their verses for AWANA has beefed up my own repertoire. And then, when I’m out and about and don’t have time to read a lot, I can still repeat one of those verses and meditate upon their truth.
  • Dividing the Bible into Sections. I couldn’t figure out what to call this method that Prairie Chick explained. Here’s her description.

    About a year ago I sectioned my Bible off (with sticky page bookmarks) into 6 blocks (one for each day of the week omitting Sunday):

    * The law (Gen-Deu)

    * History (Josh-Esther)

    * Wisdom (Job-Sol)

    * Prophets (Isa-Mal)

    * Gospels (Mat-John and Acts)

    * Church/Epistles (Romans-Revelation)

    [updated--She reads a chunk daily from each section: Monday=Law, Tuesday=History, Wednesday=Wisdom and so on, with one day off.] She said that it has helped her see how everything ties together and has seen connections and links she might have missed otherwise.

  • Reading in Chunks. Joni found that reading chunks of Scripture at a time was very rewarding. I have also enjoyed reading an entire epistle, for example, in one sitting, and then going back over it in chunks the next few days (this is a less ambitious option than reading the entire thing every day for a month).  
  • Reading Scripture aloud to the kids. Stretch Mark Mama tossed this one into her comment, and I’ve found this to be true in my life, as well–when we’re having a devotional with the kids and reading a passage of Scripture, God speaks to us, as well as the kids.
  • QT on the Go. Tootie said that she has enjoyed some great prayer time on the go as she runs. She focuses on a person or couple during each running session. Multi-tasking with a spiritual twist! I would add that this could be incorporated into any repetitive-style exercise (stationary bike, treadmill, rowing machine, walking, jogging, etc.) and even in the car. A good friend of mine told me that once a month, she has a long, one-hour commute for her job and commits to praying the entire time.
  • QT in the Shower. More than one mom knows that sometimes the only quiet times possible are in the shower (or bath), and even those are often, unfortunately, interrupted. One person pointed out that if her time of prayer and meditation gets emotional, there’s water and a towel on hand to dry her tears.
  • One Verse for the Day. Kristen described several things she has done, but mentioned that her husband prefers to simply meditate on one verse throughout the day. I wanted to include this idea, because it complements the other ones. After reading longs chunks or a devotional or whatever else we might do, taking just one verse from the broader passages allows us to absorb it and contemplate it (and I mean that in the active-thinking, basic sense of the word).
  • Journaling. Always a great tool for my prayer life. This probably has a thousand variations–perhaps you can offer ideas about how you use journaling in your quiet time?
  • A-C-T-S as a prayer plan, praying first Adoration, then Confession, then Thanksgiving, and finally Supplication. When I learned that technique, the teacher added L to the acrostic, for Listening, even those “ACTSL” isn’t a memorable word. It sounds a little like “axle,” though, doesn’t it? Sorry. I digress. I’ve used the ACTS(L) method with a journal and also just verbally or silently without pen-to-paper. Here’s a simple explanation from a UK-based ministry.
  • S-T-A-R-T. Susan recommended another acronym.

    S- Scripture (jot down the scripture you read- either word for word or a summary)

    T- Thought: What is God saying to you via that scripture?

    A- Action: What action will you take in your life based on that scripture/thought?

    R- Requests: What requests do you need to make of the Lord in prayer?

    T- Thanks: What do you need to thank God for?This leaves out listening, and also the “adore,” but she said this works better for her as a guide to quiet time as a whole.

  • Ask Questions of a Passage. Here are some questions to pose while reading a passage of Scripture:

    * What is the subject of this passage?

    * When and where is this taking place?

    * What does this teach me about God?

    * What does this passage teach me about belonging to and following Jesus?

    * Is there a commandment to obey?

    * Is there an example to follow (or is it showing an example of how not to live)?

    * Is there a promise to claim?

    * What is the most meaningful verse in this passage (and why is it most meaningful)?

    I recommend writing down your answers in a journal. It’ll be interesting to look back on.

  • Devotional Books. These can offer a story or insight from someone, Scripture passages, and sometimes prayers. I’ve used old classic books as well as daily subscription types. Our Daily Bread is one that I used in college–it’s still available printed, but also online. My Utmost for His Highest is also available online, along with Streams in the Desert, and Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening, among others. Anna added Daily Light. Joni mentioned Catherine Martin’s devotionals, which I found at Quiet Time Ministries.
  • Scripture-based Book studies, like Beth Moore’s books or Blackaby’s Experiencing God, or headier stuff like a survey of the Old or New Testament. CBD has a list of Bible studies in various categories. Have you used any in particular that stand out? Katrina mentioned Sandra Glahn’s Coffee Cup series that has the Scripture printed right in the text–a handy feature when chasing down toddlers, she said.
  • Commentaries online are handy. There are a lot, like here, here, and here. Lots of other places, too, if you do a quick search.

Now.

May we all head off to our respective quiet places and spend time listening to the Lord by digging into His Word and pouring out our hearts to Him in prayer.

Trust in him at all times, O people;

       pour out your hearts to him,

       for God is our refuge.

(Psalm 62:8)

Filed Under: Bible study, creativity, lifelong learning, prayer, reading, worship Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Quiet? Time?

March 5, 2008 By Leave a Comment

What do you do to enrich your times alone with the Lord?

Are they quiet? Do you have enough time? Are you structured? Spontaneous? Do you follow a book that leads you through Bible study with guided questions? Do you meet with someone periodically for accountability?

I’m asking because I’m collecting ideas for Quiet Times and Bible study.

So far, here are some things I’ve heard others do, mixed in with things I’ve incorporated currently or in the past:

  • Last Sunday at church, two guys in our class said that they are writing out the Bible, word for word, beginning with Genesis. They feel that the act of writing slows them down and brings incredible focus, and they see things in the Scriptures that they never noticed before. They call this practice “scribing.”
  • A friend in the class joked that she was doing something similar, but less ambitious, than those guys and said she’s writing out Matthew. Same motivation–to slow down, focus, and interact personally with the Lord via the text. She brackets things that stand out to her, to return to and spend time with in meditation and prayer.
  • Another guy in the group is going through a three-year daily Bible study book called Search the Scriptures that will take him slowly and meticulously through the entire Bible. He meets monthly with a friend who is also on track with the same book to discuss what they’re learning.
  • I’ve mentioned my Psalter/Proverbs reading plan as a simple and basic discipline. If all else fails, if other plans fall apart, I can always fall back on this.
  • Journaling. Always a great tool for my prayer life. This probably has a thousand variations–perhaps you can offer ideas about how you use journaling in your quiet time?
  • A-C-T-S as a prayer plan, praying first Adoration, then Confession, then Thanksgiving, and finally Supplication. When I learned that technique, the teacher added L to the acrostic, for Listening, even those “ACTSL” isn’t a memorable word. It sounds a little like “axle,” though, doesn’t it? Sorry. I digress. I’ve used the ACTS(L) method with a journal and also just verbally or silently without pen-to-paper. Here’s a simple explanation from a UK-based ministry.
  • One-Year Bible. A few years ago I picked up a One-Year Bible that actually divides up and breaks down passages into daily readings that include a passage from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms and a Proverb. The sections are dated, so it’s all physically laid out for me to easily follow–open up to today’s date and read.
  • One-Year Reading Plans. One doesn’t need to invest in a One-Year Bible to read through the Scripture in a year. There are a lot of these plans you can download to follow using your own Bible, checking off passages as you go. Here’s one I found in a quick search that also offers the option of a three-year plan. And here’s another from Crosswalk that you can use online that just pops up the reading of the day when you go to the link. I guess this is more like having an online One-Year Bible. If you’re fixing breakfast and have your laptop nearby, you can even click on a “Listen” option and have it read to you.
  • Vary translations. Someone told me she reads through the Bible every year using a reading program, but chooses a different translation every time, to get a fresh perspective.
  • Devotional Books. These can offer a story or insight from someone, Scripture passages, and sometimes prayers. I’ve used old classic books as well as daily subscription types. Our Daily Bread is one that I used in college–it’s still available printed, but also online. My Utmost for His Highest is also available online, along with Streams in the Desert, and Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening, among others.
  • Scripture-based Book studies, like Beth Moore’s books or Blackaby’s Experiencing God, or headier stuff like a survey of the Old or New Testament. CBD has a list of Bible studies in various categories. Have you used any in particular that stand out?
  • Commentaries online are handy. There are a lot, like here, here, and here. Lots of other places, too, if you do a quick search.

I look forward to collecting some more ideas in the comments! Please share ideas and tools for how your time with the Lord has become richer and more meaningful.

And then be sure to pop back over to Rocks In My Dryer to offer more great insights and ideas to people’s pressing questions today at Backwards WFMW.

Oh, and feel free to browse my previous posts of things that have worked for me.

Filed Under: Bible study, books, lifelong learning, mind, prayer, reading, simplicity, slowing, works for me wednesday Tagged With: , , ,

The Huguenot Cross

January 20, 2008 By 25 Comments

This morning I wore a necklace with a Huguenot Cross pendant, and a friend noticed and asked about it. 

I told her that it was a Huguenot Cross and is often worn by Protestant believers in Europe. It’s full of symbolism, but all I could think of at the moment–the opening song had just started up–was the most obvious: a dove dangling at the bottom is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. 

Here’s a shot of mine:

huguenot-cross2.jpg

When I got home, I decided to refresh my memory on the symbolism, as it’s quite detailed.

  • The shape of this cross was modeled after the Maltese Cross; and the cross is, of course, to remind us of the cross on which our Savior died for our sins. The cross is empty, further symbolizing His victory over death–He is risen and alive!
  • Eight points around the edges add up to represent the eight Beatitudes.
  • Between the arms of the cross, the fancier pendants have the image of a flower of French origins, the fleur-de-lys (mine doesn’t have them, but you can see it here)–and the three petals of the  fleur-de-lys are supposed to represent the Trinity.
  • The fleur-de-lys also suggests purity.
  • There are four fleur-de-lys, one for each of the gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
  • Do a little math, and you’ll discover that the three petals multiplied by four fleur-de-lys adds up to….twelve. The number of Jesus’ disciples (after subtracting Judas and adding in Matthias).
  • The inner ring formed by the string of fleur-de-lys form the crown of thorns that the soldiers twisted together and set onto Jesus’ head. 
  • The fleur-de-lys, when set next to each arm of the cross, end up forming an open-spaced heart. Considering Christ’s heart reminds us of His sufferings.  
  • And then, as I already mentioned, the dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit. During times of persecution, the dove would be replaced by a pearl, symbolizing a teardrop.

My friend was particularly struck by my pendant, because she had just finished a book (from this series ) depicting in historical fiction the persecution of the Huguenots. This site offers an overview of the persecution endured by these French Calvinists, or Protestant Reformers. It’s not a happy history.

My dad tells me that my family lineage includes some Huguenots. I don’t know the details of their part in the bigger story. 

I wonder what they endured?

I wonder if they ever wore one of these crosses?

I wonder if they wore it with a dove…or a teardrop?

I’m grateful that for now, today, in the United States of America, we are free from persecution. 

Today I could wear mine with joy while worshiping in a Protestant Reformed church…with a dove.

Peace.

Filed Under: lifelong learning, worship Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,