Weekly Assigment: From Devotion to Prayer

Here are some images of devotion I picked up from our meeting on Monday:

• like a whole burnt offering completely consumed in fire for God
• like an eagle on the wind, with the right form and right positioning
• like being dug up and planted in new soil (actually in Psalm 1, the tree is "transplanted" by streams of water)
• the reason we do what we do

Quoting again from the beginning of the section:

For many people today devotional means ethereal, otherworldly, irrelevant.  To still others it implies sentimentality, superficiality, and an unwillingness to face the hard realities of life. . . .  [Devotion] aims at the transformation of the human personality. [It] seeks to touch the heart, to address the will, to mold the mind.  [It] calls for radical character transformation.  [It] instills holy habits.

We leave the first section behind of "preparing for the spiritual life" and go on to the first quality of such a life: being prayer-filled.  Before we leave, though, we must remember that what we learned about discipleship, deep passions for God, and devotion are the foundation we build on.  The disciplines of the spiritual life presuppose another life has indeed invaded our being.  None of the disciplines will yield the fruit we long for without the spiritual life that takes the disciplines and makes them into fruit like love, joy, and peace.

Such a life is not hard to find.  Jesus said it has been provided already by him.  We need to merely accept him and follow him and we will be in the middle of that new life, that life in Christ, that spiritual life.  We do not make it happen, but the "ball is in our court."  Christ has paid for the trip; we just need to go with him by doing as he says and seeking to know him more and more.

The contemplative life or the prayer-filled life is about hearing and obeying Jesus.  We will find it is much more than following commands, however.  His voice also delivers us and teaches us and keeps us company in the cool of the day.  We pray to know Christ as he speaks to us and to love hearing his voice.

We begin with George A. Buttrick, A Simple Regiment of Private Prayer.  We will meet ot talk about it on November 6, 3 pm at the Filer's.

The Most Natuiral of All

I just wanted to let you see my final submission to the Renovare site as guest editor.  Enjoy!

The Most Natural of All

Weekly Assigment: Mud Pies or a New Life

Weekly Assignment: Mud Pies

1. Read: (slowly and thoughtfully) Francis de Sales: One True Devotion on Wednesday or Thursday.
2. Study: reflection questions talk them over with someone or journal abut them on Thursday or Friday.
3. Practice: Pick one suggested exercise to try over the weekend.
4. Pray: Respond to God about the material and lift up other group members.
5. Gather: Next Tuesday at Sierps at 7-8:30 pm.

Please don't let the above assigment burden you.  If you can only Read and Gather, that is fine.  I consider gathering to be our main practice at this point.  It can be a real spiritual exercise to do so with all the other things begging for our attention. May God give us the grace we need to come together for refreshment, encouragment, and learning.

I could not hope to touch all the things I found interesting and helpful and encouraging from our time together.  So much sharing!  I was pleased to see the Spirit active and among us through our words.  I heard people who experienced relieved thankfulness, who praised God for his work in their lives, who confessed their need for God, and who were burdened with the desire to follow Jesus more nearly.

For all these appearances of the Holy Spirit, I am thankful.  Often I find the Spirit so helpful and encouraging, nurturing me as closely as a mother hen.  (I guess we usually think of a dove, but the Psalms sometimes talk about God like a mother hen.)  Yet there are times when the Spirit points out things I'd rather not think about in an effort to get me to fly.  God is easily pleased, but not easily satisfied, I suppose.

I do not think that such times of struggle are meant to make us miserable and down on ourselves.  God is not particularly honored by that.  I think when we notice our brokenness or lack of interest in God and his work, it can be like a promise.  "It will not always be so," God says.  "I have much greater plans for your success and happiness with me."  Or as C.S. Lewis puts it,

It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased. (from The Weight of Glory)

Our desires are not too strong, but too weak.  I think that is much of what Edwards was trying to share in his writing.  With new life in Christ comes new desires.  But most will come more gradually as they are cultivated by our trust in Jesus as Savior and Teacher.  We will be learning about some of the different ways we can work with God in the garden of our lives through various streams of Christian living.

The good news is that although the end of the show is still ahead, the adventure and joy with God begins now.  That is what Jesus meant when he said, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand."   It is at your hands today in Christ.  The very power of God to deliver you from all you are worried about is waiting for you, unlocked by your setting aside the "mud pie" that seems so interesting and trusting him take you on that "holiday at sea!"  Leave the mud behind.  Just try it once and see what the Lord will do.

May this week be a time of blessing and growth for you in God's way, God's time.

Coming in Out of the Wind

Last week was a challenge.  First (and hopefully last) kidney stone.  Thank you for your prayers and concern.  Today I am much better. . . and drinking a lot more water.  I hope your week has been better than mine.  Here is another little article I will have on the Renovare site next week.

Coming in Out if the Wind

Guest Editor for Renovare site

Friends,

I just sent some new posts to Renovare as a guest editor. I referred to some of our conversations using some reading I have been doing in Dallas's book The Spirit of the Disciplines. I have also posted the same article to my other blog, Devotional Classics. Feel free to take a look.

Have a great week!

Weekly Assignment: Discipleship vs. Super-Christianity

Assignment:

1. Read, study, and practice Jonathan Edwards, Engagement of the Heart section.
2. Next meeting TBD.  Either Saturday or Monday at Filers?

There were some really helpful thoughts shared at last week's meeting, I think.

1. Discipleship is not "super-Christianity."  A lot of Christian groups, churches, and individuals have this in mind when they hear about or practice discipleship.  A disciple is a Christian who has regular quiet times, goes on mission trips, gives a lot to the poor, etc.
2. Discipleship is the starting place.  It is the entry position.  The basic "mode of travel in the kingdom of heaven," as Dallas puts it.  I am intrigued about this.  If discipleship is not "over-the-top" Christianity, what is it exactly?  I find I sympathize with "the response [to discipleship] is less one of rebellion or rejection than one of puzzlement."
3. At the heart of discipleship is a relationship, not a method.  "In the heart of a disciple there is a desire, and there is a decision or settled intent.  The disciple of Christ desires above all else to be like him."  Being like Jesus is inseparable from being with him.

Funny that I am used to thinking of "becoming like Jesus" in "super-Christian" terms.  I must do something big, important, or heroic to become like Jesus.  Somehow these efforts often have the opposite effect, however. I find I am discouraged at how much I am not like Jesus when I "fail."

Perhaps the derailing of the desire and intent to be like Jesus by the false idea of "super-Christianity" can be avoided by starting with small things done with great love.  Perhaps consistency is more important than "much-ness."  I should try not so hard to get a lot done, but try to do just one thing: the next step that is in front of me.

Spiritual disciplines are chosen activities outside the normal that draw attention to Christ in my life.  They are drawing near to him and learning from him.  I guess I cannot hope to truly become one with Christ without learning from him nor can I hope to do what he does without being near to him.  Such is the nature of discipleship.

Weekly Assignment: Plans

Assignment:

1. Text - Dallas Willard, The Cost of Nondiscipleship
2. Meeting at Seirps at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, Oct. 4

I am sorry I am so late with this entry.  I've been thinking a bit this week about how I should best prepare for our times together.  I find lists helpful when I am making plans and being disciplined.  What I thought of was this:

1. Read.  Slowly.  Let it sit with me.  Perhaps 2-3 times, especially if it is confusing.  Do this on Wednesday or Thursday.
2. Study.  Go through the reflection questions.  Talk about them with someone or write down some thoughts about them.  Do this Thrusday or Friday.
3. Practice.  Look at the practices for the section.  Pick one and do it.  Do it on the weekend.
4. Prepare.  Get my things together for our time.  Pray for our small group and their needs.  Do this on Monday.
5. Gather.  Bring whatever you've done to the group time.  Encourage each other in our lives and in our practices.  Anticipate God to make an appearance and dwell with us.

I think I will be using the same basic practices in our times together.  I am hoping to get some good conversation and discussion as well as time to do a little practice and prayer.

May your hearts be warmed by your times with Jesus even as the weather cools.