“What is your name, that we may honor you?” He replied, “Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding… It is a name of wonder.” (Judges 13:17-18) Hallowing and honoring God’s name is a dangerous business. We could easily delude ourselves into thinking that we are on a strictly first-name basis with the …
“Proper prayer begins with a desire that the name of God be hallowed, to make holy, to set apart for holy use, to respect greatly… To hallow also means to magnify, to enlarge in significance, to esteem. We hallow the name by lifting it up, speaking it forth worshipfully and respectfully with its fullest meaning, …
“It indeed is a hard discipline to be useless in God’s presence and to let him speak in the silence of my heart. But whenever I become a little useless, I know that God is calling me to a new life far beyond the boundaries of my usefulness.” (Henri Nouwen) Seek wisdom, not knowledge. Jesus …
Wisdom: the practical art of living skillfully; moral discernment; taking pleasure in the right things; practicing the truth in daily life; learning to live as our Creator intended. Based on understanding, not intelligence; on contemplation, not calculation; on faith, not insight; on practical spirituality, not personal giftedness. (paraphrases from various sources) Wisdom is like a …
“To meditate is to read a text and to learn it ‘by heart’ in the fullest sense of this expression, that is with one’s whole being: with the body since the mouth pronounced it; with the memory which fixes it; with the intelligence which understands its meaning; and with the will which desires to put …
“Is-is he a man?” asked Lucy. “Aslan a man!” said Mr. Beaver sternly. “Certainly not. I tell you he is the King of the wood and the son of the great Emperor-Beyond-the-Sea. Don’t you know who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lion – the Lion, the Great Lion.” “Ooh! said Susan. “I’d …
Pauline Blessings: Praying a “Good Word” Over Others (2). 6. “May you be resolute, encouraged in heart and bound together in love until you have the full riches of complete understanding in order that you may know the mystery of God, who is Christ, in whom are hidden all the jewels and treasures of wisdom …
Pauline Blessings: Praying a “Good Word” Over Others (1). 1.”May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, so that you may know the hope to which he has called you, …
Have you ever wondered how to bless others meaningfully, to pray God’s best for them, whether for a child, a parent, a spouse, a friend, or even a total stranger? When words or insight seem to fail you, try praying these blessings (‘good words’) over the other person. It’s all scripture, so it’s rich, deep, and …
The Gift of Weakness: A Self-Examination. Our working definition of weakness is, A lack of strength due to: sickness; a handicap; an ongoing difficulty; a distressing hardship; insulting opposition; a glaring vulnerability; a limitation that puts one at a disadvantage; the bearing of the difficult burdens of others. Personal questions to consider as you think …
The Gift of Weakness (2). Our working definition of weakness is, A lack of strength due to: sickness; a handicap; an on-going difficulty; a distressing hardship; insulting opposition; a glaring vulnerability; a limitation that puts one at a disadvantage; the bearing of the difficult burdens of others. Scripture Meditation. 2 Corinthians 13:4, a weaving together of the Message, NIV, and …
The Gift of Weakness (1). Here is a working definition of weakness as we meditate on this key scriptural idea about our walk with Christ. Weakness is a lack of strength due to: sickness; a handicap; an ongoing difficulty; a distressing hardship; insulting opposition; a glaring vulnerability; a limitation that puts one at a disadvantage; …