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Quotations about Generosity

Some Tips on Simplifying and Living Generously

Generosity Revolution: 

The Living Generously Project

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Sacred Space: A 10 minute guided prayer session that changes each day

Light a virtual prayer candle and pray for others.

Book of Common Prayer

Books about Prayer:

Prayer by Richard Foster

Simple Prayer by Joyce Meyer

Celtic Daily Prayer, Prayers and Readings from the Northumbria Community

Gratefulness, the Heart of Prayer by Brother David Steindl-Rast

Prayer for People Who Can’t Sit Still by William Tenny-Brittian

Praying in Color: Drawing a new path to God by Sybil MacBeth

Praying in Color Kids’ Edition by Sybil Macbeth

By Missy Jennings

Luke 11: 1-13

            In this passage, we learn from Jesus about prayer.  Jesus does not begin the conversation.  One of the disciples does.  Jesus is just sitting there praying. And the disciple wants to know ‘how to pray’.  So he says to Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

            Jesus first tells us what to pray – the familiar words of what we know as “The Lord’s Prayer”.  Then he gives us the parable of the Friends at Night.  This part of the story is our focus for this week’s Practices Challenge.

            Jesus sets up a scenario for the disciples that begins with a friend going to another friend in the middle of the night to borrow a loaf of bread.  The friend who was asleep tells him to go away and not bother him, that it’s the middle of the night!  But the friend who needs the bread does not give up.  He is persistent in asking the other to get up and help him.  And in the end, the visitor’s “boldness” causes the friend to get up and give him what he needs.  Then we hear the familiar passage “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”  Luke 11:9-10 (NIV).

            What is prayer?  How do we pray?  Does God hear our prayers?  Does He answer our prayers?  How do we know what His answers are?

            Prayer is different for everyone – at least how and when and what we pray.  There’s no perfect way.  For me, it is having a conversation with God.  Just talking to Him.  Thanking Him for the blessings in my life.  And asking -  asking Him for forgiveness; asking Him to help me get through the day; asking Him to help me know what to say and what to do.  Constantly.  Persistent and bold conversation with God lets Him know that I really want and need His help in my life and that I can’t ‘be’ without Him.  Praying keeps me in relationship with Christ.  And being in relationship with Christ enables me to be in relationship with others, in the way Christ wants me to be.

            God wants us to pray (ask) with our hearts and minds so in tune with Him, that as we seek His answers, we are receptive to the Holy Spirit.  So that we can hear what the Holy Spirit calls us to do.  In everything we do.

            So here’s our challenge:  Spend one day this week, all day long, praying before we speak.  Before we do everything we do.  And if we don’t know what to pray, pray “God, be in my words.”  Or maybe…”God, just be with me.”

            God be in my head, and in my understanding;

            God be in mine eyes, and in my looking.

            God be in my mouth, and in my speaking;

            God be in my heart, and in my thinking;

            God be at mine end, and at my departing.                            

(1514, Sarum Primer)

Leave a comment in the comments section of this post!

Wait, are you still working on your Compassion Challenge?  Leave those comments on this post!

Some words about the real meaning of hospitality:

Books:

The Practice of the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence

online version

paper copy for purchase

The Wisdom of Stability, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove         

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 An Altar in the World, Barbara Brown Taylor

Articles:

How to Develop a Character of Attentiveness

10 Tips to Effective & Active Listening Skills

By Keith Tan

Luke 10:38-42

                        I’ve often found this story to be difficult, because it seems that Jesus is not being fair to Martha.  If Jesus and his disciples were coming to my home, I would feel a tremendous pressure to get the house cleaned, the meal prepared, drinks readied and make sure we’ve got an extra bag of ice from Walmart.  And if my sister weren’t helping, I’d be rather irritated too.  After all, surely our brother Lazarus is capable of entertaining our guests.  But when Martha speaks to Jesus about Mary’s unhelpfulness, Jesus protects Mary’s choice of listening to him teach, and even gently chastises Martha for being too worrisome!

                        But as I ponder about this story more, I am struck by several things:  Firstly, that Jesus was definitely bold, and counter-cultural.   He defended Mary’s choice to learn scripture over the expected cultural norm of the day, where women’s role would have been to serve in the kitchen during such a situation.  Jesus’ action challenges me: Am I willing to be bold to live out my Christian convictions even when it goes against the cultural norm?

                        Secondly, Jesus was living out a “reverse hospitality.”  Here’s what I mean.  Martha felt that it was her job to provide.  She felt as though she was in the position and role of being the giver.  But true to his nature, Jesus did not come to be served but to serve.  He entered Martha’s house and he began teaching; Jesus was the real giver of real substance, of eternal significance, that is the Word of God – and Mary understood that; she was listening at his feet.  By being present and choosing to feast on Jesus’ words, Mary understood Jesus’ nature as Provider, and in so doing, honored him in a much more profound way than chicken ever could!  Jesus’ challenge to me regarding this is: How often do I feel like it is my job (at work, at home, anywhere) to be dishing out, serving and giving, providing, when in reality it is Jesus who is the real Provider?  Do I make myself present for him to act, for his truth to penetrate my daily relationships?

                        Finally, Jesus was tender toward Martha.  Even in his gentle rebuke, he did not say that her serving was wrong.  Instead, his rebuke focused on her fretting on the many things; when only one thing was needed.  In his words to Martha, Jesus was in effect releasing her of whatever her own expectations were (which is often a high mountain), that she felt she had to live up to in order to be a “good enough” host.  How often I fall into that place, where somehow, I’ve bought into the belief (wherever do these ideas come from?  Societal pressures?) that I’ve to do this or that to be a “good enough” father/husband/musician/church worker/friend/son/you name it!  Instead, Jesus sides-steps all that, and points to himself as the source and yardstick of who we are and all we do.  What a beautiful gift of release Jesus bestows on Martha!  And what a beautiful gift he gives to us!

An inspiring video from CNN about a person with amazing compassion.

50 Ways to Love Your Neighbor, by Shaine Claiborne and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove

Cultivate Better Bonds With Neighbors and Friends, an article from Reader’s Digest