God

God can be heard

–Begin by taking some deep breaths. As you breath, you begin to clear your mind.-

  • Breathe in: I can
  • Breathe out: hear God

-Continue this breathing exercise until you feel you are ready to continue.-

They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Mark 1:22
Mark 1:22

They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

Mark 1:22

In this story, Jesus taught as one who had authority. What does it mean to teach with authority? What did it mean to those who heard Jesus? As I thought about and studied this question, I came to understand that part of what this meant is that Jesus was not quoting other sources. The teachers the people heard at their synagogue quoted other sources, like other scribes, priests, or authorities when they taught. Jesus was speaking with his own words and thoughts. He was speaking as a person who heard directly from God. Like Jesus, we can hear directly from God. Looking up what others say about God, a story, or scripture can help us to understand it, and we can get our answers from God as Jesus did.

Jesus came to restore our relationship with God. Jesus came to help us see God in a new light. We can hear from God!! Yes, there are times we hear from God by listening to what others have to say, and we can hear directly from God as well. Sometimes this understanding comes through reading scripture, sometimes through something we see, sometimes through a relationship. We can see God in everything around us.

  • What is God saying to you?
  • Where are you seeing God?
  • How are you seeing God?

-Please take a moment.-

-Take some deep breaths.-

  • Breathe in: I can
  • Breathe out: hear God

God, thank you for being there to reveal yourself to us. We thank you for showing up when we least expected it, and when we least deserved it. You are there with us in everything. Thank you for revealing yourself to us. Amen

Seeing God in Nature

–Begin by taking some deep breaths. As you breath, you begin to clear your mind.-

  • Breathe in: Seeing
  • Breathe out: God

-Continue this breathing exercise until you feel you are ready to continue.-

For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Isaiah 55:12
Isaiah 55:12

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
    and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
    giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
    it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
    and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

For you shall go out in joy,
    and be led back in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
    shall burst into song,
    and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
    instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial,
    for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

Isaiah 55:10-13

Seeing God in Nature

When I see a beautiful sunset after a hard day,
I remember God is with me in the hard times as well as the good times.

When I see a rainbow,
I remember of God’s promises.

When I see the ocean,
I am in awe of the majesty of God.

When I see the birds on the beach,
I remember the diversity of God’s creation.

When I see the trees swaying in the wind,
I remember to praise God.

When I see the mountains,
I remember God is in control.

When I see the rain,
I remember my mistakes are washed away.

When I see the snow,
I remember God can cover all sin.

  • What would you add to this list?
  • Where do you see God?
  • What part of nature helps you to understand God?

-Please take a moment.-

  • Breathe in: Seeing
  • Breathe out: God

Creator, thank you for all you have created. When I look at the world around me, I remember your love and care. You have made a beautifully diverse world, and I am privileged to be part of it. Please help me to continue to see your character in all of nature.

Be Still and Know God

–Begin by taking some deep breaths. As you breath you can begin to clear your mind.–

  • Breath in by saying or thinking “Be”
  • Breath out by saying or thinking “Still”

-continue this breathing exercise until you feel you are ready to continue.–

Psalm 46:10

God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
    though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble with its tumult. Selah

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;
    God will help it when the morning dawns.
The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter;
    he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

Come, behold the works of the Lord;
    see what desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
    he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear;
    he burns the shields with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God!
    I am exalted among the nations,
    I am exalted in the earth.”
The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

Psalm 46

“Be still and know that I am God!” WOW!! This is a hard thing, and yet when I take the time to be still and know who God is my mind seems to work better. This is the message I needed this week. The message to remember to take time to see God in the world around me. The message to take a moment of silence so I can truly hear from God.

The psalm talks about earthquakes, floods, war, and other chaos going on around the earth. This is what our world has become. There is chaos all around us. The reminder to be still and know God is most important in the midst of chaos. When my world is falling apart around me one of the hardest things for me to do is to be still, and yet this is the very thing that helps me to calm the chaos in my soul and mind.

Taking a moment is not always easy. It is not what I hear from others as being important. I hear that it is important to stay busy, to keep working, to find things to do. I have taken this message to heart. Even though the world around me has slowed down I find myself looking for distractions that will keep me busy. The reminder to be still and know God is more important than ever in the midst of the distraction I am creating for myself.

  • Take a walk
  • Take some time meditating on this Psalm
  • Take some time and meditate on your favorite scripture or poem

-please take a moment to think about one of these activities.-

Take some deep breaths.

  • Breath in: “Be”
  • Breath out: “Still”

God of the moment, thank you for being with me in the midst of the storm; for being with me through the earthquake. Help me to continue to be still in your presence. Help me to continue to get to know who you are. Amen.

The Good Shepherd

–Begin by taking some deep breaths. As you breath you can begin to clear your mind.–

  • Breath in by saying or thinking “Good”
  • Breath out by saying or thinking “Shepherd”

-continue this breathing exercise until you feel you are ready to continue.

Psalm 23:1-2

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
    He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
    he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
    for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
    I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff—
    they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    my whole life long.

Psalm 23

It is comforting to think of God as our shepherd. The psalm says God guides us to green pastures and still waters. God is there to help us find the food and water that we need to survive. There are many times in our lives we need someone to guide us in the right direction, or to a still quiet place. We can trust that God is there to help us through all of these things even helping us find peace in the darkest valley or a banquet when we are surrounded by our enemies.

This psalm reminds us that God is with us even in the darkest valley. God is walking along side us when we are at our worst, and when the world around us is at its worst. God is also preparing a banquet for us when we are surrounded by our enemies. When we do not have a friend to talk with God is there providing us a banquet to enjoy. God takes our worst moments and makes them into experiences we can look back on knowing we have grown to be better people through them. Our experiences do not change, but God helps us to see the good in the midst of it all.

In the gospel of John Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). Jesus not only lays down his life for us, but he does everything God does in Psalm 23. A meaningful experience for me is to read the psalm and replace “he” with Jesus. I read the Psalm slowly, and meditate on each line. If you do not have time to read the whole Psalm like this, read as many lines as you have time for.

  • Read the Psalm slowly.
  • As you read the Psalm replace “he” with Jesus

-please take a moment to think about one of these questions. You might want to write your answers down.-

  • Mallard Ducks
  • Mallard Ducks
  • Mallard Ducks

Take some deep breaths.

  • Breath in: “Jesus”
  • Breath out: “my shepherd”

Good Shepherd, you have lead me to the food and water that I need to sustain my body and my soul. You walked with me in the darkest valley, and given me a banquet when I am surrounded by enemies. Thank you for being my friend, guide and Lord. Amen.