Praying in Color and Embracing Change

In the past year I have been challenged to embrace change with vulnerability, courage, and self acceptance. This has not been any easy task. In fact some days I would rather just stick my head in a hole and not resurface until it's all over. However, I know this is really not the best or most effective way to live one's life even if life has thrown you a huge curve ball. So instead I have been searching for ways to "rise strong" (Rising Strong is the title of Brene Brown's newest book) and show up every moment of every day. A few of the ways I have been doing this is through regular yoga practice, reaching out to friends and professionals for support and healing, and more recently reintroducing regular prayer practices into my daily routine.

For the past week I have been digging into to my creative heart and my need to work with my hands and "trying out" a prayer practice called Praying in Color. Praying in Color uses the concepts of doodling and coloring as tools for a more "active, meditative, playful prayer practice" (Praying in Color pg. 5). You can pray for others, for you self, or even pray through scripture.

As you can see my prayer focus has been self centered (in a positive way). My need to embrace change within myself and my situation has dictated my praying in color practice thus far. It has allowed me to take time to listen for God, ask questions of God and myself, and seek answers about who I am and where I am on the this journey we call life.

This practice is constantly changing (as you can tell from the two photographs). No two prayers are alike.

Praying in Color allows my brain to focus and wander simultaneously. It also gives me a safe time and outlet to lean in to and really feel my emotions. For example today while I was doodling "embrace fear" not only did I notice the fear bubbling up from within but I was able to doodle and color the emotion as I was feeling it. I authentically felt it but it didn't have the power to paralyze me. I believe  this is what the God means in the verse "Do not be afraid."

This is an ever evolving prayer practice and I am excited to see where it will take me next.

Does this practice intrigue you? Would you like to learn more about it? If so, click on the link above or click right here.  Or contact me and we can chat about it-I'd love to help you begin!

Friday Photographs-Find Rest

"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

Matthew 11:28-29

Friday Photographs

"A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more." 

Matthew 2:18

Lord in your mercy hear our prayer...

(Dedicated to those who are affect by today's school shooting in Connecticut)

Friday Photographs

"The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky proclaims his handiwork"
Psalm 19:1

Friday Photographs

Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the Glory of God.

Romans 15:7

Friday Photographs

Oh LORD, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Psalm 8:1

Friday Photographs

Praise the LORD!

Praise God in his sanctuary;

praise him in his mighty

firmament!

Praise her for her mighty deeds,

praise her according to her

surpassing greatness!

Praise him with trumpet sounds;

praise him with lute and harp!

Praise her with tambourine and dance;

praise her with strings and pipe!

Praise him with clanging cymbals;

praise him with loud clashing cymbals!

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!

Praise the LORD!

Psalm 150

Sabbath-Keeping

“So God blessed the seventh day and hollowed it, because on it God rested from all the work God had done in creation.”  Genesis 2:3

“Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy.”  Deuteronomy 5:12

“Be still and know that I am God!” Psalm 46:10 

These Scripture passages are some of the most recognized passages about sabbath-keeping.  The word sabbath comes from the Greek word meaning “to rest”.  When we rest we cease work or movement in order to regain our strength.  The word keeping refers to “the action of owning, maintaining, or protecting something”.  Thus sabbath-keeping is protecting time to cease work and regain ones strength.

I often pray the following, “God grant me the grace of a strong soul.”  A strong soul comes from God.  It comes from being who God has created us to be-our authentic selves.  It does take “work” to peel back the layers that are hiding the truth of our soul.  These layers come from living in a world of sin, pride, self-indulgence, fear, loneliness, pain, suffering, and so much more.  Yet, each time we peel back one of these layers more of our authentic self is visible to the world.  We become stronger each time we peel back one of the layers that is hiding the light of God in our soul.  

One of the most important ways to “work” at peeling back these layers is to “Be still and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46: 10).  When we are resting in God’s presence we become aware of the Holy that is at the core of who we are.  Sabbath-keeping is about taking time to rest, become aware, and rejoice in the fact that we are created in God’s image thus God lives within each of us.  When we are resting in God’s presence we put aside our fears, worries, loneliness, suffering and whatever else keeps us from experiencing God’s amazing unconditional love.  In sabbath we can let this healing love wash over us and infuse every cell of our body.

Sabbath-keeping can take many forms.  For some true resting from the wold might be a run or hike in the woods, a moment of peace and quiet in a busy day, scripture reading, a silent retreat, or daily meditation.  In our busy world sabbath-keeping is what ever helps you take time to stop, rest, and experience God’s healing love that strengthens you soul.

Who guards our hearts and minds?

Last night after a frustrating day I was getting ready to do my meditation/prayer time.  I have been reading through the Psalms over the past few months and was ready to delve into the next Psalm.  However, in my head I kept hearing the words of Philippians 4:4-7.  Now this verse has a special place in my heart as it was the verse “given”’ to me at my Confirmation by my Youth Pastor Anna Carter Florence.  It rang true for me then and it continues to ring true for me today.  

Usually verse 6 rings true for me and is the message I need to hear and take to heart.  This time reading aloud the verse (not from memory!) I was drawn to verse 7 “And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Jesus Christ.”  In particular I was drawn to the verb phrase will guard your hearts and minds.  My first question was what exactly are we being guarded against?  Then my next questions was what does the text mean by guarded?  I have come to realize that I am a word junky.  I love words and I love to know exactly what they mean in each particular context.  So I keep a dictionary in my meditation/prayer corner so I can look up words.

I looked up the word guard in the dictionary it means “to watch over” and the synonym is protect which means “to shield from injury.”  Many of us guard our hearts and minds out of fear.  We decide not to something because we are afraid we will fail or we will get hurt doing it.  We decide not to take a leap of faith into a new job, relationship, adventure etc. because we are afraid of the unknown.  We do not want to risk getting hurt emotionally, mentally, or physically to the point we no longer have hope.

This scripture passage says just the opposite-it is God’s peace that will guard our hearts and minds.  It is not our job to guard our hearts and minds.  Rather it is God that is doing the guarding.  God’s peace guards our hearts and minds from the deep despair and hopelessness of sin and evil.  This does not mean that we will not suffer or get hurt because sin has not been eradicated.  Rather, we are freed to live as our authentic and true selves knowing God’s peace and love has the final word over sin and despair!

Who bolts the door?

A couple of weeks ago I had the wonderful experience of attending the Synod of Lakes and Prairie’s Synod School.  The keynote speaker for this camp/conference was Associate Professor of Homiletics at Columbia Theological Seminary Rev. Anna Carter Florence (she also happens to be a friend of mine as I was in her Jr. High & Sr. High youth group).  Anna’s keynote addresses focused on Preaching as Testimony (which is also the title of her book).  

During her keynote addresses Anna took us through the process she uses with her seminary students as they prepare their sermons.  In a small group the students read aloud the Scripture passage.  The second time reading it aloud they focus on the parts of speech primarily the verbs.  Then each student is asked what verb and/or verb phrase sticks with them and why.  Once the students have verbalized this they are asked the question “What does this passage say about God?”  She stresses to her students that sermons are about God not about them.  The last set of questions are What do you want to say about this?  And what do you hope it will do?

Anna took us through this process with the Scripture passage 2 Samuel 13:1-22, known as the “Rape of Tamar.”  After reading through this passage with the group my verb phrase was “bolted the door after her” (verse 18).  My final day at my previous call felt like the door was “bolted” after me.  I was not allowed to return for a final Sunday to say good bye or have closure with most of the congregation.  It felt to me like I had done something wrong, was no longer welcome, and I was not appreciated by the congregation.  When a door is bolted against someone those inside no longer want that person in their presence. 

Initially it was difficult for me to figure out what this verb phrase said about God.  I realized that it was Amnon who ordered the door bolted and the servant who did did the bolting.  It was not God (in fact God is not mentioned directly in this passage) who bolted the door.  God does not bolt door to keep us out!  In fact God does just the opposite-God says “knock and the door shall be opened”.  There are many times when we feel lonely and it feels like God is very far away.  In my experience it not that God is far away but rather I have not recognized God’s Spirit living with in me.  The Good News is that God is always present in our lives! 

This way of reading and interacting with Scripture has spoken to me in two particular ways.  First, I once again see and experience Scripture as the living Word of God. Anna’s love of Scripture is infectious.  Her way of looking at Scripture as a testimony to God gave me a new outlook on reading and interacting with Scripture-it made Scripture come alive for me.  Second, I am beginning to ponder what implications Anna’s idea of “preaching as testimony” has on Christian Education (more on that in another “post”).  Thank you to Anna for bringing scripture to life for me again!