This Christian Playbook post in the Prayer section discusses Nehemiah’s prayer “shot like an arrow”  and Christine’s “whisper and release” prayer. Maybe one or both of those approaches will work for you today as you pray?

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, June 30, 2019:

• 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 and Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20
• 1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21 and Psalm 16
• Galatians 5:1, 13-25
• Luke 9:51-62

Mention contemplative prayer and many of us cringe. Finding 20 MINUTES of quiet solitude for such practice is inconceivable.  The good news is that even an expert practitioner like Richard Rohr recognizes alternatives:

“Contemplation is simply openness to God’s loving presence in “what is” right in front of you—which is what I saw these parents do. This presence to Presence can be cultivated in many ways that don’t require sitting on a mat for twenty minutes.” ~ Richard Rohr in this Many Paths to Contemplation blog post (full interview is in HERE, a quarterly summary from CAC.)

ACTION: Take time to experience contemplative stirrings – openness to God’s loving presence – whether that involves 20 MINUTES in silence and/or a loving interaction happening in 20 SECONDS!

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, June 30, 2019:

• 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 and Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20
• 1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21 and Psalm 16
• Galatians 5:1, 13-25
• Luke 9:51-62

Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my cry of supplication. In the day of my trouble I call on you, for you will answer me. ~ Psalm 86:6-7

Supplication is a word rarely used today, yet our cries of supplication as described in Psalm 86 are numerous. God – Help me get through this day. God – Show me the way. God – Help me be my better self in dealing with all the challenges I face.

Supplication is defined as “the action of asking or begging for something earnestly or humbly.” When we make such prayers, most of us don’t anticipate a Psalm 86:7 answer from God. Instead, it’s an opportunity to focus on the issue with the aid of God-like perspective in humble recognition that it will take more than just us to reach full resolution.

ACTION: what supplication prayers can you “whisper or shoot” directly to God today?

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, June 23, 2019:

• 1 Kings 19:1-4, (5-7), 8-15a and Psalm 42 and 43
• Isaiah 65:1-9 and Psalm 22:19-28
• Galatians 3:23-29
• Luke 8:26-39

In this Guideposts devotional, Bob Hostetler discusses 6 ways to allow more silence, offering opportunities for even better prayer time. Maybe this upcoming weekend – or today? – will offer an opportunity to try one of these ideas?

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, June 23, 2019:

• 1 Kings 19:1-4, (5-7), 8-15a and Psalm 42 and 43
• Isaiah 65:1-9 and Psalm 22:19-28
• Galatians 3:23-29
• Luke 8:26-39

It’s almost summer in North America so for those in this part of the world this may seem an unusual CP post title…

My brother, Andy, reports that Pastor Cheryl’s sermon up at St. Andrew’s in the Pines (Mattawa, ONT) included The Lonely Ember story (link HERE.) I like the finish Andy shared – “That’s the best sermon you ever preached!” [without a word being said!!! ]

Some of the best sermons need no vocalization – pictures, actions and instrumental music are among the ways we can be effectively inspired. Think back to your most impactful Christian experiences and how many of them involved spoken words. Maybe fewer than we might anticipate?

ACTION: Re-read/re-consider The Lonely Ember and devise ways this week that you can stoke the Christian fire in word, deed or ???

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, June 16, 2019:

• Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31
• Psalm 8
• Romans 5:1-5
• John 16:12-15

Well, maybe the Spirit was making some alterations to our last Christian Playbook post (on Pentecost?) That post didn’t seem complete, or did it? Hopefully you got the gist of the message all the same… 🙂 

On to this day’s post…

The word Selah finds its way into the Bible in a number of places, but primarily in the Psalms. Some sources think the word was an instruction to pause before continuing with the next section, somewhat like what a rest provides in musical scores – a break from the singing/playing.

An example of Selah is HERE as part of Psalm 50. In taking that pause, we as the readers get a chance to reflect on the previous section before moving on to new ideas.

Taking Selah experiences in our daily lives can be transformative. Pausing and reflecting after key life events can help us return revitalized for whatever comes next. Maybe the recent Easter season brought new “AHA” moments about your faith?

ACTION: Take a pause, and reflect on your Easter and Pentecost experiences. Are there upcoming actions you can do based on “Spiritual stirrings?”

May Selah times find their ways into your days, helping the Spirit to move in new and wonderful ways!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, June 16, 2019:

• Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31
• Psalm 8
• Romans 5:1-5
• John 16:12-15

Pentecost is a wonderful reminder of the rush of the wind in our lives. This article (Link HERE)

PRAYER:  Read Paul’s beautiful prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21:

That is why I kneel before Abba God, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. And I pray that God, out of the riches of divine glory, will strengthen you inwardly with power through the working of the Spirit. May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith, so that you, being rooted and grounded in love, will be able to grasp fully the breadth, length, height and depth of Christ’s love and, with all God’s holy ones, experience this love that surpasses all understanding, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. To God—whose power now at work in us can do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine—to God be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus through all generations, world without end! Amen.

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, June 9, 2019:

• Acts 2:1-21 or Genesis 11:1-9
• Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
• Romans 8:14-17 or Acts 2:1-21
• John 14:8-17, (25-27)

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. . . . Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” ~ John 14:27

Can we relax and learn to let the Spirit guide us a little more frequently? This ODB devotional (link HERE) is a nice reminder (audio version HERE.)

Enjoy the day – and relax a little more – filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, June 9, 2019:

• Acts 2:1-21 or Genesis 11:1-9
• Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
• Romans 8:14-17 or Acts 2:1-21
• John 14:8-17, (25-27)

“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19b NIV).

Simon & Garfunkle’s “groovy song” (as our boys used to call it) is a favorite, including this line

“Slow down, you move too fast”

Why is it that we Christians so frequently let this fast-paced life “take us for a ride?” One objective of the Christian Playbook is by making time for each playbook element, it allows for a slowing of our days with a focus on Christ-follower beliefs.

Slowing down is especially important when angry, as the Bible mentions in James 1:19 and elsewhere. In a daily devotions post, Rick Warren shares the message: “When You’re Angry, Slow Down and THINK” If you have a quick-lighting fuse, Rick shares some questions to consider before speaking when you’re angry.

ACTION: in addition to doing the CP efforts (devotional, prayer, study, love, music), take time today to slow down, watch the flowers growin’, stifle hurtful anger and delight more in the day…

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, June 9, 2019:

• Acts 2:1-21 or Genesis 11:1-9
• Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
• Romans 8:14-17 or Acts 2:1-21
• John 14:8-17, (25-27)