Love is one of the Christian Playbook actions and is symbolized by the mobius band image [far right at the bottom of this page which links directly to the Love page.]

On this Valentine’s Day, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking this day is only for lovers of a certain type. Maybe that’s what the retailers want us to believe?

The diverse Greek system of loves can provide consolation relating to love. A nice article on this is highlighted on the CP Love tab, and included as a link HERE.

So… let’s think of this day as celebrating all types of love. By mapping out – and then performing – some loving actions, we can be an example to all around us of what the world can be.

After all, as the song says – and this YouTube helps describe – “what the world needs now, is love sweet love!”

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 17, 2019:

• Jeremiah 17:5-10
• Psalm 1
• 1 Corinthians 15:12-20
• Luke 6:17-26

“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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Maybe someone you know is carrying a heavy burden. If so, perhaps today is the day to send him/her/them a note of encouragement (and also send prayers of strength/support?)

This Amy Grant song (HERE) is very topical. If you can, spend the 3 minutes to listen to this tune. Let the words and music fill your heart as you allow the burdens to lift a little from your own life and see God lifting those burdens from your loved ones too.

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 17, 2019:

• Jeremiah 17:5-10
• Psalm 1
• 1 Corinthians 15:12-20
• Luke 6:17-26

Ready to enact some new “all in” behaviors for God?

Maybe Resting in God (RiG) can be one of those ideas? In his book Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home, Richard J. Foster talks about many aspects of prayer.

Here are two key quotes from Chapter 9:

[Page 96] “No teaching flowing out of the Sabbath principle is more important than the centrality of our resting in God…. This does not promote inactivity, but it does promote dependent activity. No longer do we take things into our own hands. Rather, we place all things into divine hands and then act out of inner promptings.” [underline added]

[Page 98] ” ‘Prayer takes place in the middle voice,’ writes Eugene Peterson. In grammar the active voice is when we take action, and the passive voice is when we receive the action of another, but in the middle voice we both act and are acted upon. We participate in the formation of the action and reap the benefits of it. ‘We neither manipulate God (active voice) or are manipulated by God (passive voice.) We are involved in the action and participate in its results but do not control or define it (middle voice).’”

POTENTIAL ACTION(S): Maybe the weekend will afford Resting in God via a long walk, walking a labyrinth, light stretching, prayer with a candle lit or ???

Enjoy the weekend, resting in God and filled with the Spirit!

P.S. If you’re looking into buying a new book for your Christian practices library, Foster’s book is a good one if you don’t have it already.

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 10, 2019:

• Isaiah 6:1-8, (9-13)
• Psalm 138
• 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
• Luke 5:1-11

The final Singing Sister song in this 2019 series is Zacchaeus (listen HERE). You can see a little more about the song HERE.

In Luke 19 we read about Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector who was wealthy. Jesus sees Zacchaeus, wants to be with him and is welcomed gladly. People mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

A pretty effective commentary concludes the story:

Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” ~Luke 19:9-10

The energy of the Singing Sister song enhances an image of Jesus as a caring, joyful presence. That joy is shared with Zacchaeus and is an opportunity for us to share as we work to be Christ-like in the communities where we find ourselves.

POTENTIAL ACTION: Check out the Love section of the Christian Playbook HERE. Maybe one of these items can find your “to do” list in the week ahead?

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 3, 2019:

• Jeremiah 1:4-10
• Psalm 71:1-6
• 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
• Luke 4:21-30

One thing I asked of the Lord, that I will seek after: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.  ~ Psalm 27:4

The Northumbria Community (NC) has some wonderful materials including a Prayer CD that we used as inspiration while creating the CP Daily Prayer Audio. Why not give today’s Northumbria Community evening prayer (HERE) a try whenever you get a chance during the day (you don’t have to wait until evening!) 🙂

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 3, 2019:

• Jeremiah 1:4-10
• Psalm 71:1-6
• 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
• Luke 4:21-30

This UMC website article about finding more time to pray has some great ideas.

There is plenty of content when seeking new ways to pray:

• the CP Prayers section has loads of ideas mined from various sources
• many mainline churches have wonderful online resources. The United Methodist Church online resources are HERE.

POSSIBLE ACTIONS: Perhaps today you add a daily calendar item that says “Pray,” find a prayer group that meets in your community, say a breath prayer every hour, click on one of the resources above or ???

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 3, 2019:

• Jeremiah 1:4-10
• Psalm 71:1-6
• 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
• Luke 4:21-30

In her book Help, Thanks, Wow, Anne Lamott describes three essential prayers. Listening to our next Singing Sister song – Ten Lepers – reminds me of Anne’s book.

How often do we make the Help prayer and then never remember to utter the Thanks prayer at a later time after receiving some conclusion to the Help situation? Thinking of the Ten Lepers story, maybe one in ten? Maybe less?

POTENTIAL ACTIONS: Let it be our goal today to have

• one “HELP” moment with God:
• one THANKS moment with God:
• one WOW moment with God:

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, January 27, 2019:

• Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
• Psalm 19
• 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
• Luke 4:14-21

Psalm 62 provides a good “road map” as we journey through challenges:

For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah   ~ Psalm 62:5-8    

POTENTIAL ACTIONS: Stories of healing and peace are prevalent in the Bible. Christian Playbook has taken some key ones and placed them HERE in an audio form. Should you be so motivated…

• listen to some portion of this audio
• if you like this page of recordings, prayerfully consider whether someone you know might appreciate receiving this and forward it along…

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, January 27, 2019:

• Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
• Psalm 19
• 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
• Luke 4:14-21

In his recent post “In the Valley of the Shadow, Look to the Light,” Rick Warren talks about shadow times in life. This comment caught my attention:

“So the key when you’re going through the valley of the shadow is to turn your back on the shadow and look at the light. Because as long as you keep your eyes on the light—Jesus, the light of the world—the shadow won’t scare you.” ~ Rick Warren

Reminds me of the “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” song, (HERE is a version by Alan Jackson complete with some nice shadow/sun pictures)

When you find yourself amidst the shadows, look for that light source. It might be the sun shining above (in the photo above,) the Son shining through scripture or ??? 

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, January 27, 2019:

• Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
• Psalm 19
• 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
• Luke 4:14-21

The next of our Singing Sister Songs is “The Wedding Banquet” (listen HERE.) The song contrasts a playfulness of the tune (and performance) with the message, would you agree?

The chorus includes the line

Pray hold me excused, I cannot come

Let us all be prepared to attend the great and glorious banquet, energized by the Spirit for just that set of unique, individual activities…

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, January 20, 2019:

• Isaiah 62:1-5
• Psalm 36:5-10
• 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
• John 2:1-11