me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, Israel... that is how psalm 25 reads to me - starts off really good and positive and kind of like the sunday picture of a christian - look at me God, everything is together, You are good, i can sing all the words in all the worship songs and even believe that i believe them and You're great and thanks for all You've done and You're control [...]
some more challenges from ‘Prayer: Does it make any difference?’ by Philip Yancey and you really should get the book: 'I remembered reading the account of a spiritual seeker who interrupted a busy life to spend a few days in a monastery. 'I hope your stay is a blessed one,' said the monk who showed the visitor to his cell. 'If you need anything, let us know, and we'll teach you how to live without [...]
more standing out passages and ideas from ‘Prayer: Does it make any difference?’ by Philip Yancey: 'David Ford, a professor at Cambridge, asked a Catholic priest the most common problem he encountered in twenty years of hearing confession. With no hesitation the priest replied, 'God.' Very few of the parishioners he meets in confession behave as if God is a God of love, forgiveness, gentleness and compassion. They see God as someone to cower before, [...]
hm, after the richness of 23 which i could have explored a lot more and in greater depth, i found 24 a bit more of a dig. nice poetic vibe and all, but not a lot jumping out at me and so maybe this is one where a bunch of you can chime in with your suggestions... i guess the one thing that stood out is the beginning which reads - 'The earth is the [...]
some more quotes from ‘Prayer: Does it make any difference?’ by Philip Yancey, which i am really enjoying at the moment: 'In Jesus' day tax collectors, prostitutes and unclean persons reached out their hands to receive God's grace while religious professionals closed theirs into tight fists. In receiving a free gift, having open hands is the only requirement.' [pg. 23] 'Most parents feel a pang when the child outgrows dependence, even while knowing the growth [...]
some more quotes from ‘Prayer: Does it make any difference?’ by Philip Yancey, which you really should read: 'Be still and know that I am God': the Latin imperative for 'be still' is vacate. As Simon Tugwell explains, 'God invites us to take a holiday [vacation], to stop being God for a while, and let Him be God.' Too often we think of prayer as a serious chore, something that must be scheduled around other [...]
i have just started reading 'Prayer: Does it make any difference?' by Philip Yancey which was given to me by two great friends Emiel and Philippa a while back and which i just started reading at the right time... still early days but REALLY enjoying it and highly recommend it [and it is not 'the ten steps to really great prayer' at all] and while you should read the book, until you do, i thort [...]
'The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will 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. [...]
continuing with some further thorts from psalm 22 'I will declare Your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise You. You who fear the LORD, praise Him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor Him! Revere Him, all you descendants of Israel! For He has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; He has not hidden His face from him but has listened to his cry for help.' [verse 22-24] [...]
this is a long psalm, so may just do it in two parts... starts off with a very familiar statement: 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' [verse 1] Jesus groaning from the cross... or me, sitting and chatting with my wife on my bed last nite... i seem to be able to relate to a lot of the groany [whiny?] stuff of this psalm which i appreciate for its raw and rough [...]