Spirtitual Tool - Prayer

As Christians we often fall into a time of sloth when it comes to spiritual devotions. In order to stay spiritually fit we need to have a well used ‘tool box’. This is the first of a series of articles on ways to spend a little time with God.

When I lived in the Benedictine Monastery (that’s a story for another time) I first learned of “Contemplative Prayer”. This practice of meditative prayer is as old as the Early Fathers of the church and was valued in writing as far back as the 4th century.

This spiritual skill is a kind of prayer that involves neither spoken works nor images. It is sitting in silence, eyes closed and thinking on or resting with a word. This word is one chosen by you for your time in ‘unknowing’ or silence to see the word as a sacred word. As you ‘think’ on this word, turn yourself totally to God. Just breathe and think on your word – if you should wander, it’s ok, just return to thinking of nothing other than your word. You can try words such as ‘love’, ‘peace’, or ‘joy’. You could try more difficult words such as ‘embrace’ or ‘wisdom’. Take about 20-30 minutes twice a day for this exercise.

It is important to realize that the benefits of centering prayer are usually not found in the time during the prayer, but instead they are found in the day to day activities of your life after the prayer.

Joseph G. Sandman wrote:
“Those who regularly practice centering prayer have identified additional benefits. These include: greater access to God’s own wisdom and energy; a significant increase in creativity; a decrease in compulsive behavior; a reduction of painful emotions and negative thoughts and greater freedom to respond positively to them when they do arise; a greater ability to accept difficult situations with peace and joy; an expanded capacity to accept others on their own terms without judging them or desiring them to change; an ability to love others more selflessly; and a greater awareness of the presence of God in every person and situation we encounter.”

I pray that you center your life in God and that you add this tool to your ‘faith box’!

See you in church,
Pastor Lynnae

Spiritual Tool Box

My Tool Box has been getting a lot of attention since I moved into the new house. I have a hammer, standard and ‘other’ screw driver. I have pliers and I even know what a Molly bolt is! But, just knowing what the tools are doesn’t mean that I’m good or even comfortable using them. To do that – to be good and comfortable with my tool box, I have to use the tools. I have to consistently swing the hammer, drive the screw and lock the pliers.

What if we had a ‘Spiritual Tool Box’ - tools that actually help us SPIRITUALLY? Tools like; centered prayer, journaling, and expressive art. These kinds of tools keep us ‘hanging straight’ and ‘put together’ well. We all need to use such techniques in order to be spiritually strong. We need to have a Spiritual Tool Box.

I am going to begin a series of articles about the tools that can help us grow spiritually. Next newsletter I’ll share some ideas on Centered Prayer as a way of enhancing your life with Christ and with others. I hope you’ll join me in putting together a good Spiritual Tool Box.

See you in Church!

Change

When the trees start to change their colors – even in Austin, TX where the average temperature is still mid 80’s – we know its autumn. Autumn is a season of change. The leaves change color because they aren’t taking in as much water and eventually they die and fall off the tree. The tree isn’t dying – just the leaves. It is about the changing seasons. Our lives ebb on through the changes and we know the seasons of our own days. Birth to growth, decay to death. But, something lives on. We are a community of faith, a church that lives because of change.

Do you pray for change? Mostly, I like to keep things organized and the same. But, I believe we should pray for change. Change is really growth. Spiritual growth is about taking risks, stepping out of our comfort zones and stepping into change.

Autumn is one of the most beautiful seasons! May the colors of fall lead you to pray for change.

“Opening the Book of Faith”

“Opening the Book of Faith” – the new initiative from national church-wide offices of the ELCA is encouraging all Lutherans to get into the Bible!

I have met quite a few ‘non-denominational’ Christians that are really good at memorized proof texting – you know, they can quote anything from any book but they are not knowledgeable about the over all message of scripture. They have a questionable understanding of the big picture.

On the other hand, I have met quite a few Lutherans who know the overall message of the good news, but they don’t really know where it’s found in scripture.

We need to get back to the basics of bible study. I’ve met quite a few people who say, “I wish I knew the Bible better” and I say “Well, great! Let’s do something about that!.” Join us for bible study! We meet almost every day of the week at Abiding Love for one study or another! Sunday mornings – everyone has the opportunity to get into the Book of Faith!

See you in church!

Pastor Lynnae

“But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." — Joshua 24:15

Pastor Lynnae has moved from her apartment into a house!

A house blessing party is to be announced in the near future.

Ritual : Identity : Self-definition

In his book, Moving the Furniture, Dr. William Seth Adams writes, “Rituals provide memory, identity and community-vision for their participants.” I continue to be amazed that in a world where everyone is running around with Blackberry’s, laptops and ear-phones, some people in the church question a person’s need for ritual.

We seem to have become an over-organized society! Organization requires ritual. Yet isn’t it interesting that ritual becomes a habit of the heart. Ritual gives meaning, symbol and memory to action. Lighting the candles in church offers no purpose other than ritual which leads to a symbolic action of inviting the light of Christ into our midst. We know Christ is here whether we invite him or not, but the burning wick offers us a visual remembrance of his presence.

If ritual also brings identity and self-definition then our rituals help us to know who we are as disciples of Christ. Our Christian heritage gets wrapped up in our sense of ritual in worship, prayer and devotional life, even service.

We need ritual in order to know who we are. Even our ‘contemporary’ ways are full of ritual. We do things in a certain way because that is who we are. To know yourself is to recognize the importance and place of ritual in your life.

Be a part of the ritual at Abiding Love. See you in church.

We Support Greatness!

September 2nd

As I came to church this morning I met several weepy mothers and a few disoriented fathers. They were busy, looking down and walking quickly to their cars. It is the first day of school at the ‘part time’ program, a ministry of our Children’s Center.

I’m thinking there were probably a lot of crying toddlers as they were dropped off for their first day. Separation anxiety is one of our first and greatest fears. We learn how to handle separation when we are little, and those life lessons go with us for our lifetime. What a comfort to know that a place like Abiding Love is helping to teach the lessons of love and care. The 100 plus children that come here everyday learn about trust, grace and of course, love.

We are participating in the development of the future. Who knows what greatness is found among these children! I’ve heard a story about one of Martin Luther’s first day of school. The teacher, upon entering the classroom, bowed and said, “I bow because I know that one of you is going to be great!” I give thanks for the ministry that we support and encourage at the Abiding Love Children’s Center. We support greatness!