Reflecting further on Titus 2:14 we read these words "to purify for himself himself a people that are his very own."
Being connected to God requires that as a people we be pure and a good start to any prayer session is a prayer for purity.
The Book of Common Prayer supplies us with a prayer for purity (Page 67). It is the Collect for Purity that we prayer at the start of every service of Holy Communion. It asks God to send his Holy Spirit to clease the thoughts of our hearts so that we may approach a holy God as a Holy people.
The Book of Common Prayer has a great many examples of prayers that can be used for all occassions. Two of the best known are The Prayer for All Sorts of Conditions of Men and the General Thanksgiving (Page 14-15).
While there is much to commend extemporanous prayer there is also much to commend the use of prepared prayers such as those I have mentioned. Prepared prayers can give expression to thoughts and feelings that we may have difficulty expressing in our own words. I think this can be especially helpful to those who are beginning to develop a prayer life.
These prayers can also serve as prayer models that can be modified to fit our personal life situation. One way of modifying these prayers is to change the words "our" to "my" and "we" to "I".
Try beginning your prayer sessions with the Collect for Purity with these changes. Notice what the conclusion of the prayer becomes.
"Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known and from whom no secrets are hidden. Cleanse the thoughts of my heart by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit that I may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name through Jesus Christ my Lord."
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Connected to God
In less than four months a new ministry will begin at Trinity. In the past week I have wondered what gift we could give to our new rector when they assume their duties on the the first Sunday of December.
The words of Titus have been on my heart: "to purify for himself a people that are his own eager to do what is right." (Titus 2:14)
This passage from Titus is read at Christmas and speaks to the Lord's coming. What type of people will he find?
Perhaps as a people eager to do what is right implies that we should first of all be a people at prayer. Often our prayer life, mine included, becomes nothing more than a list of things we want God to do for us. It is good that we should pour out our needs to God but if that is all our prayer life is then we miss the point of prayer.
Prayer is our connection with God. It is not only the means by which we pour out our hearts to God but is is also the time when we listen to God.
Perhaps the greatest gift we could give our new rector is the gift of a people committed to prayer and desirous of having a deep and intimate relationship with the living God and his son Jesus Christ.
May I suggest that in the three plus months to come that we focus on getting to know God in new and exciting ways. Perhaps the prayer from the musical Godspell is a good place to start:
"Three things I pray: To see thee more clearly, to love thee more dearly, to follow thee more nearly."
The words of Titus have been on my heart: "to purify for himself a people that are his own eager to do what is right." (Titus 2:14)
This passage from Titus is read at Christmas and speaks to the Lord's coming. What type of people will he find?
Perhaps as a people eager to do what is right implies that we should first of all be a people at prayer. Often our prayer life, mine included, becomes nothing more than a list of things we want God to do for us. It is good that we should pour out our needs to God but if that is all our prayer life is then we miss the point of prayer.
Prayer is our connection with God. It is not only the means by which we pour out our hearts to God but is is also the time when we listen to God.
Perhaps the greatest gift we could give our new rector is the gift of a people committed to prayer and desirous of having a deep and intimate relationship with the living God and his son Jesus Christ.
May I suggest that in the three plus months to come that we focus on getting to know God in new and exciting ways. Perhaps the prayer from the musical Godspell is a good place to start:
"Three things I pray: To see thee more clearly, to love thee more dearly, to follow thee more nearly."
Friday, March 23, 2012
unanswered prayer
recently I had a conversation with a man who told me how discouraged he was that God did not seem to be answering his prayers. In fact, instead of making things better, the situation seemed to be getting worse.
"Where is God in all of this?" he asked. "Why doesn't God answer my prayers?"
The issue of unanswered prayer is one that I hear about frequently.
Often our prayers amount to little more than a list of wants and when God seems indifferent to our wants we give up.
If our prayers don't seem to be getting answers then perhaps we need to change the way we pray.
In John 12:27-28 we have an example of this. Jesus is about to pray that he be saved from the cross when I changes his prayer to "Father, glorify your name!" That prayer was answered before it was uttered.
Prayer is about a relationship with God. When prayer is only about ourselves we shouldn't be suprised that it is unanswered.
True healing only begins when we start to look outward and upward.
"Where is God in all of this?" he asked. "Why doesn't God answer my prayers?"
The issue of unanswered prayer is one that I hear about frequently.
Often our prayers amount to little more than a list of wants and when God seems indifferent to our wants we give up.
If our prayers don't seem to be getting answers then perhaps we need to change the way we pray.
In John 12:27-28 we have an example of this. Jesus is about to pray that he be saved from the cross when I changes his prayer to "Father, glorify your name!" That prayer was answered before it was uttered.
Prayer is about a relationship with God. When prayer is only about ourselves we shouldn't be suprised that it is unanswered.
True healing only begins when we start to look outward and upward.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Back to Church - Part 2
Matthew, Mark and Luke all have the Parable of the Sower as the first parable Jesus told. The message seems clear, we are to spread the Word of God as the sower spreads the seed.
It is interesting to think of the Sower and how he goes about his work. The seed is spread on a footpath, on rocky ground, among thorns, and finally on good ground. It does not seem top be a very good use of the seed.
I wonder if we are like the Sower when we talk to people about the Gospel or are we "efficient" in our use of the seed? Do we speak out our faith in the places where we think it is likely to be well received -the good soil - or do we spread it even in those places where we think it is unlikely to grow - among the thorns, on the rocky places and the footpaths?
When I was in Scouting I often sold apples on Apple Day. I was always suprised that people I thought would buy an apple often walked past me without so much as saying "No" while those I thought least likely to buy an apple often bought several and gave generously. I was a poor judge of "good soil."
As Back to Church Sunday approaches, allow God to guide you as to you will ask. The seed may grow in the most unlikely places.
It is interesting to think of the Sower and how he goes about his work. The seed is spread on a footpath, on rocky ground, among thorns, and finally on good ground. It does not seem top be a very good use of the seed.
I wonder if we are like the Sower when we talk to people about the Gospel or are we "efficient" in our use of the seed? Do we speak out our faith in the places where we think it is likely to be well received -the good soil - or do we spread it even in those places where we think it is unlikely to grow - among the thorns, on the rocky places and the footpaths?
When I was in Scouting I often sold apples on Apple Day. I was always suprised that people I thought would buy an apple often walked past me without so much as saying "No" while those I thought least likely to buy an apple often bought several and gave generously. I was a poor judge of "good soil."
As Back to Church Sunday approaches, allow God to guide you as to you will ask. The seed may grow in the most unlikely places.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
The Doors are Open
Sunday September 25 is Back to Church Sunday in the Diocese of Huron.
When was the last time you invited someone to come to church with you?
Perhaps there is somebody that has asked about church. Why do you go to church/ What do you do at church? What do you find meaningful about church?
Perhaps there is someone who has asked you about God.
Now is the time to invite that person to come to church with you.
There are many reasons why people give for not attending church.
Back to Church Sunday is not about those reasons. It is not about trying to convince people that they should come to church and it is not about responding to their reasons for not coming to church.
It is about extending an invitation and allowing God to work in the life of that person to overcome their fears and objections.
As Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, " I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow." (1 Corinthians 3:6)
Consider planting some seeds on September 25.
When was the last time you invited someone to come to church with you?
Perhaps there is somebody that has asked about church. Why do you go to church/ What do you do at church? What do you find meaningful about church?
Perhaps there is someone who has asked you about God.
Now is the time to invite that person to come to church with you.
There are many reasons why people give for not attending church.
Back to Church Sunday is not about those reasons. It is not about trying to convince people that they should come to church and it is not about responding to their reasons for not coming to church.
It is about extending an invitation and allowing God to work in the life of that person to overcome their fears and objections.
As Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, " I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow." (1 Corinthians 3:6)
Consider planting some seeds on September 25.
Monday, June 20, 2011
The Book of Genesis teaches that on the seventh day of Creation God rested and furthermore God hallowed the Sabbath and made it holy.
Today we have lost the idea of a Sabbath or Common Pause Day, but most of us do have a day off.
When was the last time you turned your day off into a Sabbath?
Most of us spend our day off catching up: paying bills, doing laundry, mowing the lawn etc.
A Sabbath is different. “You shall not do any work.” So on a Sabbath the lawn grows a little longer, the car waits another day to be washed or serviced, the doctor and dental appointments are on another day. The Sabbath is about finding rest and refreshment in doing what you want to do, not what you have to do.
Would your life be better if you took a Sabbath every week?
What is stopping you from taking a Sabbath?
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Difficult Bible Texts
This past Sunday the gospel reading was the account of Jesus healing the Syrophoenician’s daughter. (Mark 7:24-30)
I personally find this a difficult text especially in the light of Jesus’ rather abrupt comment to the woman’s appeal (v27). This comment seems so out of character for Jesus who usually reserved his harshest words for the Pharisees and religious leaders of Israel
There have been a number of texts that have perplexed me over the years. A major struggle for me was the Book of Job, especially Job 1:12.
My point here is not to resolve the difficulties I have but rather to reflect on the fact that the Bible presents us with many difficult texts that may make us uneasy or simply confuse us. As Christians I believe we are called read and prayerfully study the whole of the Bible, not just those texts that make us feel comfortable or with which we agree. After all, the whole of the Bible is God’s word and we are called to study it in its entirety.
It is when we prayerfully study these difficult texts God rewards us with insights into the human relationship with God (Job), the meaning of faith (the Syrophoenician woman), or of the humanity of Jesus. It is in the difficult texts that the greatest treasures are often found.
What are the difficult texts in your life? We at Trinity would welcome the opportunity to struggle with you.
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