Week 0 - Gods love for me

I place myself before God and become aware of how he is looking at me lovingly as a friend.

Prayer:

In this moment I come to You,

my God,

still and full of reverence

gratefully knowing that You know me,

completely,

that You are waiting for me

and longing for me,

as my heart longs for You….

And everything becomes still.

Song: Give us, Lord, a new heart. Bernadette Farrell

Give us, Lord, a new heart

Recreate your spirit within us.

I will cleanse you in living waters.

I will wash away your sin.

I will put a new spirit in you

and you shall live, shall live.

I will implant my law deep within you.

I will write it on your hearts.

I will be your God,

and you shall be my people.

For all your faults

I will grant forgiveness,

nevermore will I remember

your sins.

Spotify Link:

https://open.spotify.com/track/6t2qHJdmhf8IVrE53tDqfA?si=eR_3QVGbQ-Crm-t7BcNokQ

YouTube Link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKNezrPwNys

Text: 1 Kings 19, 11-13

The Lord said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’

Elijah is going through a difficult time. He feels lonely, scared and despondent. He escapes the danger he finds himself in by fleeing into the mountains. After many long and trying days, he reaches the Horeb: the mountain of God, and takes refuge in a cave where he spends the night. In the morning God calls him out of the cave. He knows all Elijah’s fears, disappointments, failures but He still asks him to stand on the mountain in his presence because He is about to pass by.

I imagine that it is me who is standing at the entrance to this cave. God knows all my fears, disappointments, failures but He is calling me: “Step outside! Stand before me for I am about to pass by.”

*

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Elijah does not recognize God in the storms, earthquakes or fire but he recognized God in the gentle whisper. Only then did he cover his face and step out before God.

I examine my own life now at this moment in time. There may be turbulent things happening: storms, earthquakes and fire which demand my attention. I cannot ignore them. But a gentle breeze; a gentle whisper, can so easily be lost and not heard in the middle of the storm. I listen with my whole being and try to hear the gentle, soft voice of love in my life? I look to see where I have seen God’s love for me. Maybe reflected in the love of people around me or in prayer.

*

Then a voice said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’

I imagine myself stepping out of the cave when I hear the gentle whisper. “In this moment I come to You, my God”. I hear God ask me: “What are you doing here?”

*

The ground where I stand at this moment in time is Holy ground. I do not need to do anything more than receive God’s Love for me: just as I am with all my faults and imperfections. Maybe there have been people in my life who have helped me to experience this love of total acceptance?

*

Song: Give us, Lord, a new heart. Barbara Farrell

To inspire during the coming week:

Our Deepest Fear

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Marianne Williamson

Poem: Listen by Diana Rowan

Listen. Someone breathes        

          the lost name

Then, clearly,

         in the mossy stillness

                                     sings:

Dear heart,

                come home.