Gone Gone Is The Former, "Mine"

Well, it's been an incredibly long winter break for me. This is the fourth week. And I have to say, after I slept over at my parents' house a few days I adjusted remarkably. Since then it's been very 'Nolan on break'. I loved going out to Radium Hot Springs (the town is called that, I only went to the springs one day) for a week with Andy, his parents, and RJ (until Wednesday). It worked wonders for the recovery of my knee to soak it in Hot Tubs everyday and give it exercise. It also was great to bring back Morning & Evening Prayers. In the midst of that I read Beholding & Becoming by Graham Cooke.

The premise of the book comes from the story of Mary & Martha. You, like Mary, are to sit and behold Jesus. As with most (if not all) of Graham's short books, it has exercizes to do at the end. The first was a Lament, which while very important, I could not participate in at this time, since I have nothing to lament. The second was about restoring / reconciling relationships, and based on Ephesians (what a co-incidence since God impressed me to meditate on Ephesians). This one blew my mind as I realized God had already done everything in the exercize and I just need to finish it off with a phone call this week. Last we had Lectio Divina, an ancient prayer meditation method, which I have been dying to get Faye to help me with. Don't worry Faye, I'd still love to do this with you, but I've practiced a couple times now.

I read Psalm 46 ten times over the course of two and half hours. And I had these helpful stages of contemplation (here is where I plaigarize Graham Cooke [again] in the hopes that you will go buy his books, because they're great!):
1. Find a place of stillness before God. Embrace His peace. Calm your body, breathe slowly ... clear your mind of the distractions of life. Ask God to reveal His rest to you. Whisper the word, "Stillness." This can take some time, but once you're in that place of rest, enjoy it. Worship God out of it.

2. Read the passage twice, slowly.
a. Allow its words to become familiar to you, and sink into your spirit. Picture the scene - become part of it. Listen for pieces that catch your attention.
b. Following the reading, meditate upon what you have heard. What stands out? Write it down.
c. If a word or phrase from the passage seems highlighted to you, write it down.

3. Read the passage twice, again.
a. Like waves crashing onto a shore, let the words of the Scripture crash onto your spirit. What are you discerning? What are you hearing? What are you feeling? Write it down.
b. What is the theme of this passage? Write it down.
c. Does this passage rekindle any memories or experiences? Write it down.
d. What is the Holy Spirit saying to you? Write it down.

4. Read the passage two final times.
a. Meditate on it.
b. Is there something God wants you to do with this passage? Is there something He is calling you to? Write it down.
c. Pray silently. Tell God what this Scripture is leading you to think about. Ask Him for His thoughts. Write down your conversation - as if you and God are sitting in a coffee shop, two old and dear friends, sharing.

5. Pray and thank God for what He has shared with you. Come back to the passage a few more times over the coming weeks.


Yeah this is amazing. Sure reading the book before you engage in this stuff is awesome but I suspect God is a little bit too eager to hang out with you and will balance things out. So if you'd like to do Psalm 46, I'll post it, and otherwise, go right ahead and enjoy some of your favourite passages again, only different.

Psalm 46

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song for Alamoth.

1 God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah

4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;
He uttered His voice, the earth melted.

7 The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

8 Come, behold the works of the LORD,
Who has made desolations in the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariot in the fire.

10 Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!

11 The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah