Monday April 12- Emmaus

Do you sometimes find yourself on the road to Emmaus? You've just experienced some amazing spiritual highs, or incredibly close times with God.Then, as they always do,the weeks pass. Are you like me? Do you somehow find that you've forgotten who is walking beside you? That this dear friend has become somewhat of a stranger, unrecognizable?



Scripture reflection: Luke 24:13-35 On the Road to Emmaus



1. Imagine yourself walking down the dirt road to Emmaus with Jesus. Is it a sunny day? Rainy?Feel the dirt being kicked up onto your sandals. Like the two disciples, maybe it is hard to see Jesus' face, to really recognize him. There is so much talk about what is going on, and who Jesus is.

2. Ask Jesus if you have been believing any misconceptions about him. Have you been believing a lie about Jesus? Have you created a Jesus that isn't real?

3. Thank Jesus for revealing himself to you. Ask him to replace the lie with a truth. Continue to walk with him. Do you have anything you really want to get off your chest? Share it with Jesus. See how he responds.

4. Listen and receive Jesus' love, continuing to walk with him. Is he inviting you to anything? Is he promising you anything?

God of mercy and compassion, your Word calls us home to faith and love. Accept all we offer you today, and help us to continue to receive all you have given. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Lectio and thoughts for Monday April 5

(Read through 2-3 times slowly. Pray for a word or phrase to stand out for you. Sit with it. Ask why it may be these words or phrase for you at this time. What are you being invited to? Say a prayer of thanks for this revelation)

Psalm 67

May God be gracious to us and bless us

And make His face to shine upon us

That your ways may be known on earth

Your salvation among all nations

May the peoples praise you O God

May all the peoples praise you

May the nations be glad and sing for joy

For you rule the peoples justly

And guide the nations of the earth

May the peoples praise you O God

May all the peoples praise you

Then the land will yield its harvest

and God, our God will bless us

God will bless us

And all the ends of the earth will fear him

Update

Easter this year, felt a bit like New Years. As though it is at Easter we should make new resolutions and put to death the things of "last year". I am going to go with that feeling.
Instead though, of making lenten and January resolutions of not eating sugar, exercising more etc etc I want to just TRUST. Trust that what I do get done is enough. Trust and feel God's presence and mercy and love. Trust that He's guiding me. Trust that I'm loved and beautiful. Trust in a future I couldn't possibly have imagined or created for myself.

David is almost home (4 days!) and I can hardly contain myself. This month alone has been so challenging, overwhelming spiritually, but also really really good. I really let myself experience the spaciousness in my life. Instead of marching through the grid-lines of an hour by hour schedule, I let myself breathe. Instead of racing out the door in the morning, disheveled and chaotic, I prayed. Instead of occupying myself at all hours of the day, I sat on the couch, in silence, with a cup of tea and just sat there. No music, no agenda, no major thought or dilemma.
I learnt how to be a little bit more at peace. I learnt how to be a better wife! I'm excited to see how or if I can continue in this way when David gets back, or if I will be stepping into a new learning environment. Either way, there will be no beating myself up over it!

One goal I do have, however: I actually started to like blogging. WHAT?! I still want to make it more useful. I hope to make Monday the day I can post a Lectio Divina or other listening exercise for anyone to do if they choose throughout the week. I'll still blog when I feel the need, too. I need to have some intentional listening time for myself, and I know people go on the computer more than they would like. So if you happen to be wandering around and stumble on my page, maybe you can do the exercise, or maybe it can be a reminder that there are more important things to be doing than looking at a friend of a friends facebook photos.

God is very near. He is so close. I often get the sensation of him breathing, and I want to listen. I want to quiet down and listen carefully. Even in his breathing, he is saying something important.