Imaginative Prayer

About a year ago I heard about this great podcast called Pray-As-You-Go. They're devotionals that you can download from iTunes or from their website. There's one for each weekday, and they're about 12-15 minutes long. I've been using them on and off during my quiet times for about a year. Lately, I've been using them a lot more frequently. I'll either listen to it on my way to work, or I'll take a walk and listen to it during my morning break. Usually there's a scripture reading, and then a few questions and or thoughts to meditate on. It's a great devotional tool. I mention it because today's was especially awesome. I've been learning a lot about spiritual formation and a lot of the disciplines that go along with it. One of the practices that has really impacted me is Imaginative prayer. It's a practice that was started by Ignatius of Loyola.
Here's how Mike King describes the practice in his book "Presence-Centered Youth Ministry:

"When I practice imaginative prayer, I often select a scripture passage that I want to spend time meditating on and praying through. I imagine what it must have been like to live in the situation described in the passage. I interact with the text of scripture, contemplating it, asking question like these:

What do I see?
What do I smell
What do I hear?
Who do I see myself as in the passage?
How am I reacting to the events?
What is the Lord saying to me?

I read the text several times as I ask these questions, being patient and taking time to listen."

It was cool because today's podcast utilized this practice...And today, God used it to remind me of some things that he'd spoken to me earlier this year. It was a great way to start my day!

Reminded...

I went to California last weekend, and I got to see some of the people that I miss sooooooo very much. It was a great trip. It also reminded me just how much my life has changed in the last year. The cool thing is that through all of the uncertainty God has continued to remind me over and over again that he is with me. How cool is that?! I love it when God takes the time to re-assure me that he loves me, and that he's with me. It just blows my mind!

light

Shining
Bright
That's what you do
That's who you are
Why is it that some are blind to you?
To your beautiful light
Preferring instead the darkness
The hiding
Truly the light exposes all
Everyone can see
Weakness
Imperfections
The light is Truth
It cannot lie
It forces us to face our
mediocrity
(selves)
apathy
(selves)
fear
(selves)
The things we'd rather keep our eyes closed to
It is hard
But
in the light is where you are
It is who you are
And that is where I want to be

Wanted to update everyone on what's been going on in poppyland...

I posted a few weeks ago about my family going to church, and I'm super happy to say that they're still going. Both of my sisters have joined a small group, and the three of us are taking the members class together. My sister Lovey actually got baptized last week! My nieces are getting involved in the youth group, and I am just sitting back and watching God move in their lives. To say it's been awesome is a bit of an understatement!

Right now I'm still working at my temp job. I really like it, and I've got my fingers crossed that it's going to become permanent. Until then I'm living with one of my sisters. When I finally get a permanent job, I'm planning on FINALLY getting a place of my own...I think...I say that because part of me is kind of glad that I haven't signed a lease or anything like that yet. I just feel like I'm taking it day to day. Like I'm just waiting for God to tell me to sell all my stuff and go off on an adventure. That's one of the cool things about being single. I can just pick up and go at any time!

My times with God for the past couple of months, have been pretty amazing. I feel like he's just been pouring into my life. I really believe that God is always trying to reveal himself to us. That if we take the time to stop and listen, he's waiting to speak. As I've done that in my own life, I've just been overwhelmed with the things that God is speaking to me.

So to sum it all up, I still don't know WHERE I'm going...but I'm at a point where I'm okay with that!
Until next time...

Sound of Music | Central Station Antwerp (Belgium)

This is AWESOME!