Tuesday, June 21, 2011

summer


Today is the first day of my favourite season: summer. For me summer is a break out of routine; time seems to slow down just a bit, and God's creation invites me to experience and enjoy.

Something I have engaged in for the past couple of summers, is asking God where he is drawing my attention to for these glorious, languid months. I have had both great pleasure and significant growth through intentionally walking my way through various books of the bible, as well as engaging more regularly in listening prayer.

Usually I have approached God on my own and asked for focus, and followed from there. This time, however, I joined my prayers with two dear friends and team-mates as we asked and listened for each other, then shared what we heard. This was a wonderful time of affirmation, and it was also refreshing to hear God's voice through others. An added dimension that I am looking forward to is the support of this little community, as we have agreed to pray for and check in on each other periodically throughout the summer to see how things are going.

So this summer it seems I am being invited to begin each day in a meeting place with God - to meet him in the river, so to speak. From there, I believe my scripture focus may be to reacquaint myself with the story of Moses. I really wonder what God plans to reveal to me in that story ... not only where I will find him, but also where I'll find myself. There are usually a couple of surprises along the way.

What if we each asked God what he wants to draw our focus to for the summer? Either on our own, or with a trusted friend or two? And then what if we went for it?! Might these sweet summer months become just a little bit sweeter?

-Candice

Thursday, April 28, 2011

via dolorosa



Holy Week for me this year was ... holy. What made it holy was reading and experiencing the story of Christ's passion from a new perspective. It was as if my eyes had been opened to an aspect I hadn't thought of before.

Each day of the week preceding Easter, when I read a portion of the story in scripture, I asked Jesus where I might find myself in the story. Often when I've done this, I've had an experience of picturing myself in the scene ... of seeing, hearing, smelling and feeling my way through the story. This time it was as if Jesus opened the story to who I am ... who he's made me to be.

My first stop was in the garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus prayed and the disciples fell asleep. When I read or hear this story, I'm usually a bit disgusted and less than understanding of the disciples. I mean really, they couldn't stay awake by their dear friend and master's side when he was clearly experiencing extreme anguish? But this time, my intercessor's heart was awakened. How, I wondered, would someone with a heart for intercession pray in a time before the Holy Spirit had been revealed to them? What would the disciples' prayers have been like? Did they think that was even an option for them? I found myself that day praying into that story with an intercessor's heart. Interesting. Holy.

Another experience was in the story of Peter denying Jesus 3 times in the courtyard of the Chief Priest. Again, I've never been overly sympathetic of Peter in that story. I mean really, denying him three times?! Peter, who earlier that evening took up arms against a soldier in defense of Jesus?! But once again, I found myself wondering: was Peter praying in the courtyard? Could he have been in constant dialogue with God, as we can today? Did he know that was even an option for him? Again, I found myself praying into that story from an intercessor's perspective. Interesting. Holy.

And then there was the Via Dolorosa. Jesus' walk to the crucifixion site, carrying his cross. Where would an intercessor be on that "way of suffering"? Was it possible to intercede for Jesus even as he took those painful steps? And once again, I was on my knees, with my heart for intercession broken in this story. Interesting. Holy.

Thank you, Jesus, for revealing a fresh angle to this story. This ancient, precious story that is always new. Thank you for showing me my place in this story today.

-Candice

Monday, April 18, 2011

you are here


"Wherever you go, there you are", is a saying a friend of mine likes to share. It usually is received with chuckles and shakes of the head. Somebody usually comments on how profound that statement is. It's worth a giggle and we move on.

Not that long ago, though, I put some thought into that silly saying. It was after I'd been away for a bit, and realized once again, that my thought patterns, habits, and how I respond to things go with me wherever I am. Things that bug me at home, bug me when I'm not at home. How I respond to someone at home, is mostly how I respond to them when we're away from home - both in the positive and the negative sense.

Who I am and how I do things does not really change just because I go away for a bit. So when I think I want or need to "get away from it all", often what I want to get away from goes with me.

I asked Jesus what he has to say about this. The good thing is, he is the one who really does not change. (see Hebrews 13:8), Plus, he's always with us (see Matthew 28:20). I was reminded that when I find myself in a place where I thought I was getting away from myself (make sense?!) the only place I'll find real change - or transformation - is with him.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

sanctuary



I usually find it difficult to articulate what I am passionate about. Of course, there are a number of issues, situations and people that I could say I'm passionate about, but to me passion is a larger concept. It's more about what drives me. Even what defines me.

Not that long ago I was asked to share about what I'm passionate about right now. Luckily for me, I was given some time to process the question. So I started reflecting on the question ... looking through my journal, looking for some patterns in my life, and asking Jesus about it.

It seemed to boil down to an unlikely word: sanctuary. Unusual as the word is, it seemed to fit. To me, sanctuary means a holy place, a safe place, a place where God is to be found. And I can go to a sanctuary. But I can also make a sanctuary, or even be a sanctuary.

As I held that word up to various areas of my life, most specifically to my relationships, my work, my home, as well as personally, I realized that this is really my passion. To have, be, make and go to a sanctuary: a place of refuge; a holy place. And I believe God made me to be passionate about sanctuary - and all that it means for me.

What if we each asked God what he would identify as our passion?

-Candice

Saturday, January 8, 2011

the writing on my hand




Recently I did some reflecting on Advent and Christmas. I was reminded how I had surrendered to God regularly during Advent, and was left waiting with empty hands. I wondered what I was waiting to receive, and when that might be. Of course, I had to ask. The image came quickly and clearly, and in my mind I saw my hand with the word "new" written on it.

This has led me to search scriptures for God's promises of newness, and one of my favourites is Isaiah 43:19 where it says, "Forget about what's happened; don't keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new. It's bursting out! Don't you see it? There it is! I'm making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands."

And each day I try to remember to simply ask God "what's new?" and wait for his word for me that day. Even when a familiar word comes, it makes me wonder how God will make that word new for me on that day ... or at least someday.

What if we each started our day by asking God "what's new?"

-Candice