Daily
Meditation for Monday 28th of July 2014
Suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a
lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she
finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with
me; I have found my lost coin.' In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing
in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
Luke
15:8
God rejoices when we turn away from our self-destructive way of life toward a
grace-full way of life. God rejoices.
The process of recovery begins when we are able by God's grace to recognize
that our efforts to be God -- to control, to make things perfect -- have failed.
When this happens we are able to face clearly the behaviors which have been
destructive to ourselves and others. We can then turn from our sin to God. Even
when this process involves a long search, God rejoices when we are found.
When a child is born, it is a joyful event. Functional parents prize the
child. They hold the child and talk to the child and marvel over the child. The
infant does not yet contribute much to the world. It comes as a bundle of needs.
But the infant brings joy simply by being.
God is our Good Father. God prizes our existence in the world. God desires to
have a relationship with us. Even when we are a bundle of needs and not yet able
to contribute much to the world, God rejoices over us. When we are restored,
reconciled, found, it brings God joy.
God rejoices over you. God experiences joy when you are found. God throws a
party when your relationship is re-established. God finds joy in you.
Lord, help me to take it in.
I can't image myself as the object of your
joy.
Help me to see that you find joy in me.
Amen.
Copyright Dale and Juanita Ryan
Dale Ryan is an Associate Professor of Recovery Ministry at Fuller
Theological Seminary. Juanita Ryan is a therapist in private practice. You can
read Juanita's blog at Graceful
Growth
Monday, July 28, 2014
Daily
Meditation for Monday 28th of July 2014
Suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
Luke 15:8
God rejoices when we turn away from our self-destructive way of life toward a grace-full way of life. God rejoices.
The process of recovery begins when we are able by God's grace to recognize that our efforts to be God -- to control, to make things perfect -- have failed. When this happens we are able to face clearly the behaviors which have been destructive to ourselves and others. We can then turn from our sin to God. Even when this process involves a long search, God rejoices when we are found.
When a child is born, it is a joyful event. Functional parents prize the child. They hold the child and talk to the child and marvel over the child. The infant does not yet contribute much to the world. It comes as a bundle of needs. But the infant brings joy simply by being.
God is our Good Father. God prizes our existence in the world. God desires to have a relationship with us. Even when we are a bundle of needs and not yet able to contribute much to the world, God rejoices over us. When we are restored, reconciled, found, it brings God joy.
God rejoices over you. God experiences joy when you are found. God throws a party when your relationship is re-established. God finds joy in you.
Lord, help me to take it in.
I can't image myself as the object of your joy.
Help me to see that you find joy in me.
Amen.
Copyright Dale and Juanita Ryan
Dale Ryan is an Associate Professor of Recovery Ministry at Fuller Theological Seminary. Juanita Ryan is a therapist in private practice. You can read Juanita's blog at Graceful Growth
Suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
Luke 15:8
God rejoices when we turn away from our self-destructive way of life toward a grace-full way of life. God rejoices.
The process of recovery begins when we are able by God's grace to recognize that our efforts to be God -- to control, to make things perfect -- have failed. When this happens we are able to face clearly the behaviors which have been destructive to ourselves and others. We can then turn from our sin to God. Even when this process involves a long search, God rejoices when we are found.
When a child is born, it is a joyful event. Functional parents prize the child. They hold the child and talk to the child and marvel over the child. The infant does not yet contribute much to the world. It comes as a bundle of needs. But the infant brings joy simply by being.
God is our Good Father. God prizes our existence in the world. God desires to have a relationship with us. Even when we are a bundle of needs and not yet able to contribute much to the world, God rejoices over us. When we are restored, reconciled, found, it brings God joy.
God rejoices over you. God experiences joy when you are found. God throws a party when your relationship is re-established. God finds joy in you.
Lord, help me to take it in.
I can't image myself as the object of your joy.
Help me to see that you find joy in me.
Amen.
Copyright Dale and Juanita Ryan
Dale Ryan is an Associate Professor of Recovery Ministry at Fuller Theological Seminary. Juanita Ryan is a therapist in private practice. You can read Juanita's blog at Graceful Growth
Monday, July 21, 2014
Daily Meditation for Monday 21st of July 2014
Daily
Meditation for Monday 21st of July 2014 (source listed at end of post)
Those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31
Hope gives us strength. We need strength for the journey of recovery. We need strength to make the changes that need to be made -- and strength to grieve the losses which come with change. We need strength to keep on keeping on. Recovery requires a great deal of physical, emotional and spiritual strength. We draw that strength day-to-day from hope.
There are times when hope will allow us to soar. We will feel the exhilaration of change and new freedom. We will think about the future and imagine good things. We will soar with gratitude and joy because of hope.
There are other times when hope will allow us to run and not grow weary. We will keep going. Keep changing. Keep working. Keep feeling. We may get tired but hope will keep us from getting weary and wanting to give up. Hope helps us to keep running.
There are other times when hope will allow us to walk without fainting. Some days, in our recovery journey, continuing the journey at all is very difficult. The struggle we face may be so intense that we would faint if it were not for hope. But hope helps us to take the next step. One slow step at a time. Step by step, without fainting.
Thank you, Lord, for the gift of hope.
Thank you for the days when hope
allows me to soar.
And for the days when it
allows me to keep running.
And thank you for the days when hope
gives me the courage to walk
without fainting.
Thank you for hope.
Amen.
Copyright Dale and Juanita Ryan
Dale Ryan is an Associate Professor of Recovery Ministry at Fuller Theological Seminary. Juanita Ryan is a therapist in private practice. You can read Juanita's blog at Graceful Growth
Those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31
Hope gives us strength. We need strength for the journey of recovery. We need strength to make the changes that need to be made -- and strength to grieve the losses which come with change. We need strength to keep on keeping on. Recovery requires a great deal of physical, emotional and spiritual strength. We draw that strength day-to-day from hope.
There are times when hope will allow us to soar. We will feel the exhilaration of change and new freedom. We will think about the future and imagine good things. We will soar with gratitude and joy because of hope.
There are other times when hope will allow us to run and not grow weary. We will keep going. Keep changing. Keep working. Keep feeling. We may get tired but hope will keep us from getting weary and wanting to give up. Hope helps us to keep running.
There are other times when hope will allow us to walk without fainting. Some days, in our recovery journey, continuing the journey at all is very difficult. The struggle we face may be so intense that we would faint if it were not for hope. But hope helps us to take the next step. One slow step at a time. Step by step, without fainting.
Thank you, Lord, for the gift of hope.
Thank you for the days when hope
allows me to soar.
And for the days when it
allows me to keep running.
And thank you for the days when hope
gives me the courage to walk
without fainting.
Thank you for hope.
Amen.
Copyright Dale and Juanita Ryan
Dale Ryan is an Associate Professor of Recovery Ministry at Fuller Theological Seminary. Juanita Ryan is a therapist in private practice. You can read Juanita's blog at Graceful Growth
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