Good morning…

Today I begin teaching my weekly classes, one class per day. In addition, this fall I am forming monthly “Listening Groups,” small groups of no more than eight women seeking to hear God’s movement in our daily lives. One group I am offering is called “Practicing Prayer,” the other is “Savoring Scripture.”

Since I am a visual learner and my distractible brain needs constant reminders, I have designed two postcards with acronyms God has inspired in me for our group members to take home. Because all 642 of you can not fit into my basement once a month, I thought I would share with each of you the centering words on each card.

Front postcard #1: Practicing Prayer Listening Group

Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)

Back of postcard #1: St. Ignatius’ Prayer of Examen –
Pray and ponder every morning, noon, and night.

I – Ignite my gratitude for Your greatness, Your goodness, Your gift of grace.
P – Permeate me so that I may see You at work in my daily life. How am I joining You? How
am I resisting?
R – Reveal the inner roots of my outer sins. Ugly thoughts. Biting words. Selfish deeds.
A – Accept my apology. Transform my flaws as I soak in Your unconditional love.
Y – “Yes LORD, I surrender to Your lead.” Apart from You I can do nothing.

Front of Postcard #2: Savoring Scripture Listening Group

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace… (Isaiah 55:10-12a, NIV).

Back of Postcard #2: Lectio Divina (sacred reading) Method

R – Read and reread passage slowly, gently.
E – Encounter a tug from a word or phrase. Receive, repeat, reflect on the Word.
A – Actively engage God in dialogue over this Word. Pray yourself empty, to the last drop.
D – Rest restored in God’s love beneath all feelings, thoughts, and words.

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires (Hebrews 4:12, NLT).

May these two acronyms – “I. P.R.A.Y.” and “R.E.A.D.” – be like yeast permeating the every part of our lives. Jesus also used this illustration: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough” (Matthew 13:33, NLT),

…Sue…