Divine meditation.

The Art of Divine Meditation by Joseph Hall

Joseph Hall endeavored to teach the art of meditation. It is a heavenly business that does benefit the soul! 

Joseph tells us that it is wrong to conceal meditation from many, for its benefit may  be universal.

This is the kind of meditation pursued by the divine psalmist who upon viewing the glorious frame of the heavens was led to wonder at the merciful respect God had toward so lowly a creature as man.

His view is that 'some of the ancient monks proved so excellent in this divine business because they intermixed bodily labour with their contemplations! 

Joshua 1:8

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Women's world day of prayer 2013

I was a stranger and you welcomed me. Matthew 25: 35-36

Last night, my friend Geraldine and I went to Weston for the Women's world day of prayer and I was a bit nervous as I was asked by my friend Vivienne to do the talk. I only found out about this very special day when we arrived in Staffs so for those of you who do not know about it, I have done a bit of research on their website.

It was in 1928, at an international missionary conference in Jerusalem, that Scotswoman Grace Forgan first learned of the world day of prayer and brought the news to the U.K.

THE FIRST SERVICES WERE HELD:

1930 in Scotland. 1932 in England 1933 in Wales 1934 in Ireland.The Second World War was a time of great growth - drawing women together in prayer and fellowship.

In 1941, the WWDP office in London was bombed. There was no loss of life and minutes recovered from members enabled the bare bones of the first 9 years to be preserved. Often the planning committee in London met in an air-raid shelter but every year Orders of Service were produced and supplied to the rest of the country.In 1982 the service was prepared by the women of Ireland, both north and south.In England, Wales and Northern Ireland there are now over 3,000 branches holding 5,000 services every year. It is from such roots as these that WWDP has taken its present shape- a worldwide ecumenical movement of Informed prayer and Prayerful action.

 Last night, the service was written by French women. It emphasised the importance of welcoming strangers.

“‘When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. 34 The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 19: 33, 34. 

In between the Bible verses and French hymns, we read first negative life stories and then positive life stories of foreign women who moved to France and settled there.

We also heard the parable of the sheep and the goats, Matthew 25:31-40 . It depicts the Last Judgment, where the King is separating out the nations gathered before his throne on the basis of the lives they have led. The ‘sheep’ and ‘goats’ express surprise at the King’s words. What have they done or not done for him? The King goes on to explain that whenever they cared for, fed, clothed, welcomed or visited someone in 

need, or neglected to do so, they in fact did, or failed to do, these things for the King himself. So it is made clear that whenever we welcome a stranger from another country, it is God himself whom we are welcoming.
I'd love to know if you have attended a women's world day of prayer in your country, so do let me know. Have a blessed week-end. Yours in Christ. N.

I was a stranger and you welcomed me.

Lenten Meditation 2

Last night, we reflected upon Jesus'arrest. Even though Jesus was totally innocent, 'reasons' were found to incriminate him.
Mainly two reasons: leading a rebellion and speaking blasphemy. We know that the increasing support of the Jews for Jesus, especially when he entered Jerusalem scared the Jewish authority. The charge of blasphemy is not completely false as Jesus was telling the truth: He is God. For centuries, these reasons have been the used by dictators and still are. The circumstances are similar too. The Gestapo and the KGB arrested anybody they suspected to be against their regime.  In countries where dictatorship or fake democratic governments reign, innocents are still hounded and murdered.

In Matthew 26, we read : Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. ⁵¹ With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
   ⁵² “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. ⁵³ Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴ But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”
 ⁵⁵ In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. ⁵⁶ But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

   ⁶⁴ “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

 ⁶⁵ Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! 

Lenten Meditation

Jesus' agony in the garden of Gethsemane

Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done." Luke 22:42

We reflected on the courage shown by Jesus and his total obedience to his Father: not my will but yours

And to strengthen Him an angel appeared to Him. He was in such agony and he prayed so fervently that his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.

~ Luke 22:43-44 ~

Jesus said to them:

Why are you sleeping? Rise up and pray that you do not enter into temptation.

Watch and pray, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. And Jesus went the second time to pray, saying the same words he had said before: My Father, if this cannot pass away, unless I drink it, your will be done. And Jesus came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy. And they did not know what to say to Jesus. Jesus left the third time to pray. And he prayed as he had the first two times, and when he returned to the disciples, they were asleep. Jesus said to the disciples: So far as I am concerned you can continue to sleep for now. Take your rest, for the time for you to be of comfort and assistance has passed. But as far as you are concerned, Look, the hour has come and the Son of man is about to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up and let’s be going. Look, the one who is going to betray me is here.

After he prayed, Jesus found the disciples asleep. He must have felt extremely upset and betrayed. When he needed his friends the most, they weren't there for him. How do we feel when it happens to us? Betrayal hurts so much whether we are children or adults.