Alive Now

What Awakens You?

Beth Richardson — Wed, 30 May 2012 07:45:37 +0000

Wednesday, May 30. Read “God Consecrated You” (p. 22) and continue to reflect on “Here am I; send me.”

Words from The Word: This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant. -Romans 8:15, The Message

This Week…

Lectionary Texts:

Audio Lectio: Listen to the story of Nicodemus and pray along with the words of John 3:1-8.

Pray for: the people and countries of Botswana and Zimbabwe.

Spiritual Tools: Listen for God’s call while practicing Centering Prayer.

Quote:

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will — all that I have and call my own. You have given it all to me, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace. This is enough for me.

-Norman Shawchuck and Rueben P. Job
A Guide to Prayer for All Who Seek God

Prayer: Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer God, restore me as your child and send me on my way to serve you. Amen.

Art Credit: Henry Ossawa Tanner – Nicodemus and Jesus on a Rooftop from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN.

Send Me

Beth Richardson — Tue, 29 May 2012 07:45:05 +0000

Tuesday, May 29 As you read Isaiah 6:1-8 and Psalm 29, imagine that you are standing in the throne room of God surrounded by angels. Repeat these words out loud: “Here am I; send me.”

What does God say to you? How do you respond?

Words from The Word: God’s Spirit joins with our spirit to bear witness that we are children of God. -Romans 8:16, NJB

This Week…

Lectionary Texts:

Audio Lectio: Listen to the story of Nicodemus and pray along with the words of John 3:1-8.

Pray for: the people and countries of Botswana and Zimbabwe.

Spiritual Tools: Listen for God’s call while practicing Centering Prayer.

Quote:

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will — all that I have and call my own. You have given it all to me, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace. This is enough for me.

-Norman Shawchuck and Rueben P. Job
A Guide to Prayer for All Who Seek God

Prayer: Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer God, restore me as your child and send me on my way to serve you. Amen.

Art Credit: Henry Ossawa Tanner – Nicodemus and Jesus on a Rooftop from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN.

Meet the Writers – Nicole Corlew

Gina Manskar — Mon, 28 May 2012 13:12:50 +0000

Meet Nicole Corlew, contributing writer in the May/June 2012 issue, “The Call.” She explains what inspired her to write the article, “Discerning God’s Will,” which can be found on page 20. To get a copy of this issue or to order a subscription to Alive Now, call 1.800.972.0433 or order online.

I wanted to write about my discernment process to become a cross-cultural Christian worker (missionary) in order to encourage others to follow God’s call for their lives, no matter what that might be. Most of the time God speaks to us in quiet ways, not through “burning bush” moments. I hope my story will inspire others to be more aware of how God may be speaking to them.

Nicole Corlew is the associate editor of devozine (devozine.org), The Upper Room’s magazine for youth. In January 2013, she will be moving to Capetown, South Africa, as an Anglican missionary. To Find out more about her ministry, please visit www.nicolecorlew.com and https://www.facebook.com/nicolecorlewsouthafrica .

Loving Intentions

Beth Richardson — Mon, 28 May 2012 07:45:44 +0000

Monday, May 28. Memorial Day (U.S.) On this day after Pentecost, read “The Divine Call” (p. 16). Not all of us will start a church or birth a new movement.

How can you share God’s loving intentions with the world?

Words from The Word: Isaiah wrote, “Then I heard the Lord say, ‘Whom shall I send? Who will be our messenger?’ I answered, ‘I will go! Send me!’” -Isaiah 6:8, GNT

This Week…

Lectionary Texts:

Audio Lectio: Listen to the story of Nicodemus and pray along with the words of John 3:1-8.

Pray for: the people and countries of Botswana and Zimbabwe.

Spiritual Tools: Listen for God’s call while practicing Centering Prayer.

Quote:

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will — all that I have and call my own. You have given it all to me, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace. This is enough for me.

-Norman Shawchuck and Rueben P. Job
A Guide to Prayer for All Who Seek God

Prayer: Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer God, restore me as your child and send me on my way to serve you. Amen.

Art Credit: Henry Ossawa Tanner – Nicodemus and Jesus on a Rooftop from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN.

Rushing Wind

Beth Richardson — Sun, 27 May 2012 07:45:18 +0000

Sunday, May 27. Pentecost. On this Pentecost Sunday celebrate by wearing red or by having a birthday party for the church. Read the story in Acts 2:1-21. Use pastels, watercolors or crayons to draw your own images of the coming of the Holy Spirit. Give thanks.

Describe how you visualize the Holy Spirit coming down. What would that look like?

Words from The Word: On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. . . . Everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. -Acts 2:1, 4, NLT

This Week…

Lectionary Texts:

Audio Lectio: Pray the words of Acts 2:1-8 with us this week.

Pray for: the people and countries of Malawi and Zambia.

Spiritual Tools: Prepare to celebrate Pentecost this week by listening to this story in a number of languages.

Quote:

Gracious Lord, you have called me by name and made me your own: grant me grace, therefore, to offer back my body and soul as a living sacrifice and to render to you all that I am, for I am no longer my own but yours throughout eternity, through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

-Paul Wesley Chilcote
A Life-Shaping Prayer: 52 Meditations in the Wesleyan Spirit

Prayer: God of fire, light me with the power of your love. Amen.

Art Credit: Pentecost (12th Century) from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN.

Call Us

Beth Richardson — Sat, 26 May 2012 07:45:19 +0000

Saturday, May 26. In preparation for the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost, read “Call and Response” (p. 10). How would you describe the voice of the Holy Spirit—nudging, pestering, inviting?

How do you feel the Spirit nudging you today?

Words from The Word: May all my thoughts be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord. -Psalm 104:34, NLT

This Week…

Lectionary Texts:

Audio Lectio: Pray the words of Acts 2:1-8 with us this week.

Pray for: the people and countries of Malawi and Zambia.

Spiritual Tools: Prepare to celebrate Pentecost this week by listening to this story in a number of languages.

Quote:

Gracious Lord, you have called me by name and made me your own: grant me grace, therefore, to offer back my body and soul as a living sacrifice and to render to you all that I am, for I am no longer my own but yours throughout eternity, through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

-Paul Wesley Chilcote
A Life-Shaping Prayer: 52 Meditations in the Wesleyan Spirit

Prayer: God of fire, light me with the power of your love. Amen.

Art Credit: Pentecost (12th Century) from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN.

Guided into All the Truth

Beth Richardson — Fri, 25 May 2012 07:45:51 +0000

Friday, May 25. Read John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15. How do you experience the power of the Holy Spirit in your life today?

Where do you feel the Spirit?

Words from The Word: Jesus said, “When the Spirit of the Truth comes, he will guide you in all truth.” – John 16:13, CEB

This Week…

Lectionary Texts:

Audio Lectio: Pray the words of Acts 2:1-8 with us this week.

Pray for: the people and countries of Malawi and Zambia.

Spiritual Tools: Prepare to celebrate Pentecost this week by listening to this story in a number of languages.

Quote:

Gracious Lord, you have called me by name and made me your own: grant me grace, therefore, to offer back my body and soul as a living sacrifice and to render to you all that I am, for I am no longer my own but yours throughout eternity, through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

-Paul Wesley Chilcote
A Life-Shaping Prayer: 52 Meditations in the Wesleyan Spirit

Prayer: God of fire, light me with the power of your love. Amen.

Art Credit: Pentecost (12th Century) from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN.