Well, here we go! For those of you that went on the trip last year, you probably remember the experience of reading and blogging together and hopefully you learned a lot from it. This is one of my favorite things to do throughout the year, as I get to read all of your responses and hear what you’re learning.
Each week I’ll post a couple questions on here. Please take the time to respond to them below by leaving a comment (make sure you include your first name & last initial on the comment so I know who it is). And when you come each week, make sure to review the previous week’s conversation and read what your teammates have written & respond to & interact with them…we’re in this together! When you respond (either to the questions or your teammates), take your time & write out your thoughts. Be honest with your thoughts…honesty builds community & will allow us to trust each other and really grow as a team. Don’t just try to finish your answers as quickly as you can…make me read a ton ; ) Seriously…the more you think through this stuff, the more it’ll help you prepare.
So how did Mark’s description of prayer in the Introduction surprise you? Was there anything that stuck out to you?
Tell us about the space you chose to read the book. Mark encouraged us to choose a place that would allow space and privacy. What space did you choose?
Tell us about one of the 3 contemplative exercises. I want you to do all 3 at some point (hopefully you’ll space them out throughout the week, rather than trying to cram them all into Saturday night), but you only need to describe one of them in your comment this week. What did you do? What was it like? What did you feel like afterward?
This Sunday is the luncheon, so come ready to serve…see ya then!
I like in the introduction that Mark says “Prayer is an act of trust”. Until I read this book, I do not know that I would have put prayer and trust together in that way. I suppose when I pray, I am trusting that God is listening but I enjoyed the other aspects of trust that Mark included as well.
It has been so nice out this week that I chose to read this chapter out on my back patio. Now I did not have privacy in the way that there was nothing going on around me because all of my neighbors were out mowing their lawns and taking care of their gardens, but I did have privacy in the way that I was able to sit outside and enjoy the nice weather and focus on the book and what I was learning. Not only did the nice weather allow me to enjoy reading the chapter outside but it also allowed me to take a walk through the park this week and drive with my windows down! The contemplative exercises he gave in the book were good. I kind of took my own spin on things and on my walk this week took in my surroundings (the creek, the trees, the flowers, the kids playing, etc) and saw all of that as God’s creation (I know…obvious!) and His way of showing His love for me. I think this a wonderful thing to get in the habit of doing. Too often I think we get caught up in what we are doing and the busy-ness of our lives and we forget to slow down and “smell the roses” per se. And like Mark said in the book, we don’t necessarily have to take a walk..We could slow down by just sitting outside on a sunny day or looking at the stars on a clear night. But through doing things like this, I know for me at least, I am able to slow down a bit and also spend some much needed quiet time with God.
I like your smell the roses thing. That really is just how I would explain it too because that’s how it feels. Relaxing
I like how Mark decribed prayer as “spending time with a loving friend.” I like this decriptition because I think to often people don’t think of God as a normal person. In this description it shows that talking to God is just like spending time with a friend.
I read the book on my front porch. This space allowed me to take in the beautiful weather and all of God’s creations without being bothered by those around me.
I really enjoyed the “Recalling God’s Love” exercise because it showed me God’s love in all different ways. I think as we go throughout daily life we don’t see God’s love in our daily routine and if you really think about it God shows us love everywhere. Even in the little things that don’t seem very significant.
I like how you said we don’t see God in our daily routine usually because I think its hard with everything that is going on with our lives. I agree with this a lot.
I agree!!!!
I am so with you Olivia.! Sometimes I fell the same way about God.!
I also like the idea of viewing prayer as “spending time with a loving friend” It is such a cool idea. And such a simple one that sometimes I think we forget that God is our friend.
I like what mike wrights about sensing god’s love because i love sit under the sun or by a warm fire and just being out side.Mike also talks about “loving others as you love your self”and i thought that was cool because in 1-3 grade the the teachers talk about it but after that i didn’t hear it anymore so that was cool to read about it
i thought his name was mark?
His name is Mark Yaconelli
Same with me.
I’m with you caleb i also like to just be outside and the living others as yourself is something that is hard for me so i need to try extra hard.
I was impressed by him telling us to put the book down to talk to God. I read the book in my room. I climbed a tree in my yard to find a quiet place to spend time with God. I think it’s easier for me to connect with God outside with a beautiful view than in a private room.
I never thought of a tree as a place to go to read the book thats a really good idea I will haft to try that.
This book is just amazing.I get stressed a lot.This book really just set a time for me to relax. It helped me know that God is there everyday in many ways. I loved the “Breath God’s Love” and “Sensing God’s Love” sections. Those were my favorite. I did this on a rainy day when it was thundering and lightning out. I’m weird because I find those really relaxing. So, during these parts I just sat and listened as I thought about how much God cares. This book has helped me in so many different ways.
Oops. Forgot the first question. I’m sorry. The introduction really surprised me.All of his ideas of how to pray.I’ve never thought of praying like that. When I was little, I almost thought that if I didn’t pray, something would happen to me, or God wouldn’t care anymore.I’ve seen it through different eyes as I’ve been growing, and now I see it much better. I love how he puts it.
I really did enjoy all of theideas of how to pray. Imight try them all someday
I agree… I love Thunderstaorms!
there so relaxing i like to just sit on my chair outside on the porch and watch
Hmmm…Thunderstorms are so relaxing!
I’m glad that you found time to relax through reading this book. Isn’t so great when you learn new things about God, or relearn things (ex: God is there everyday in many ways.) I’m sure you knew that God was there but after reading this chapter you were able to see Him in so many new ways.
I LLOOVVEE thunderstorms!!! They are big and exciting it you get lots of rain!!!
Mark’s description of prayer in the Introduction surprised me because it was so different from anythng I have ever heard from anyone. I chose to read this book while sitting in my backyard with my feet in the creek because I find that it is really relaxing to feel the heat of the sun on my neck and feel the water flow over my feet.
i think that Mark know’s alot about pray and it is realy cool the way that he looks at things.i chose to read in our hallway closet because it is quite there and nobody knows were i am .
Awesome the hallway closet( such agood idea) mines to way to small sadly I could never fit in it wah wah;(
The beggining of the book really didn’t shock me at all I kind of knew what it was going to be like.I admitt I’m bookworm:0
I choose for my space right on top of my bed.(Shocker) I did the first prayer thin and i think it was really nice just to have some quiet time to think. I just sorted out my thoughts and did what it said.
CANT WAIT 2 GO TO BOSTON
my monster likes like an evil bandit!!
Mine looks dead!
test
???????
I really like how Mark Says that When you pray its like talking to a friend.! I love when he says this because I have never thought about it that way.! I mean when I prayed I always just thought about getting to know the father of my savior. But now when I pray I’m going to be thinking about about how I am talking to my friend that loves and cares for me so much.!
Ya! I never thought of it that way either! Now I think of it that way and see if it changes anything
I liked how Mark described prayer as “not being a performance”. I always thought that you had to say what you were trying to say a certain way or that you had to say a certain thing. I really enjoy reading this book. It helps me connect with God and share my feelings and desires with Him. I read my book in my bedroom because it always me to have privacy and just let me be alone with God and know that I’m speaking to Him. One of the contemplative exercises I did was I thought of a time when I was deeply loved (Recalling God’s Love). This exercise really helped me remember the love family gives you and the way God cares and feels about you everyday. I felt loved after this exercise and I knew God is with me! I almost forgot the way that God is always there for you and although you might think he’s far away or he can’t here your call for love, he’s right there with you. Sometimes God might seem like he’s not there in one of your most desperate times and longings for Him. But just reme,ber, he’s always with you and He has a spot for you in His heart. Thanks and I can’t wait till we go to Boston!
Morgan-
I think it is easy to get caught up in seeing prayer as a performance. But at the same time if we view it as “talking with a friend” as many of you have talked about it may be easier for us to get away from trying to use the “right words” or pray for the “right amount of time.” And we can just talk to God like we would talk to each other and share with Him what is on our hearts because that is what He wants in the end.