Where are we going? Choose to be Present; Be Intentional ● Know you are loved; remember the reason for your hope ● Your destiny is in heaven, not on earth ● Choose to Pray ● Take time in silence ● Choose to forgive - yourself and others ● Take time to ask in prayer what God is calling you to do ● Share His Love ● When you discover what God is calling you to do, do it as if ● God Almighty called you at this time in history to do it Choose to live fully - “I don’t know what they have, but I will ● have one of those”
HOPE
Hope
Hope
Hope - You are loved Prodigal son story - love of the father Whitewater rafting - lost son During time of emptiness, desert time, alone time, at times when you can’t “feel” His presence (Mother Teresa) - He is still there “Our hearts are restless until the rest in you.” St. Augustine
Hope 1 Peter 3:15 “Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; 16 yet do it with gentleness and reverence.” Jeremiah 29 11 For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. 12 Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 1 Cor 2:9 “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.” The world is thy ship, not thy home.” Saint Therese of Lisieux
Hope 18 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us. 24 For in hope we were saved. Now hope that sees for itself is not hope. For who hopes for what one sees? s 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance. 26In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings.27And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will. t Romans 8:18, 24-27
Hope 28 * We know that all things work for good for those who love God, * who are called according to his purpose. u 29 * For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. v 30And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified. w 31 * What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? x 32He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him? y 33Who will bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who acquits us. z 34Who will condemn? It is Christ [Jesus] who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. a 35What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? 36As it is written: b “For your sake we are being slain all the day; we are looked upon as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. c 38For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, * nor future things, nor powers, d 39nor height, nor depth, * nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:28-39 http://usccb.org/bible/romans/
Hope Gordie funeral, June 6, 2000 Anger. Sad. Didn’t understand. Ashley funeral, July 14, 2008 Joy. Butterflies. Touched to present. John funeral, July 11, 2009 I can only imagine. Joy. Happiness
PRAYER
Prayer Silence. Simplicity. Solitude. Don’t get prayers in, get in to your prayers Hope for the Journey Be intentional. Not during perfect time, don’t wait for perfection. Prayer our Deepest Longing Jesus alone to pray many times Gethsemane repeated prayer 3 times; woman seeking just judgment Cure of Ars - I look at Him and He looks at me Hope for the Journey and others
Prayer - Prayer our Deepest Longing “We go in to God’s presence (prayer) only when we have nothing to hide, are joy-filled, and feel we can give proper attention to God in a reverent and loving way. What’s so unfortunate is that, … we stay away from it just when we need it most.” Prayer is to raise our hearts and minds to God. A conversation with Jesus Christ.
Prayer - Prayer our Deepest Longing Two classical concepts of perfection, one Greek and the other Hebrew. Greek - to be perfect is to have no deficiencies, no faults, no flaws Hebrew - to be perfect simply means to walk with God, despite our flaws
Prayer - Prayer our Deepest Longing Thomas Merton says we are in solitude, in contemplation, in prayer, when we fully taste the water or the flavor of the coffee we are drinking, feel the warmth of our blankets, share love and friendship, are restful enough to be content inside our own skin, and perform the everyday tasks of our lives so as to perceive in them that our lives aren’t little or anonymous or unimportant, but that what’s timeless and eternal is in the ordinary of our lives.
Prayer - Jesus praying Luke 5:16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. http://www.soulshepherding.org/do-nothing-dont-try-to-make-anything-happen/ Luke 6:12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: Luke 9:18 Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?” Luke 22:39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. Luke 22:41-44 He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
Prayer - Jesus praying Matthew 11:28-30 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 14:22-23 22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Mark 1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Mark 6:45-46 45 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. Mark 14:26, 32 “When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives … they went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his discipless, “Sit here while I pray.”
Prayer - Jesus praying Mark 14 32 Then they came to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took with him Peter, James and John, and began to be troubled and distressed. 34 Then he said to them, “My soul is sorrowful even to death,”. “Remain here and keep watch.” 35 He advanced a little and fell to the ground and prayed that if it were possible the hour might pass by him; 36 he said, “Abba, Father, “all things are possible to you. Take this cup away from me, but not what I will but what you will.” 37 When he returned he found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” 39 Withdrawing again, he prayed, saying the same thing. 40 then he returned once more and found them asleep, for they could not keep their eyes open and did not know what to answer him. 41 He returned a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough. The hour has come. Behold, the Son of Man is to be handed over to sinners. 42 Get up, let us go. See, my betrayer is at hand.” http://www.usccb.org/bible/mark/14
Prayer 2 Samuel 6 David dancing and singing before the Lord Psalm 150:1-6 Praise him with the lute and harp 1 Kings 19:20-30 Elijah and the prophets of Baal, the tremendous ground shaking presence of God in the fire that consumed not only the sacrifice but the altar 1 Kings 20:11-12 Wind, earthquake, fire, but God present in the whisper
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