Thursday, March 31, 2022

Nouwen Meditation: A Prayer

Now & Then Podcast
This week's episode of Henri Nouwen, Now & Then introduces listeners to Cole Arthur Riley, an extraordinary writer and truth teller and the author of the movingly eloquent This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories That Make Us – a book that leaves you with questions, in the best possible way!

DAILY MEDITATION | MARCH 31, 2022
A Prayer
Dear Lord,

Help me keep my eyes on you. You are the incarnation of Divine Love, you are the expression of God’s infinite compassion, you are the visible manifestation of the Father’s holiness. You are beauty, goodness, gentleness, forgiveness, and mercy. In you all can be found. Outside of you nothing can be found. Why should I look elsewhere or go elsewhere? You have the words of eternal life, you are food and drink, you are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. You are the light that shines in the darkness, the lamp on the lampstand, the house on the hilltop. You are the perfect Icon of God. In and through you I can see the Heavenly Father, and with you I can find my way to him. O Holy One, Beautiful One, Glorious One, be my Lord, my Savior, my Redeemer, my Guide, my Consoler, my Comforter, my Hope, my Joy, and my Peace. To you I want to give all that I am. Let me be generous, not stingy or hesitant. Let me give you all—all that I have, think, do, and feel. It is yours, O Lord. Please accept it and make it fully your own.

Amen.
“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."

2 CORINTHIANS 13:14 (NIV)
Consider our monthly giving program to sustain the ability to extend Henri's legacy and make his work available to those who seek spiritual formation and nourishment. Click here to sign up today.

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Nouwen Meditation: We are on a Journey

Now & Then Podcast
This week's episode of Henri Nouwen, Now & Then introduces listeners to Cole Arthur Riley, an extraordinary writer and truth teller and the author of the movingly eloquent This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories That Make Us – a book that leaves you with questions, in the best possible way!

DAILY MEDITATION | MARCH 30, 2022
We are on a Journey
Where are we going? After a very short visit to earth the time comes for each of us to pass from this world to the next. We have been sent into the world as God’s beloved children, and in our passages and our losses we learn to love each other as spouse, parent, brother, or sister. We support one another through the passages of life, and together we grow in love. Finally, we ourselves are called to exodus, and we leave the world for full communion with God. It is possible for us, like Jesus, to send our spirit of love to our friends when we leave them. Our spirit, the love we leave behind, is deeply in God’s Spirit. It is our greatest gift to those we love.

We, like Jesus, are on a journey, living to make our lives abundantly fruitful through our leaving. When we leave, we will say the words that Jesus said: “It is good for you that I leave, because unless I pass away, I cannot send you my spirit to help you and inspire you.”
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

2 CORINTHIANS 9:8 (NIV)
Consider our monthly giving program to sustain the ability to extend Henri's legacy and make his work available to those who seek spiritual formation and nourishment. Click here to sign up today.

Tuesday, March 29, 2022

Nouwen Meditation: The Fundamental Truth of Your Identity

Now & Then Podcast
This week's episode of Henri Nouwen, Now & Then introduces listeners to Cole Arthur Riley, an extraordinary writer and truth teller and the author of the movingly eloquent This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories That Make Us – a book that leaves you with questions, in the best possible way!

DAILY MEDITATION | MARCH 29, 2022
The Fundamental Truth of Your Identity
Jesus died well because he knew he was going to God and he would soon send his Spirit of Love to his friends. “It is good for you that I leave,” he said, “because unless I leave, I cannot send my Spirit who will lead you to the full communion, to the full truth, to the full betrothal.” With that Holy Spirit he knew that his beloved apostles would live better, happier lives.

This vision is not just about Jesus. It is also about you and me. Jesus came to share his identity with you and to tell you that you are the Beloved Sons and Daughters of God. Just for a moment try to enter this enormous mystery that you, like Jesus, are the beloved daughter or the beloved son of God. This is the truth. Furthermore, your belovedness preceded your birth. You were the beloved before your father, mother, brother, sister, or church loved you or hurt you. You are the beloved because you belong to God from all eternity.

God loved you before you were born, and God will love you after you die. In Scripture, God says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” This is a very fundamental truth of your identity. This is who you are whether you feel it or not. You belong to God from eternity to eternity. Life is just a little opportunity for you during a few years to say, “I love you, too.”
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”

HEBREWS 10:23,24 (NIV)
Consider our monthly giving program to sustain the ability to extend Henri's legacy and make his work available to those who seek spiritual formation and nourishment. Click here to sign up today.