Prayer: The Gate » Worship

Grace

Erin Slusher — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:41:20 +0000

Photo by Chrissy Oldham

If Grace was a garden, I’d walk there with you. Like a child from the wilderness, whose spirit has been renewed, if Grace were a garden.

If Grace was a word, I think it would sound like a prayer from a grateful heart, rising and unbound, if grace were a word.

If Grace was a moment in the presence of God, filled with his favor, protection and his love if grace were a moment, if grace was a word, if grace was a garden…

All we need is enough for today. Let it enfold me, define me, Gift of Grace.

Jesus hold us close and let us walk by faith. Grace is a moment, Grace is a word, Grace is a garden. Gift of Grace.

From a song I wrote about 10 years ago.

The Nature of God

Erin Slusher — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:24:10 +0000

: Photo by Christine Oldham

I am at peace with my view of the nature of God. I have wrestled with my theology, but for a while my desire has been to simply be in an open and growing place in my relationship with God.

My theology reveals what I believe to be the nature of God to me. For me, the nature of God is:

Alpha and Omega – God is the beginning and end. There is nothing before God.
The Omni’s – Omniscience (all knowing) Omnipotence (all powerful), Omnipresent (everywhere simultaneously)
Holy
Uniqueness – God is like no other
Spirit
Immortal
Alive
Supreme – God is the supreme being
Transcendent (universal)
Immanent (within us)
Personal
Theistic ( not necessarily Deistic) Deistic is the absentee father or distant God. Theistic is the relationship God.

I recently discovered the blog post of a man who is doing the ultimate church hopping this year in visiting 52 churches in 52 weeks and living to write about it. He wrote the other day that he wants a church to reveal the nature of God to him.

Certainly the stories and parables of the bible reveal God’s relationship with his people and his enemies. God has been love, compassion, vengence, dangerous, creative, salvation, living words and many things.

That is not the church, although it is reflected in the people who make up a church and it is reflected in relationships. I am assuming we are talking about a theistic God. So church hopping does not develop relationships. Church hopping is not committed, not involved. It is stand back and watch without attachment approach.

Let us pray today to understand the nature of God. Let us pray to continue to develop our relationship with God and his Son. Let us pray for each other today and perhaps be a reflectionof grace and of the Nature of God.

Going for the Ayin

Erin Slusher — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:09:26 +0000

Gunnison National Forest trail

Sometimes my life is too crowded to let God in. I fill it with my to-do list, shopping, cooking, cleaning, working, and studying. My emotions also can leave no room for God. Things like: grief, anger, jealousy, impatience, panic, and grudge carrying can fill the space of our lives.

I look for the spiritual path.

If we are attached to the material nature of the world; If we think of ourselves as something, then God cannot clothe his self in us, for God is infinite. No vessel can contain God, unless we think of ourselves as Ayin. The Kabbalah

The minimalist and Zen approaches are becoming so popular. I think people are looking for the Ayin. Ayin means nothingness. It also means God.

Our lives are filled to the brim and not with the good or important stuff. Sometimes mine is filled with the stuff that drains my energy and makes me tired and empty.

Father God, Holy is your name and holy are your ways. Help me let go of all that I do not need this day. Assist me in letting go of the things I cling to and understand they do not give me control over anything. I attain the nothingness that is the alpha and omega of the spiritual journey. God who is like you? Fill me with your spirit, and make me whole in your presence. Amen

My Reputation

Erin Slusher — Fri, 08 May 2009 19:51:52 +0000

In 1733, John Wesley wrote a prayer of submission. It is a part of a number of vows that he took before God. The one I wrestle with the most is his prayer about his reputation. It is in the seventh stanza of the prayer and he writes to God:

I give you my reputation. May I never value it, but only in respect of you; nor endeavor to maintain it, but as it may do the service and advance your honor in the world.

I worry about what other people think far more than John Wesley ever would. The Spiritual Formation Network in Colorado Springs (an inter-denominational group) spent some time in meditation on the entire prayer a few weeks ago, but this stanza has haunted my thoughts.

What would it take for me to surrender my concern for my reputation? I don’t know. Some people never worry about what others think. I have heard that there is no need to consider what folks think about you because aren’t thinking about you at all. That would be great. But I think we all value our reputation and even when we have nothing else, we still pride ourselves in holding onto a good one.

Perhaps I would act differently. Maybe I would run faster and jump higher by not being held back by conscientiousness. John Wesley surrendered everything, he let nothing hold him back. I admire that and wish I could do the same.

He Restores My Soul

Erin Slusher — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 20:17:24 +0000

Pikes Peak United Methodist is a beautiful church on the west side of Colorado Springs. It is near and dear to my heart as it was my church home for fifteen years or so. I went there to find Rev. Glen McPhearson, who is now 97 years young and give him a signed book.

The years I spent with Rev. McPearson shaped by spiritual life and my theology. The book might never have been if it weren’t for Glen’s influence and teachings. It is a praying church, if you have ever seen one.

Pastor Rick Carpenter did a fabulous sermon called “Prayer, how is that working for you?’ He talked about a quote from Mother Theresa where she told someone to spend an hour each day adoring God, then go out and do what you know is right.

If everyone did that, it would truly change the world. We also read Psalm 23. As I sat there and said the words, a great sense of peace and calm came over me. The words and the images are so beautiful. I would like to encourage you to say, even this first part today.

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside quiet waters.

He restores my soul;

There, do you feel better? I sure do. If you don’t, repeat it again, until you do feel better. Be blessed.