Use the Psalms as a way to learn how to pray. Pick one of three Psalms (Psalms 13, 91 & 111). During your Circle One time use that Psalm to guide your prayer. First, read the Psalms through several times. Try to really get your head around what's being said. What was the author feeling? How do you think God felt when he heard this prayer? After you've read it several times, pray the Psalm. Using the actual words of the Psalm, pray to God infusing the meaning of your life into the words of the passage. Once you've done that, in your journal using the Psalm as a guide, write your own Psalm expressing the unique situation of your life. Follow your example Psalm line-by-line and write your own prayer. Once you've written it, pray it to God. Try this at least once this week. If it works well for you, pick another one and try it again.
3. Reflect.
Come back here and leave a comment sharing your experience of doing this one thing. How did it impact you? Was it hard or easy? What questions did it raise for you? What does God seem to be saying to you through this process?
Hey kids - I've been quiet for a couple of weeks, but I've been following along with the one thing - it inspired some fabulous dialogue with my 20something nephews a few weeks back (thanks for that - a LOT - I'm crazy about those boys).
I'm not through my writing of a psalm this week, but I felt the need to comment on something that's VERY revealing to me. I'm using a bible that was given to me by my mom and dad when Jason and I got married almost 13 years ago. We were each given matching KJV with our names lovingly gold-leafed on the covers. Mine sat dormant for quite an embarrassing while, but thankfully has become well used in the last two or three years - but here's what I think is astounding . . . ask Paula, I'm the post-it note queen - and I just discovered that in this bible, which I've had for 13 years or so, are exactly FOUR sticky notes, all of which have been placed at varied points in that timeline but only ONE is easily identifiable to me - I can even tell you the exact date I put it there because it's the day just over six years ago that I was faced with the possibility that Jason and I might not be together to see our 7th wedding anniversary. That post-it was wedged securely in Psalms 91. I saw that little yellow square, and before I could even scroll down through the chapter, I was repeating it word for word ""under his wings I shall take refuge" - "For He shall give His angels charge over you" - "He shall call upon me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him" - That Psalm has a title in my bible, which I had underlined several years ago - "Safety of Abiding in the Presence of God" - brothers and sisters, is there EVER safety!!!!
So back to working on my own Psalm to God - these days it's very much more like a Psalm 111, but it's a work in progress -
That is really cool Tamee. I am moved by your sharing and love that you so willingly open your heart up for us to see it's treasure. You are missed and VERY loved. :)
Comments (4)
Tamee Harden-Blankenship said
at 6:48 pm on Oct 28, 2008
Hey kids - I've been quiet for a couple of weeks, but I've been following along with the one thing - it inspired some fabulous dialogue with my 20something nephews a few weeks back (thanks for that - a LOT - I'm crazy about those boys).
I'm not through my writing of a psalm this week, but I felt the need to comment on something that's VERY revealing to me. I'm using a bible that was given to me by my mom and dad when Jason and I got married almost 13 years ago. We were each given matching KJV with our names lovingly gold-leafed on the covers. Mine sat dormant for quite an embarrassing while, but thankfully has become well used in the last two or three years - but here's what I think is astounding . . . ask Paula, I'm the post-it note queen - and I just discovered that in this bible, which I've had for 13 years or so, are exactly FOUR sticky notes, all of which have been placed at varied points in that timeline but only ONE is easily identifiable to me - I can even tell you the exact date I put it there because it's the day just over six years ago that I was faced with the possibility that Jason and I might not be together to see our 7th wedding anniversary. That post-it was wedged securely in Psalms 91. I saw that little yellow square, and before I could even scroll down through the chapter, I was repeating it word for word ""under his wings I shall take refuge" - "For He shall give His angels charge over you" - "He shall call upon me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him" - That Psalm has a title in my bible, which I had underlined several years ago - "Safety of Abiding in the Presence of God" - brothers and sisters, is there EVER safety!!!!
So back to working on my own Psalm to God - these days it's very much more like a Psalm 111, but it's a work in progress -
Love you guys!
Tam
Jacqui Wheelhouse said
at 8:30 am on Oct 29, 2008
That is really cool Tamee. I am moved by your sharing and love that you so willingly open your heart up for us to see it's treasure. You are missed and VERY loved. :)
Tamee Harden-Blankenship said
at 6:58 pm on Oct 29, 2008
thanks chica - ditto on that -
Marc Schelske said
at 9:37 pm on Oct 29, 2008
Thanks for sharing that, Tamee. Very cool. And cool to have you showing up here.
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