sometimes only when we lose it, den we realise how important it is the person/ thing mean to us. i guess ive not lose it now, and i wont noe how will it be on tt day for me. thus is still good tt i spend time wif my loved ones, my Lord, and ..... etc ...
i was reading the biographies of James Framo, a great family therapist. from his writing about his family of origin, i realise sth important i need to do b4 i regret for life.
thank you Lord.
2 March 2006
Knowing who God is
For reading & meditation - luke 11:1-13
"When you pray, say: "Father…" (John 17:2)
We consider now the opening words of our Lord's prayer in John 17, bearing in mind the prayer Christ construct for his disciples in luke 11. The word Father appears at the beginning of both prayers. "Father," Jesus said in John 17:1, "the time has come." Our Lord not only taught his disciples to address God as "Father" but he did so himself.
Why is it important to address God as "Father"? Well, one reason is that it turns our minds away from ourselves to our Father who is in heaven. Then and only then, can we get the right perspective on things. Our biggest failure in prayer begins when we rush into God's presence and start presenting our petitions w/o any regard to who God is. This only serves to concentrate our attention on what is already troubling us, and increases our awareness of our lack. When we begin by focusing on God as someone who takes a Father's interest in his children, and concentrate on him, thinking about his greatness, his power and his eagerness to give, the first thing we receive is a calm spirit. The tendency to plunge into a panicky flood of words leaves us, and we begin to realize that cos God is our Father ther is an entirely diff way of looking at matters.
Also the very mention of the word "Father" helps us understand that we are not engaging in a theological dialogue; we are talking to our Father. And "Father" is a relationship word; we cant call God "Father" w/o acknowledging that we are his children. No prayer can be true prayer unless we understand that when we talk to him as a child talks to a loving father.
Prayer:
O Father, with what joy I say that word. Help me never to forget that prayer begins with adoration, not with supplication - with the focus on you, not me. Forgive me that so often I get things the wrong way round. In Jesus' name. Amen.
i was reading the biographies of James Framo, a great family therapist. from his writing about his family of origin, i realise sth important i need to do b4 i regret for life.
thank you Lord.
2 March 2006
Knowing who God is
For reading & meditation - luke 11:1-13
"When you pray, say: "Father…" (John 17:2)
We consider now the opening words of our Lord's prayer in John 17, bearing in mind the prayer Christ construct for his disciples in luke 11. The word Father appears at the beginning of both prayers. "Father," Jesus said in John 17:1, "the time has come." Our Lord not only taught his disciples to address God as "Father" but he did so himself.
Why is it important to address God as "Father"? Well, one reason is that it turns our minds away from ourselves to our Father who is in heaven. Then and only then, can we get the right perspective on things. Our biggest failure in prayer begins when we rush into God's presence and start presenting our petitions w/o any regard to who God is. This only serves to concentrate our attention on what is already troubling us, and increases our awareness of our lack. When we begin by focusing on God as someone who takes a Father's interest in his children, and concentrate on him, thinking about his greatness, his power and his eagerness to give, the first thing we receive is a calm spirit. The tendency to plunge into a panicky flood of words leaves us, and we begin to realize that cos God is our Father ther is an entirely diff way of looking at matters.
Also the very mention of the word "Father" helps us understand that we are not engaging in a theological dialogue; we are talking to our Father. And "Father" is a relationship word; we cant call God "Father" w/o acknowledging that we are his children. No prayer can be true prayer unless we understand that when we talk to him as a child talks to a loving father.
Prayer:
O Father, with what joy I say that word. Help me never to forget that prayer begins with adoration, not with supplication - with the focus on you, not me. Forgive me that so often I get things the wrong way round. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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