As by now you know, we will be leaving for our first trip to Ghana in just one short month. With all of the final exams, report cards, conferences, meetings, sermons, bags to pack, money to raise, donations to collect, people to contact, travel arrangements to make, etc., etc., etc...now seems like the most insane time to attempt to pause, rest, breathe, pray, and relax. However, that's exactly what we're doing.
You see, neither of us have been all too disciplined in our "resting" lately. Stress? Busy-ness? Schedules that prioritize productivity and ignore the cries of our bodies/hearts/souls to s.l.o.w. d.o.w.n? Yep, that's what's become natural for us. We live in a society that seems to scream "GO, GO, GO: have more, do more, be more!" And we've been drinking the kool-aide: ignoring God's biblical command to rest, or at least convincing ourselves that it doesn't apply to us.
Tim and I just finished reading an incredibly powerful book: 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess," by Jen Hatmaker. It was one of the most inspiring books we have read in a long time, and we could not walk away from it without allowing it to change us in some way. It is because of this book that we have decided to embark on a 30 day prayer journey.
For the next 30 days, we will be following the ancients, the monastics, the Benedictines, and the contemplatives into the practice of honoring the hours through prayer pauses every day: midnight, dawn, midmorning, noon, midafternoon, twilight, and night. These humble rhythms, echoed in Scripture, have been revised and expanded in many ways and are known by many names. They have been followed for centuries and are characterized by the practice of resting before God.
During this month, we will be loosely following Seven Sacred Pauses, written by Macrina Wiederkehr. We will stop to be in the midst of doing, and will pray seven times each day. We are really sensing that, amidst all the busy-ness, chaos, excitement, and noise of life, our souls are crying out for rest. Perhaps yours is, too. Join us?
If you're interested in journeying with us as we explore what it means to take a "breathing spell for the soul," please consider committing to 30 days of prayer from October 18 until November 18 (the day we leave for Ghana). When we travel to meet our son for the first time, we want our hearts to be quiet and our souls to be still. We don't want to enter into parenting as the frazzled, crazy-eyed, exhausted, and self-reliant people we've tricked ourselves into becoming. We need rest, and we need prayer.
Additionally, we are hoping that some of you may be interested in continuing to pray specifically for our family from November 18-26, while we are in Ghana. We can't claim to understand it, but we sure do believe in the power of a community who prays, and we'd be honored if you would consider joining ours.
You can find an outline for each of the 7 daily prayers (and links to the suggested scripture readings) in tomorrow's post.
Your prayers, of course, are personal; however, we would love to know if you'll be taking this challenge with us (we could really use the accountability and encouragement!) Please enter your name and email address below if you're considering jumping on board.
You see, neither of us have been all too disciplined in our "resting" lately. Stress? Busy-ness? Schedules that prioritize productivity and ignore the cries of our bodies/hearts/souls to s.l.o.w. d.o.w.n? Yep, that's what's become natural for us. We live in a society that seems to scream "GO, GO, GO: have more, do more, be more!" And we've been drinking the kool-aide: ignoring God's biblical command to rest, or at least convincing ourselves that it doesn't apply to us.
Tim and I just finished reading an incredibly powerful book: 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess," by Jen Hatmaker. It was one of the most inspiring books we have read in a long time, and we could not walk away from it without allowing it to change us in some way. It is because of this book that we have decided to embark on a 30 day prayer journey.
For the next 30 days, we will be following the ancients, the monastics, the Benedictines, and the contemplatives into the practice of honoring the hours through prayer pauses every day: midnight, dawn, midmorning, noon, midafternoon, twilight, and night. These humble rhythms, echoed in Scripture, have been revised and expanded in many ways and are known by many names. They have been followed for centuries and are characterized by the practice of resting before God.
During this month, we will be loosely following Seven Sacred Pauses, written by Macrina Wiederkehr. We will stop to be in the midst of doing, and will pray seven times each day. We are really sensing that, amidst all the busy-ness, chaos, excitement, and noise of life, our souls are crying out for rest. Perhaps yours is, too. Join us?
If you're interested in journeying with us as we explore what it means to take a "breathing spell for the soul," please consider committing to 30 days of prayer from October 18 until November 18 (the day we leave for Ghana). When we travel to meet our son for the first time, we want our hearts to be quiet and our souls to be still. We don't want to enter into parenting as the frazzled, crazy-eyed, exhausted, and self-reliant people we've tricked ourselves into becoming. We need rest, and we need prayer.
Additionally, we are hoping that some of you may be interested in continuing to pray specifically for our family from November 18-26, while we are in Ghana. We can't claim to understand it, but we sure do believe in the power of a community who prays, and we'd be honored if you would consider joining ours.
You can find an outline for each of the 7 daily prayers (and links to the suggested scripture readings) in tomorrow's post.
Your prayers, of course, are personal; however, we would love to know if you'll be taking this challenge with us (we could really use the accountability and encouragement!) Please enter your name and email address below if you're considering jumping on board.