Post by Louise Brooks

Outside my kitchen window, in a tree at the edge of my little Arlington backyard, there was a bird that sat on a branch.  But this bird was so still that I thought it was simply a leaf shaped like a bird.  I spent at least one full minute staring out the window in study and examination as my thoughts fluttered between being sure that what I saw was a leaf . . . no, a bird!  Wait!  Then – just when I squinted hard enough to see that, yes, indeed, it was just a leaf shaped like a bird – it flew away.

I am stunned by the stillness of this bird.  Not a twitch or a ruffle or a song to hint at what it is.  Just a bird.  At rest.  And I am convinced once again that if I, too, were more like this bird – still, at rest, not distracted – not only would I have better eyesight, but then I, too, could fly.

Be still.

“Be still and know that I am God.”  (Psalm 46:10)

“The LORD gives sight to the blind.”  (Psalm 146:8)

“My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare.”  (Psalm 25:15)

Waffles. Of all the breakfast food in the world, waffles are my favorite. My grandma SeaShell used to make Belgian waffles for me and my brother when we stayed over at her house on the weekends.  These were ‘loaded waffles’, with generous heaps of butter, blueberries, strawberries and maple syrup. I can still smell the sweet homemade batter sizzling away in her kitchen.

Now I love breakfast, but when I when my alarm goes off in the morning, food is generally the farthest thing from my mind. But as soon as I eat something, my appetite ignites, and I realize I’m actually famished. Maybe the same is true with our appetite for the things of God.

On Sunday, David spoke from the fourth Beatitude, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of God.” I like that Jesus doesn’t say “blessed are those who are full and stuffed with righteousness.”  For me, sometimes I don’t have this appetite for God, I don’t hunger or thirst. What do you do then?  This reminds me of waking up in the morning.  Even if we don’t have insatiable longing to pray or read, beginning to spend time with God usually turns into greater appetite for Jesus and his Word.

The following are a few examples from Adele Calhoun’s Spiritual Disciplines Handbook that I’ve found helpful for spending time with God:

• Spend 5-10 minutes in silence. Let the internal noise die down.  Setting a timer can be helpful. Open yourself to God in prayer:
  • Dialogue with God about where you’ve sense his presence in the past week.
• Consider the Scriptural names and metaphors that reveal God’s nature and character: Good Shepherd, Father, Healer, Renewer, Well-Spring, Anchor, King, etc.  Let the names of God draw you into worship.
• Go for a walk and be with God. Notice signs of God’s love. If possible gather a symbol of your time with God (a rock, branch, or flower).
• Use these examen questions as a framework to process your own desires, and then talk to God about what you see:
  • What is life-giving to you? What is life thwarting?
  • Where do you find love, joy, and peace in your life? Where does it seem absent?
  • Where are you sad? Where are you glad?
• Slowly read Psalms. 16, 19, or 42. If a word or phrase “lights up” or catches your interest, stop reading. Mediate on the word or phrase.  What do you hear God saying to you?

What makes you hunger and thirst for righteousness?

I want to give you 3 suggestions for spending daily time reading the Bible. Disclaimer– I’m the kind of guy who needs a plan. In this particular situation, I like someone telling me what to do and not having to think about it. So when I stumble downstairs, juggling a cup of coffee, I just turn to ‘what’s next’ rather than having to figure out ‘what should I read, today?’

1. In my opinion the Gold Standard for Bible Reading Plans is the one written by Robert Murray Mc’Cheyne in the 1800s. 4 readings a day take you through the New Testament twice, the psalms twice, and the Old Testament once every year!! I have been using this plan for the last 5 years and I love it. Sure, I’ll miss days, skip readings, but every morning I know where I am and what I have to do. You can find the plan here.

1. The Daily Bible is a unique assembly of Scripture by F. LaGard Smith. He has ordered the whole Bible chronologically so you can read it like a novel in 365 sections. Smith offers some commentary along the way to fill in background and narrative. I have an extra copy and I’ll give it to the first person who asks for it in the comments below.
2. This year, I am reading through the Book of Common Prayer Daily Office. You can find it on pages 934-1001. We are in Year 2 (because 2010 is an even year). The plan hits all of the books, but not every verse of the Bible. So far, I have really enjoyed it. My current pattern is to pray the Collect of the Day from Sunday (p. 214 BCP) and then to read the Scripture appointed for the day (currently, p. 943 BCP). The stuff from Colossians has been particularly encouraging. If you like to have your Quiet Time ‘on-line’, you can find the reading for each day in the ESV right here. How cool is that?

Over the past week, I have been praying these verses for our church:

…asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.  (Col 1.9-10)

May the practice of daily Bible reading do just that during 2010.

I want to give you 3 suggestions for spending daily time reading the Bible.  Disclaimer–  I’m the kind of guy who needs a plan.  In this particular situation, I like someone telling me what to do and not having to think about it.  So when I stumble downstairs, juggling a cup of coffee, I just turn to ‘what’s next’ rather than having to figure out ‘what should I read, today?’

1.  In my opinion the Gold Standard for Bible Reading Plans is the one written by Robert Murray Mc’Cheyne in the 1800s. 4 readings a day take you through the New Testament twice, the psalms twice, and the Old Testament once every year!!  I have been using this plan for the last 5 years and I love it.  Sure, I’ll miss days, skip readings, but every morning I know where I am and what I have to do. You can find the plan here.

2. is a unique assembly of Scripture by F. LaGard Smith. He has ordered the whole Bible chronologically so you can read it like a novel in 365 sections. Smith offers some commentary along the way to fill in background and narrative. I have an extra copy and I’ll give it to the first person who asks for it in the comments below.

Trying to figure out how to post the rest…

Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.

Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.

It is vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.

Totally convicted.  Felt desperate to pray.  Let me be in the things that You are up to.  Let me sleep like one who is loved.  Let my labor not be in vain.  We wait Lord for you. 

Build.  Watch.  Give.

Once we are there, then the question becomes, what do we do?  For hundreds of years, faithful Christians have followed plans to read through the Bible and pray their way through Scripture.  You can google Bible Reading Plan and find scores of them.  My favorite is from Robert Murray Mc’Cheyne.  You can read a quick bio here.

His plan gives 4 readings a day (takes about 20 minutes) and takes you through the NT twice, Psalms twice, and OT once, every year.  I love it.  It’s nice to just show up in my place at my time and not have to figure out–  what do I do??

May Robert Murray Mc’Cheyne be a gift to you as well.