Dallas Willard on How to Experience God

 

Scholar and author Dallas Willard wrote books on the spiritual disciplines (The Spirit of the Disciplines) and on experiencing God (The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God) so posing the question, “How am I supposed to experience God” was a natural for him.  The question came during a session of Catalyst 2010.  

 

Experiencing God comes by way of reading the Bible, prayer, and meditation to name just a few avenues.  Or some might argue, we experience God by way of spiritual disciplines.

 

For many, that’s where the pursuit of God ends. They associate disciplines with punishment. Who wants discipline?

 

But Willard says that’s a narrow view. Those who eschew the spiritual disciplines miss benefits that enable us to do things that are good, strengthening and rewarding.

 

Some also argue that striving to fulfill spiritual disciplines is the opposite of grace.  Willard disagrees. He claims grace doesn’t make us passive: “Grace is not opposed to effort, it’s opposed to earning. Effort is action, earning is attitude.”  He maintains those who believe they are earning grace through their efforts have the wrong basis for a relationship with God.

 

Instead, Willard describes discipline as practice.  It is the difference between training to do something and trying to do something.  It is not worldly wisdom.  The world tells us, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.  Willard argues, “That’s not it. Find out what went wrong and then fix it.”  That’s discipline.

 

In answer to the question, “How am I supposed to experience God?” Willard suggests intelligent effort, exercised through the spiritual disciplines.  And includes this advice, “If you want to grow spiritually start by doing the next right thing that you know you ought to do.”

 

Willard says that’s what God wants you to do adding, “Nothing will drag you into the kingdom of God like doing the next right thing.”

 

Experiencing God has been a pursuit of believers for centuries.  One of the most adored books on living in God’s presence comes from a lay brother in a Paris monastery by the name of Brother Lawrence.

 

After his death in 1691 a few of his letters were collected and published under the title, ‘The Practice of the Presence of God.’

 

In it, Brother Lawrence simply and beautifully stated that to experience God one must continually commune with God:

 

“Sometimes I considered myself before Him as a poor criminal at the feet of his judge. At other times I beheld Him in my heart as my Father, as my God. I worshipped Him the oftenest I could, keeping my mind in His holy presence and recalling it as often as I found it wandered from Him. I made this my business, not only at the appointed times of prayer but all the time; every hour, every minute, even in the height of my work, I drove from my mind everything that interrupted my thoughts of God.”

Perspective from C.S.Lewis

 Since nuclear threats are rising again, I love the perspective offered here by C.S. Lewis in 1948 almost 75 years ago, but as relevant as ever.

 

“In one way we think a great deal too much of the atomic bomb. ‘How are we to live in an atomic age?’ I am tempted to reply: ‘Why, as you would have lived in the sixteenth century when the plague visited London almost every year, or as you would have lived in a Viking age when raiders from Scandinavia might land and cut your throat any night; or indeed, as you are already living in an age of cancer, an age of syphilis, an age of paralysis, an age of air raids, an age of railway accidents, an age of motor accidents.’

 

In other words, do not let us begin by exaggerating the novelty of our situation. Believe me, dear sir or madam, you and all whom you love were already sentenced to death before the atomic bomb was invented: and quite a high percentage of us were going to die in unpleasant ways. We had, indeed, one very great advantage over our ancestors—anesthetics; but we have that still. It is perfectly ridiculous to go about whimpering and drawing long faces because the scientists have added one more chance of painful and premature death to a world which already bristled with such chances and in which death itself was not a chance at all, but a certainty.

 

This is the first point to be made: and the first action to be taken is to pull ourselves together. If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things—praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts—not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs. They may break our bodies (a microbe can do that) but they need not dominate our minds.”

Out of sorrow - a song burst forth : The story of Charles F. Weigle

 

Charles F. Weigle was an itinerant evangelist and songwriter.

One day he returned home after preaching an evangelistic meeting and found a note from his wife.  It simply read, “I’m leaving Charlie.  I don’t want to live the life you are living.  I want to go the other way – to the bright lights.”  And to add insult to injury, she had taken their only daughter with her.

That night Charlie Weigle wandered the streets alone, finally winding up at the end of the pier at Biscayne Bay, where he contemplated suicide.  However, despite all that had happened to him, he vowed to live his life for Jesus.

 

Approximately eight months later he met his estranged wife in Los Angeles.  She mocked him by telling him of the sins she had committed.  Sadly, a couple of years later she lay on her death bed.  Her daughter was by her side.  Evidently, she was remembering the better life she had lived with Weigle.  She turned to her daughter and said, “If you know where your father is, please ask him to pray for me, and see if God can forgive a sinner such as I.”

 

About five years later, Charles F. Weigle sat down at the piano thinking about all God had brought him through.  The music and words began to flow and he pinned the following lyrics:  

 

Verse 1: “I would love to tell you what I think of Jesus, Since I found in Him a friend so strong and true; I would tell you how He changed my life completely, He did something that no other friend could do.”

 

(Refrain)  “No one ever cared for me like Jesus, There’s no other friend so kind as He; No one else could take the sin and darkness from me, O how much He cared for me.”

 

Verse 2: “All my life was full of sin when Jesus found me, All my heart was full of misery and woe; Jesus placed His strong and loving arms about me, And He led me in the way I ought to go.”  (Repeat Refrain)  

 

Verse 3: “Every day He comes to me with new assurance, More and more I understand His words of love; But I’ll never know just why He came to save me, Till someday I see His blessed face above.”  (Repeat Refrain)  

 

God brought Charles F. Weigle through his dark moment and transformed it into a beautiful encouragement for fellow discouraged followers of Jesus!  He can and will do the same for us as we go through our dark moments.

Monday Quotes: Quotes on How to Achieve Your Goals

 

Many of us set goals to maintain good habits, achieve something that’s important to us, or craft the life we want. They give us something to look forward to and work on consistently, be it a simple intention such as taking a daily walk or reorganizing a room, or a larger goal such as building a relationship or landing an ideal job. In tough times, simply getting from one day to the next can be a reasonable ambition.

 

The thing about goals, though, is that while setting them is easy, achieving them is quite a bit harder; it requires time and steady effort. In some cases, a dream may even seem too daunting to start. But in working toward what we want, we almost always learn something: Studies have shown that setting goals can actually restructure our brains, making us better at processing information and saving energy for when we most need it. In that spirit, the following quotes offer some welcome motivation for moving toward our goals, or starting something new.

If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.
― Henry David Thoreau

Even a snail will eventually reach its destination.
― Gail Tsukiyama, author

There are times to stay put, and what you want will come to you, and there are times to go out into the world and find such a thing for yourself.
― Lemony Snicket (Daniel Handler), author

Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says, “I'll try again tomorrow.”
― Mary Anne Radmacher, author and artist

You never know what's around the corner. It could be everything. Or it could be nothing. You keep putting one foot in front of the other, and then one day you look back and you've climbed a mountain.
― Tom Hiddleston

Whatever you want to do, if you want to be great at it, you have to love it and be able to make sacrifices for it.
— Maya Angelou

Only those who risk going too far can find out how far one can go.
— T.S. Eliot

The most difficult thing is the decision to act; the rest is merely tenacity.
— Amelia Earhart

Ignore the naysayers. Really the only option is, head down and focus on the job.
— Chris Pine

It’s up to you to make your life. Take what you have and stack it up like a tower of teetering blocks. Build your dream around that.
— Cheryl Strayed

I thrive on obstacles. If I'm told that it can't be done, then I push harder.
— Issa Rae

If a goal is worth having, it’s worth blocking out the time in your day-to-day life necessary to achieve it.
— Jill Koenig, life coach and goal strategist

I know how it looks. But just start. Nothing is insurmountable.
— Lin-Manuel Miranda

Infuse your life with action. Don't wait for it to happen. Make it happen. Make your own future.
— Bradley Whitford

I am lucky that whatever fear I have inside me, my desire to win is always stronger.
— Serena Williams

Remember to celebrate milestones as you prepare for the road ahead.
— Nelson Mandela

Sunday Devotional Thought: "Our testimony as Christians in the world is that God is love..."

 

I enjoyed re-reading the following article published in the Keswick Week Journal (1959) and written by Rev. L.F.E. Wilkinson.  I trust you will enjoy reading these timeless thoughts as well. "Our testimony as Christians in the world is that God is love; and that the Cross is the eternal witness to that fact. 1  THE BADGE THAT HE GAVE.   "By this  shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another." John 13:35. True love gives without demand. True love never says "I will only love if..." or "I will love, but they will have to change their habits." Love pours out without demanding that the other must change; that the other must be conformed to your wants and to your ways. True love cares for the other's best. Paul's description in 1  Cor. 13, it does not call attention to itself at the expense of others. Paul says, "Love takes no account of evil done to it; it pays no attention to a suffered wrong; it bears up under anything, and is ever ready to believe the best about anyone." 2.  THE PATTERN THAT HE LIVED. He says, "As I have loved you, so you must love one another (:34). John says that Jesus, "Having loved His own that were in the world, He loved them unto the end" a.  On that "Last Supper Night", He loved them in the midst of jealousy. There was not a very pleasing atmosphere in that upper room. They all had their minds very much on the earth. They thought He was going to lead a rebellion against the Romans, and they, His close associates, would be the members of the Cabinet.     b.   He Loved to the depths of foot-washing.  Did not one of them realize what needed to be done? Did not one of them realize that the Master's feet were dusty?But not one of them so responded let alone touch the feet of one of those other disciples. But Jesus gladly laid aside His garment and took a basin and a towel, and He moved round from one to the other and washed their feet.Washing His disciples' feet, He made it an act of glory, an act of grace. c.  The Lord loved to the limits of betrayal. One of the most amazing things is the love which the Lord Jesus showed to Judas. Do you realize that He washed Judas' feet that night? The feet of the one who was going to lead the column of foes and betray Him in the garden. He  not only washed his feet, but He gave to Judas the sop, the tit-bit which was handed to the greatest friend. He gave it to Judas. d.  The Lord loved also beyond the shame of denial. Did Peter curse and swear and deny Him three times? When the Lord rose again, He sent a special message to Peter.He had a special meeting with Peter; and He not only took that man who had cursed and denied and disowned Him, but He gave him back his apostleship  and said, "feed my sheep, feed my lambs."  3.  THE COMMAND THAT HE LEFT. "A new commandment give I unto you, that you love one another."  Obedience to His command brings spiritual revival,  it also brings healing. Praying and working and loving together, has been an instrument of healing throughout the church. We are deeply aware of and thankful for His wonderful love!...for the enabling that His love offers! I conclude with these thoughts:      Perfect love is the fruit of the Spirit's indwelling.       Perfect love is the  evidence of the Spirit's Lordship.      Perfect love is yours through the willing acceptance of         the Father's gift."   -       Compiled by David L. Keith

Rick's Recipes: Jumbo Breakfast Cookies

 Jumbo breakfast cookies are perfect for grabbing on the way out the door. Feel free to substitute chocolate chips or dried cranberries for the raisins or any combination of the three for a little different twist.             By: J Diamond 

Prep:

10 mins 

Cook:

12 mins 

Total:

22 mins 

Servings:

24 

Yield:

24 big cookies 

 

Ingredients

• 2 cups white sugar 
• 1 cup peanut butter 
• 1 cup butter or margarine 
• ½ cup water 
• 2 tablespoons vanilla extract 
• 2 eggs 
• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour 
• 1 teaspoon baking soda 
• ½ teaspoon salt 
• 1 ½ cups rolled oats 
• 1 ½ cups raisins 
• 6 cups toasted oat cereal rings (such as Cheerios®) 

 

Directions

• Step 1

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

• Step 2

In a very large bowl, mix together the sugar, peanut butter, butter, water, vanilla and eggs until smooth. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into the batter. Mix in the oats and raisins, then carefully stir in the cereal. Drop 1/2 cupfuls of dough onto ungreased cookie sheets, spacing cookies about 4 inches apart. Flatten cookies to 1 inch thick.

• Step 3

Bake for 12 minutes in the preheated oven, until cookies are lightly browned at the edges. Let stand on the cookie sheets for 5 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely. Store at room temperature. I like to put each cookie into a sandwich bag which makes them easy to grab on the way out the door.

 

Nutrition Facts 

Per Serving:

325 calories; protein 6.3g; carbohydrates 45.1g; fat 14.4g; cholesterol 35.8mg; sodium 262.3mg. 

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Friday Funnies :The testimony of a bagpiper - enjoy!

Here is a little something I thought you would enjoy:

A testimony -

As a bagpiper, I play many gigs. Recently I was asked by a funeral director to play at a graveside service for a homeless man. He had no family or friends, so the service was to be at a pauper’s cemetery in the back country. As I was not familiar with the backwoods, I got lost and, being a typical man, I didn’t stop for directions.

 

 I finally arrived an hour late and saw the funeral guy had evidently gone and the hearse was nowhere in sight. There were only the diggers and crew left and they were eating lunch.

 

 I felt badly and apologized to the men for being late. I went to the side of the grave and looked down and the vault lid was already in place. I didn’t know what else to do, so I started to play.

 

The workers put down their lunches and began to gather around. I played out my heart and soul for this man with no family and friends. I played like I’ve never played before for this homeless man.

 

And as I played ‘Amazing Grace,’ the workers began to weep. They wept, I wept, and we all wept together. When I finished I packed up my bagpipes and started for my car. Though my head hung low, my heart was full.

 

 As I opened the door to my car, I heard one of the workers say, “I never seen nothin’ like that before and I’ve been putting in septic tanks for twenty years.”       

                                                                                                           ~ Unknown