πνεῦμα, ατος, τό(pnyoo’-mah) pneúma – properly, spirit (Spirit), wind, or breath. The most frequent meaning (translation) of 4(pneúma) in the NT is “spirit” (“Spirit”). Only the context however determines which sense(s) is meant. I’ve been circling this singular point of gravity in my prayers and meditations for the last 12 months: Breath. It keeps coming up as the most central metaphor, …
It is easier for us to get to know God than to know our own soul [because] God is nearer to us than we are to ourselves… [God] is the ground in which (we) stand…[Therefore] if we want to know our own soul, and enjoy its fellowship, it is necessary to seek it in [the one … Continue reading The Ground of Our Being
Does peace come when we have what we long for or do the things we long for come when we find peace? I ask myself, “what is it that drives my needs? Why am I so preoccupied with the things I do not have, or the things other people embody?” How can I get free … Continue reading Enough
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10 (NIV) Go outside and gaze upon the most magnificent thing your eyes can find; the thunder heads of a mighty storm, the towering heights of a city skyline, the granite peak of a mammoth … Continue reading Fear of God
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. Revelation 3:20 Life itself knocks on our door, beckoning us to pause and let it in for a moment of union, and communion. The following … Continue reading Communion
This is the written account of Adam’s family line. When God created humans, God made them in the likeness of God. God created them male and female and blessed them and named them “Humans” when they were created. When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and … Continue reading Wounds of Neglect
As above, so below – Matthew 6:9 (The Message Translation) Even though Christian preaching often revolves around the topic of afterlife, Jesus did not teach his followers to only concern themselves with their eternal destination. In fact, when Jesus taught his followers how to pray the first item of concern was not that souls should make it into heaven, rather, … Continue reading Heaven on Earth
“You are what you love” ¹ You are always becoming what you love. What you desire, what you seek, what you pursue becomes you. When we love something we grant it access to our inner parts where it gradually becomes one with us. Think of food. What we eat is largely determined by what we desire. … Continue reading We are Love
Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array, and on the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing, and he rested Genesis 2:1-2 Long time friend and spiritual mentor, Kevin Huddleston, taught me that Sabbath is the discipline of knowing when to say “that’s enough…” This … Continue reading Sabbath
This week I would like to invite you to dwell with me in the story about the two travelers who encountered Jesus while on the road to Emmaus. Before reading over the short selection below take a moment to breath, to remember you are alive, and that you are here… right now… in this moment. Be present to yourself and to God.
“28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road…”
Luke 24:28-32
What grabbed your attention? Is there a word or phrase you want to carry with you for the rest of the day?
Like many of my favorite stories from the bible I love how this one encourages us to expect God in the stranger. Not only that, if we open our houses and our tables, if we break bread with hungry travelers we may discover that God is in our midst.
It is at the table that Christ is revealed. While prayer and bible study are good things this story reminds us that there is no substitute for actual relationship with God. Jesus spends the previous few verses of this story explaining all the scriptures to the two travelers but it wasn’t until the breaking of bread that they realized who he was. Its like the difference between reading the menu at a restaurant and actually ordering something. You can read about a steak all day long but you don’t really know the stake until you eat it. Encountering God is much the same.
Where did you see Jesus this week? Did you see the living God in the midst of a meal? Did you have an opportunity to break bread with a stranger or with a hungry traveler? Both the featured image on this blog as well as the ones below are depictions of our story. Spend a few moments dwelling in the image or return to the short selection above. Which ever you choose I pray that the lord would prepare your heart for divine encounters with the living Christ. May your path and your table be an encounter with the living God this week.
Josh Love 