The Heavenly Host

Scripture             Luke 2:8-20
Focus Verse        Luke 2:14
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
 and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

After the angel delivered the message to the shepherds, it was accompanied by a multitude of the “heavenly host” to send them off to find the Messiah.  The heavenly host refers to an army of angels mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments.  

What a beautiful song they sing, this army of angels who dwell in God’s presence!  The main purpose of the Heavenly Host is to continually praise God, but they are also sent by God (as messengers) to assist, strengthen and comfort human beings.  

Reflection:  How are you praising God these days?  In prayers of adoration, we praise God for who God is … what is your prayer of adoration?  In prayers of thanksgiving, we praise God for what God has done in our lives.  What is your prayer of thanksgiving?  Write down your prayers.

If music is a pathway to God for you, you might want to listen and watch Libera sing “Angels we have Heard on High."  Libera is a not for profit boys singing group, based in the South London.  

Prayer: Breathing “The Jesus Prayer”       
Breathing in … Lord Jesus Christ
Breathing out … Have mercy
*pray by breathing this prayer repetitively until the prayer prays you. You’ll know the prayer is praying you when the words come to you at random times in random places.  You will simply feel the words on your lips, in sync with your breathing.  And you have begun the process of praying unceasingly through the power of the Holy Spirit! For more information about praying The Jesus Prayer, an ancient prayer form from the days of early Christian History, practiced by the Desert Mothers and Fathers, take this LINK ...

Dancing with God!

Hello dear one ... I invite you to sit for a moment and breathe deeply of God's healing grace.   Take a few moments to center yourself on the source of wholeness and peace.  Know that God loves you and will save you from the depths of spiritual death and despair.   Remember that when I speak of healing, I mean a deeper sense of inner wholeness rather than physical cure.

Settle into a place of deep gratitude within yourself with a simple breath prayer.  Use this one or create your own (six to eight syllables) 

      Breathe in ... Holy God (pause)
      Breath out ... I praise you (pause)

and when you are ready to move deeper into the text ... Pray:

Holy God,  fill me with joy as I read your Word and listen to me as I meditate and seek your Presence.   Amen.    

Read the poetic Psalm 30 slowly, visualizing these beautiful words of praise for the powerful transformation that only God can bring into your life.

Psalm 30     Contemporary English Version (CEV) 
I will praise you, LORD!  You saved me from the grave and kept my enemies from celebrating my death.  I prayed to you, LORD God,  and you healed me, saving me from death and the grave.  Your faithful people, LORD, will praise you with songs and honor your holy name.  Your anger lasts a little while, but your kindness lasts for a lifetime. At night we may cry, but when morning comes we will celebrate.  I was carefree and thought, "I'll never be shaken!"    You, LORD, were my friend, and you made me strong as a mighty mountain.  But when you hid your face, I was crushed.  I prayed to you, LORD, and in my prayer I said, "What good will it do you if I am in the grave?  Once I have turned to dust, can I praise you or tell how loyal you are?  Have pity, LORD! Help!"   You have turned my sorrow into joyful dancing.  No longer am I sad and wearing sackcloth. I thank you from my heart, and I will never stop singing your praises, my LORD and my God. 

Read the passage again slowly and Reflect on the word or phrase that draws your attention.   Sit with your word or phrase and listen to the small, still voice of God calling you to transformation.  Where does this word or phrase touch you?   Tuck your thoughts deep into prayer and if there is any sadness, tears, sorrow, anger, or other darker emotions within you, allow those feelings to bubble up to the surface, knowing that God is with you and will never let your soul perish.    Sit with the emerging light of God ...

Read the passage again slowly and Respond.   Share the feelings that are emerging with God.  As you once again turn your attention to your word or phrase, perhaps it is a different one on this reading ... where are you finding the transforming grace of God in your life?   Finish this thought-ful prayer:  O God, you have turned my ___________ into ___________.   Sing or shout your prayer to God and continue in an attitude of praise and thanksgiving.    

Read the passage again and Rest.  Allow the presence of God to surround you and transform you from moment to moment.  Rest until all words have faded away and you are at rest with the peace of God cradling you in Presence ... Take time to journal your meditations!



When you sense the time to move on, Pray:  
God of transformation, I praise you and thank you for you have brought  healing in my troubled soul and peace in my aching heart!   I will never stop singing your praises, my Lord and my God!  Amen.



Cindy's Journal Reflection ... joyful dancing, joy-full dancing, dancing with joy, dancing in joy ... God of the dance, I praise you.   Come and dance in my soul.  Come and dance in my heart.  Come and surround me with joy.  Come and fill me with joy.  You are my joy and my dance ... With bare feet on holy ground, I will praise you with each step I take and I will dance with you forever, my Joy and my God. 

Thoughts and a Prayer for Thanksgiving

There once was a passage of Scripture I read ... and pondered.  It is a passage that we can read in all four gospels more than once in some with the details somewhat different.  Don't we always find that stories change as we tell them over and over and over ... and the meaning deepens.

We find Jesus in the midst of a great crowd of hungry people ... so many people the disciples wonder how in the world all would be fed.  One small boy offers five barley loaves and two fish.  "Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them ... they were satisfied ..."  (excerpted from John 6:11-12) 



Can you close your eyes and see Jesus lift up the loaves and the fish to give thanks.  Can you open your heart and feel the inspiration of God?   Is this a miracle? ... perhaps the real miracle in this passage is that the risk-taking offering of one small boy inspired the people to share what they had with one another until all were satisfied.  This is not a new idea ... many commentators believe this could be the point of the story.

I wonder ... what small child in the world today could inspire us ... those of us who have so much ... to give to those who have so little ... until all are satisfied.  Does hunger and poverty bother you?   The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has many projects that address hunger and poverty.  Online donations are easy and 100% of your donation goes to the project you choose.  Check it out: UMCOR.

Risk-Taking Mission?  I guess it depends on what your definition of risk-taking is.   Today there are many people for whom this kind of giving is a risk-taking hardship.  Maybe you can't give but why not take this moment to pray:

O God of all Creation: 
You have cared for the earth, and have filled it with your riches. Abundance flows in your steppes, through the pastures and wilderness. You provide for our land, softening it with showers, bathing it in light, and blessing it with growth.

The hills sing with joy; the meadows are covered with flocks; the fields deck themselves with wheat; and together they glorify your name!

On this occasion of our Thanksgiving, we as a nation take rest from our labors to consider your many blessings. We thank you for our freedoms, and for the opportunity to contribute our skills, our attributes and our values toward the good of society.

We thank you for the mixture of our cultures, blending us into one people under God. Help us to be a light unto other nations, and to further the cause of freedom and justice all over the world.

We remember those who are less fortunate than we. We lift up in prayer the victims of poverty and racism, and all those who suffer from forms of political and economic oppression. Let the word that goes forth from our mouths speak of your peace, and let us proclaim our hope in Christ as Savior of all humankind.

We pray that you will bless all those who gather here, as we have come to experience your presence among us. Give us your guidance, O God, and empower us for your work. For we claim nothing for ourselves, but return all honor and glory unto you, and offer our thanks and praise. Amen.

From "Prayers for God's People"
Thomas P. Roberts, editor

Source of Prayer: http://www.godweb.org/thanksgivingprayers.htm