894 Honor the Lord with Substance and Discipline, A Guided Christian Meditation on Proverbs 3:9-12 with the Recenter With Christ app

894 Honor the Lord with Substance and Discipline, A Guided Christian Meditation on Proverbs 3:9-12 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in  and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.  Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.  You can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tense or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable doing so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate. Scripture for Meditation Proverbs 3:9-12 NIV 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth,     with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,     and your vats will brim over with new wine. 11 My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline,     and do not resent his rebuke, 12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves,     as a father the son he delights in. RSV 9 Honor the Lord with your substance     and with the first fruits of all your produce; 10 then your barns will be filled with plenty,     and your vats will be bursting with wine. 11 My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline     or be weary of his reproof, 12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,     as a father the son in whom he delights. and refreshment to your inner self. Reflection on Scripture: These two stanzas go together well. Let's reflect on the first. What is the purpose of the substance we have? What can our wealth do for us in the long run? What about beyond 100 years? On an eternal scale it is very limited and has no impact other than where we set our heart. If we learn to prioritize God above the things of the world, to include finances, we are in a far better situation to be able to learn what God wants to teach us. I think this message is valuable in times of plenty but in difficult economic times, this message is even more valuable. What would you pay for a better eternal relationship with God? What would someone pay for their own soul? Now the second Stanza, in modern society discipline is often presented as a negative or a necessary evil. And yet the scripture is very pro discipline. I was talking with someone close to me outside my immediate family and I was talking with them about things that werent going the best in their life. I had a very specific moment where I had to decide how truthful to be with them. Not that I had to decide to lie or not, but I had to decide to intentionally bring up uncomfortable conversation that was absolutely not necessary for my happiness. There is a pattern in that person's life I felt I should highlight for them because it was negatively impacting other relationships for them. I remember at that moment specifically choosing to engage in that lengthy emotionally exhausting and uncomfortable conversation because I cared about that person and I wanted them to do well. My willingness to engage in that discomfort was rooted in care. I wanted nothing from that person other than for them to live a more satisfying life for them and for those around them, but I had no expectation the conversation would help me.  The Lord cares for us far more than that. If God chooses to correct us it is not out of an unrighteous desire. It is not out of malice or narcissism or any negative outcome or bias. It is because of his raw care and concern for us. When scripture calls us to repentance or others in our life point out how we could be better, our pride fights it, but God's desire for us is that we rejoice in that correction because it will help us.  Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind?  FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: [email protected] Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPo

NIV 3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;     bind them around your neck,     write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name     in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart     and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him,     and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;     fear the Lord and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body     and nourishment to your bones.

892 Everything We Do, Dear Friends, Is For Your Strengthening, A Guided Christian Meditation on Proverbs 3:3-8 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in  and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.  Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.  You can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tense or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable doing so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate. Scripture for Meditation Proverbs 3:3-8 NIV 3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;     bind them around your neck,     write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name     in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart     and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him,     and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;     fear the Lord and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body     and nourishment to your bones. NET 3 Do not let mercy and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will find favor and good understanding, in the sight of God and people. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. 6 Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own estimation; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. 8 This will bring healing to your body, and refreshment to your inner self. Reflection on Scripture: I have been thinking a great deal about the state of modern culture. What the mindset of the world is. I have been increasingly confused to see people who profess faith in Jesus become attached to one cultural idea or another in a way that seems to mirror religious devotion. One very profound goal of our meditations can and perhaps should be, to focus on the content of this scripture as a remedy for this idea. What do you hold to with undue ferocity? Perhaps the easy answer is faith in God. There seems to be no major problem with that, provided it doesn't cause us to hate others. It is perfectly acceptable even to maintain a perspective about certain behavior we should aim for, even while refusing to hate others.  I think at all times we should be suspicious of the perspective that the world serves us. Perhaps from the news, politics, social media. Each of these sources are so thoroughly corrupted by the mindset of our fallen world that as believers we should be incredibly hesitant to believe them with anywhere near the ferocity we would place in the God of heaven. A politician should always take a backseat compared to a prophet. Influencers should have far less influence over us than God's word.  At this moment I invite you to sit in calm meditation, carefully examining. May each of us not let mercy and truth leave us. May we have them written on the table of our heart. May we acknowledge that we should hold up God's wisdom above the wisdom of the world. We should be willing, at every moment, to turn from the consensus of the voices of the world and turn toward the wisdom of God who will give us good understanding. May we acknowledge him in every way and may he direct our paths for good.  Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind?  FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: [email protected] Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod

14 Look, for the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you, because I do not want your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15 Now I will most gladly spend and be spent for your lives! If I love you more, am I to be loved less? 16 But be that as it may, I have not burdened you. Yet because I was a crafty person, I took you in by deceit!

890 I Spend My Life in God's Service, A Guided Christian Meditation on 2 Corinthians 12:14-16 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in  and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.  Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.  You can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tense or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable doing so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate. Scripture for Meditation 2 Corinthians 12:14-16 KJV 14 Now I am ready to come to you this third time. And I will not be a burden, for I want not what is yours, but you. Children ought not to save for their parents, but parents for their children. 15 I will most gladly spend and be utterly spent for your sakes. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? 16 But granted that I myself did not burden you, yet I was crafty and got the better of you by deceit. 14 Look, for the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you, because I do not want your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15 Now I will most gladly spend and be spent for your lives! If I love you more, am I to be loved less? 16 But be that as it may, I have not burdened you. Yet because I was a crafty person, I took you in by deceit! Reflection on Scripture: I was counseling with a person one time and they felt devalued by their spouse and they were talking about prioritizing themselves more. I have heard this repeated often. In that moment, I felt an internal conflict, or perhaps better said I felt the weight of the balance that Paul presents in these previous verses regarding his equality with other apostles. On the one hand he is no less valuable, and on the other, he is equally a fallen person.  So one side is that we need to learn to not hate ourselves because that is a lie from the enemy, yet the solution to that is not to focus more on ourselves that is an influence from our unhealthy culture. Jesus taught us to love and serve others. He also told us to love others as ourselves. Other people are no more important but no less important than you are. I don't think in general the world has a shortage of people thinking about themselves. Learning to focus more on ourselves is often not the way to resolve these feelings. If we are willing to serve God would that also not be serving God's children.  I think the solution to feeling devalued is to truly understand the value God places in us and now that we feel His love, that we look to Jesus for what he wants us to do with this stronger feeling of value and love. As two examples, consider a situation in which both people in a marriage feel as though they are not being focused on and loved enough. It is possible for both people to feel devalued at the same time. The solution to this problem would not be for both partners to focus on themselves more, but to learn how to receive unconditional love from God. Once fed by the love of God we can help to more clearly connect with another person and appropriately negotiate with our spouse on how to feel more loved from them. This is a profound oversimplification but consider it a metaphor.  Another example is for people who struggle with social anxiety, if we transition to helping other people feel at ease in social settings it can actually lower our anxiety more than trying to put ourselves at ease. Again both of these are oversimplifications but they are examples. So take Pauls statement here about how he remains dedicated to the Church and try and discern how God wants you to balance your dedication?  Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind?  FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: [email protected] Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod

ESV 7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

888 My Grace Is Sufficient, A Guided Christian Meditation on 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in  and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.  Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.  You can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tense or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable doing so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate. Scripture for Meditation 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 KJV 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. ESV 7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Reflection on Scripture: Today I gave an invocation prayer for an event for an organization that supports military service members. The person who runs it has done some really amazing things for the servicemembers I have worked with in the past so I was glad to support. The main speaker was a man who served in Vietnam in many incredibly brutal situations. He had led his men in combat and now was telling some of these stories for the first time ever. He was a powerful speaker but it was clear he was working through challenging memories. He was very determined but each person, regardless of their strength, struggles with things. Most of the time we have no decision or input on what thing it is that will challenge us most. This man harnessed that fear of telling his story resulting in a profoundly moving speech.  Paul was not immune to having struggles and even one that he felt extremely vexed by. Paul had amazing visions and gifts from God, and yet he struggled in ways that had him imploring God for help. And yet God did not give it in the way that Paul asked for. Without even knowing yoru situation I can guess that you have things that at times feel heavy for you to bear. Perhaps that is rare or incredibly frequent. If you are being honest though you have troubles. This is the message from God. Use that weakness to draw you closer to God and accept that all things can work together for the good of those who love God.There can be strength in that weakness. It reminds us of our need for God. God's strength is made perfect in our weakness. WE are shown the Mercy of God most when we need it. We may be a way off from what  Many times we see only struggle and we dont see the good it does in us. Embrace the truth Paul teaches. WE can rejoice in the perfection of God. Just because you don't get to choose your struggle doesn't mean you have no choice in how to work through it. The resounding solution to that question is found in this scripture. Trust God. Lean on His strength and He will make you stronger than you could imagine  Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind?  FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: [email protected] Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod

NIV 39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did." 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41 And because of his words many more became believers. 42 They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world."

886 We Have Heard For Ourselves, A Guided Christian Meditation on John 4:37-42 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in  and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.  Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.  You can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tense or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable doing so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate. Scripture for Meditation John 4 NIV 39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did." 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41 And because of his words many more became believers. 42 They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world." RSV 39 Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me everything I have done." 40 When the Samaritans came to him, they invited him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. 41 Many more began to believe in him because of his word, 42 and they said to the woman, "We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world." Reflection on Scripture: The Samaritan woman at the well shared her simple faith in Jesus. That was enough to peak the interest of the whole location where she lived. Yet it was not this testimony that saved. It was Jesus. His presence. His spirit. His words. When the people had heard Jesus themselves, then they came to understand and have faith. Then they heard it for themselves. This is what we all need. As you spend time in scripture, in prayer, in worship, in meditation, you turn your attention from just hearing other people's experience with God and you begin to have your own, or you deepen your own experience. No matter who you are and what spiritual connection you have had with God, to get lax in this area. When this happens we miss out on the beauty and peace that come from proximity to the influence of God's word in our life.  Why on earth would we not graciously drink from the cool water of life that God offers. God offers you His love? How often do you drink of it? How often do you let it flow by without savoring it? Do you constantly feed your faith in God with deep and meaningful personal experience with God's spirit and His words? Go to the source of truth, the source of peace, the source of power and strength.  Take this mediation as a recommittal to spend time with God. Don't outsource your faith. Don't defer what you hold to be true to someone who had their own spiritual experience. Go to God. Go to His word. Go to God in prayer. By all means learn from the wise and learned people, but your faith must grow from within you. The fact that someone else has profound knowledge that has fed their own faith will not be enough for you until you put your focus to grow the roots of your own faith deeper inside of yourself. THen as that faith grows you can constantly nourish it with more knowledge from wise sources.  Many times we see  Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind?  FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: [email protected] Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod

NASB 31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging Him, saying, "Rabbi, eat something." 32 But He said to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know about." 33 So the disciples were saying to one another, "No one brought Him anything to eat, did he?" 34 Jesus *said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work. 35 Do you not say, 'There are still four months, and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I tell you, raise your eyes and observe the fields, that they are white for harvest.