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Living the Joyful LifeWeek Two

The Rector’s Forum

+God has promised never to leave us or forsake us I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Hebrews 13:4-6 NLT

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39 NLT

+Immanuel Exercise

God is always with us but we aren’t always aware of His presence--just like the two on the Emmaus Road.

Luke 24:13-32

As we quiet our bodies and focus on Him we make space to interact with God. That is our part! Making space for God.

+Immanuel: God with us!

“I had no idea God was so accessible.  Even when I have eaten too many cookies and don't want to connect with Him, I just tell Him, ‘I’m ashamed to come to you because I have failed. I'm avoiding talking to you. Is there a way you could draw me in?’ Then He draws me in.”

YK in Ohio

+How do we make space for God?Four easy steps:

1. Pray for protection Lord Jesus, we commit ourselves to you, and we

ask that you would push back any cosmic or demonic interference today and allow everyone present to experience a clear connection with You without interference or retaliation of any kind. We trust You, our Sovereign God to make it safe here today for us to experience Your presence, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

revised from Andy Miller, Heart Sync training

+Making space for God, step two

2. Invite the Holy Spirit to come.

Come Holy Spirit, have your way!

+Making space for God, step three

3. Relax Get as comfortable as you can

Quiet yourself

Breathe slowly and deeply from your diaphragm

Body scan

Yawn

+Making space for God, step four

4. Focus Recall a time when you felt a close connection

to God.

Or

Think of something you appreciate

We will stay in this quiet, focused place for three minutes. Long enough for our brains to

become elastic.

+Stay relax and focused

Betsy will ask God questions. Listen to what He says to you.

Pay attentionTo how your body feelsTo what emotions surfaceTo any words, scriptures or thoughts that come

to mindTo any mental pictures that come to mind

Do not worry if you do not seem to be hearing anything from God, just enjoy the quiet and relax as best you can.

+Time to share

Sharing anchors the experience

But first some guidelines

+Group Guidelines

Sharing is strongly encouraged, but not required. “Pass” is always an option.

Stay on topic, respect time limits, to make sure everyone gets a turn.

+Group Guidelines (cont’d)

Respect the confidentiality of what is shared; do not repeat it to others.

Tenderly protect each other’s flaws.

Supportive listening is always appropriate. Advice/criticism/comments are not.

+A little trouble shooting

We are training our brain to connect with God. It takes practice to learn.Practice quietingPractice focusing

We are rewiring our brains and bodies

+Other barriers

Lies

Fear

Anger

Sadness

+Connecting to Jesus is always the answer

“When we can discern that there is a barrier between us and God, the best thing to do, paradoxically, is ask God what we need to know about that barrier.  Surprisingly, very often when we cannot hear what God has to say about a passage of Scripture, we can hear what we need to know about what is blocking the connection.”

Forming, a work of grace by David Takle