Christian Meditation Podcast

290 Proclaim The Year of the Lord, A Guided Christian Meditation on Isaiah 61:1-4 with the Recenter With Christ app I'm Chaplain Jared and I work as a hospice chaplain and an ICU chaplain, my purpose in making this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and to be more open for your heart to be changed by the Spirit of God. By using centuries old form of Christian Meditation named Lectio Divina: Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes. Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation: Breathe and direct your thoughts to contacting God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Bible verses for Meditation: Isaiah 61:1-4 ESV 1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. 4 They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. NABRE 1 The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion— to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. 4 They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. Meditation on Scripture: This scripture is important. It is the one selected by Jesus to be read in the synagogue. When he finished reading it he told the people that the scripture had been fulfilled in their ears that day. It is comforting to see Jesus declare so clearly his mission and the fulfillment of prophecy. The coming of Christ certainly represents the year of the Lord's favor. He brings comfort and cheer. Garland instead of ashes. For this we feel joy. For this we shall rejoice. Despite whatever hard things occurred in Zion, whatever mourning and sadness, Jesus proclaimed that God would help clear that. There will be building instead of destruction. Repair instead of ruin. If we feel our lives are not what they should. If we feel there has been devastation, this is nothing beyond the power of Jesus. Not because he always fixes the situation right away, but because he gives us what we need to get through it. Those who followed Jesus may have thought that this was not fulfillment of prophecy because the Temple was destroyed roughly 40 years later. They would not have seen the deliverance from Rome as they wanted, they may not have recognized the far more important victory. The victory over sin and death. May we not judge the success of God incorrectly. 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 being 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 Updates: Final Question: What can you do to help keep the waters clean for others? Final Thought: The analogy is not complete. In other words there is nothing that you or I can do to truly muddy Jesus. He has already risen above our sin and carelessness through his Atonement. The metaphor I am applying is that there are things that make it hard for others to follow God and partake of the life giving water. We should be willing to take a look in the mirror and stop those things. 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/christianmeditaitonpo

NABRE Isaiah 40:1-5 1 Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God. 2 Speak to the heart of Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her service has ended, that her guilt is expiated, That she has received from the hand of the Lord double for all her sins. 3 A voice proclaims: In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God! 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, every mountain and hill made low; The rugged land shall be a plain, the rough country, a broad valley. 5 Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. 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

Bible verses for Meditation: NABRE Isaiah 40:1-5 1 Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God. 2 Speak to the heart of Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her service has ended, that her guilt is expiated, That she has received from the hand of the Lord double for all her sins. 3 A voice proclaims: In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God! 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, every mountain and hill made low; The rugged land shall be a plain, the rough country, a broad valley. 5 Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. ESV 40 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins. 3 A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken." Meditation on Scripture: These are the words proclaimed by John the Baptist. When the Pharisees asked John if he was the messiah he said this as recorded in the Gospel of John. John brought baptism to prepare the way of the Lord. Later when Jesus declared he was the way, it was in fulfillment of John's, and Isaiah's prophecy. The Glory of the Lord will be revealed to all flesh. John declares that there is hope. There is comfort Isaiah spoke of. Although we are surrounded by sin, although our human condition created such a dependency, we have hope that the Glory of God will bring comfort. The valleys will be raised up. Eventually there will be no more valley of the shadow of death. In the coming months as millions place their focus on the Birth of our Savior may we remember the fulfillment of prophecy as Jesus' glory will fill the earth and the hearts of all those who believe that His birth marks the central point in time as the enunciation of our Salvation. May Gods glory fill your hearts as we ponder the birth of Jesus who serves as the Savior of the World. 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 being 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 Updates: Final Question: What can you do to help keep the waters clean for others? Final Thought: The analogy is not complete. In other words there is nothing that you or I can do to truly muddy Jesus. He has already risen above our sin and carelessness through his Atonement. The metaphor I am applying is that there are things that make it hard for others to follow God and partake of the life giving water. We should be willing to take a look in the mirror and stop those things. 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

1 Corinthians 1:4-9 NIV 4 I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— 6 God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 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

I'm Chaplain Jared and I work as a hospice chaplain and an ICU chaplain, my purpose in making this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and to be more open for your heart to be changed by the Spirit of God. By using centuries old form of Christian Meditation named Lectio Divina: Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes. Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation: Breathe and direct your thoughts to contacting God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Bible verses for Meditation: 1 Cor 1:4-9 NIV 4 I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— 6 God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. KJV 4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; 6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: 8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Meditation on Scripture: Paul opens his letter to the Corinthians with this frank thanks from His heart. Paul gives gratitude that the people he was writing had come to embrace the grace of Jesus. It is a profound demonstration of his serving heart. Gods grace for others can be a profound blessing. In fact as we come to embrace the love of God the positive feelings we feel at the blessings of others can be enhanced and can lead to some of the deepest joys possible. The challenge is also that it can be very difficult to have such positive experiences with those whom we don't share easy relationships with. I am extremely aware that even loving people can have complex feelings for some people. This includes their own families. Holiday times can be exceptionally challenging for many people who either are not able to be close to loved ones due to distance or death. Similarly it can be difficult when it is possible to gather and stress and emotion fill the air. In this moment, may we strive to hold compassion for others in our hearts, specifically for those who we struggle with. It is not necessary to embrace the stress and negative emotions of others. The goal should be to pour out positive intention by the way of God's grace. Spend a moment with this intention. 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 being 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 Updates: Final Question: What can you do to help keep the waters clean for others? Final Thought: The analogy is not complete. In other words there is nothing that you or I can do to truly muddy Jesus. He has already risen above our sin and carelessness through his Atonement. The metaphor I am applying is that there are things that make it hard for others to follow God and partake of the life giving water. We should be willing to take a look in the mirror and stop those things. 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

Bible verses for Meditation: Ezekiel 34:17-19 NIV 17 "'As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats. 18 Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? 19 Must my flock feed on what you have trampled and drink what you have muddied with your feet? KJV 17 And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats. 18 Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet? 19 And as for my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet; and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet. 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

284 is It Not Enough For You To Drink Clear Water, A Guided Christian Meditation on Ezekiel 34:17-19 with the Recenter With Christ app I'm Chaplain Jared and I work as a hospice chaplain and an ICU chaplain, my purpose in making this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and to be more open for your heart to be changed by the Spirit of God. By using centuries old form of Christian Meditation named Lectio Divina: Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation , Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes. Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation: Breathe and direct your thoughts to contacting God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Bible verses for Meditation: Ezekiel 34:17-19 NIV 17 "'As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats. 18 Is it not enoug for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? 19 Must my flock feed on what you have trampled and drink what you have muddied with your feet? KJV 17 And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats. 18 Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet? 19 And as for my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet; and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet. Meditation on Scripture: This scripture provides an amazingly clear analogy of people who four the clear and pure water by thoughtless action. Much of this chapter is devoted to calling out leaders. Some people may feel a little relieved to think that this scripture is not aimed at them. Perhaps it is only for those unspecific bad church leaders who are malicious in doing wrong. That is not the only kind of people who cause the pure living water to be muddied. Jesus Called himself the living water. Our actions can make it harder for others to come into Christ. Each one of us in our way does things that are careless and muddy the clear waters and foul the pasture for others. The Pastor's goal is that each sheep has clean water and good pasture that hasn't been messed up by other sheep. Sometimes we are the trampling sheep. Sometimes our grass it trampled it. That may through thoughtless action that has harmed you or someone else. That may be through gossip, it may be through a variety of sins or inaction. If you have spent any amount of time listening to this podcast you know I don't delight in shame. So I invite you to embrace the love contained here. God wants us all to have access to pure water. The solution is by listening to the good shepherd be being directed by God. Then valuing the things of God enough to try and make sure we don't make it more difficult for others to feast on the Love of God. Some people are in direct and obvious leadership roles. Others are leaders simply by believing in Jesus. If you believe in Jesus as your savior others may look to you as an example of how Christians behave. Let us not foul the water that others are drinking from. 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 being 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 Updates: Final Question: What can you do to help keep the waters clean for others? Final Thought: The analogy is not complete. In other words there is nothing that you or I can do to truly muddy Jesus. He has already risen above our sin and carelessness through his Atonement. The metaphor I am applying is that there are things that make it hard for others to follow God and partake of the life giving water. We should be willing to take a look in the mirror and stop those things. 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

Psalm 123 NABRE 1 A song of ascents. To you I raise my eyes, to you enthroned in heaven. 2 Yes, like the eyes of servants on the hand of their masters, Like the eyes of a maid on the hand of her mistress, So our eyes are on the Lord our God, till we are shown favor. 3 Show us favor, Lord, show us favor, for we have our fill of contempt. 4 Our souls are more than sated with mockery from the insolent, with contempt from the arrogant. 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

282 To You Enthroned in Heaven, A Guided Christian Meditation on Psalm 123 with the Recenter With Christ app I'm Chaplain Jared and I work as a hospice chaplain and an ICU chaplain, my purpose in making this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and to be more open for your heart to be changed by the Spirit of God. By using centuries old form of Christian Meditation named Lectio Divina: Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation , Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes. Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation: Breathe and direct your thoughts to contacting God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Bible verses for Meditation: Psalm 123 NABRE 1 A song of ascents. To you I raise my eyes, to you enthroned in heaven. 2 Yes, like the eyes of servants on the hand of their masters, Like the eyes of a maid on the hand of her mistress, So our eyes are on the Lord our God, till we are shown favor. 3 Show us favor, Lord, show us favor, for we have our fill of contempt. 4 Our souls are more than sated with mockery from the insolent, with contempt from the arrogant. KJV 1 Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. 2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us. 3 Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt. 4 Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud. Meditation on Scripture: What does the sovereignty of God really mean? What does it mean for God to sit on a throne? If we think that it simply means that God is in charge of things, or that he controls things that is still limited. This scripture reflects a dependance, an acknowledgment of our need before God. God is sovereign in the universe. That means that whatever we do will not harm or destroy him, other than causing ourselves and others to regress spiritually. In the greatest demonstration of grace possible, God loves us. For God so loved the world that he Gave his Son as it says in John. As we ponder the effects of human choices, they are not trivial. It would be incomplete to say that what we do doesn't matter because only God's actions matter. However knowing the limits of our current human ability can alleviate much of our anxiety about our feelings of lack of control in life. When we realize that what we choose in the world matters at the same time it is not supreme we recognize that what God asks us for is intention and action not outcomes. When we have done all we can, we implore to the Lord to bestow his grace on us. Grace is more than a simple forgiveness. The grace of God speaks into our weakness and takes over everything beyond our action. We can then rest assured that regardless of the choices of others, regardless of who leads in the world, the grace of God can ensure that whatever events occur they can be to our benefit and blessing. As a result of this, there is no need to worry about what we cannot control. 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 being 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 Updates: Final Question: What do you ask the Lord for? Final Thought: In this scripture it references an overwhelming plea to God. It begs for peace and consolation in the face of near constant contempt. As it is now, there are many willing to pour out contempt on others. There is a surplus of that kind of treatment going around. There are many methods of overcoming feelings of contempt. Many of which we have covered in this podcast. The focus here is for the grace and mercy of God to overcome this contempt. As we embrace the acceptance of the single most important being in the universe we are more able to accept the contempt of those who are less important. 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 25 "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 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

280 The Wise Take Extra Oil, A Guided Christian Meditation on Matthew 5:1-4 with the Recenter With Christ app I'm Chaplain Jared and I work as a hospice chaplain and an ICU chaplain, my purpose in making this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and to be more open for your heart to be changed by the Spirit of God. By using centuries old form of Christian Meditation named Lectio Divina: Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes. Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation: Breathe and direct your thoughts to contacting God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Bible verses for Meditation: NIV 25 "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. NABRE 1 Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, 4 but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. Meditation on Scripture: During times of unrest and uncertainty people start gathering things that they need. We see this during hurricanes, earthquakes, and pandemics. People hoard things that they think would help them sustain their way of life that they may not have access to. Fear can drive people to do things that they wouldn't do otherwise. Yet preparation is not always based in fear, but often can be in wisdom. For example, when we lived on the East Coast my family always had extra stores of food and water in preparation for hurricanes, that way when the hurricane warnings came, we didnt ever have to stress or worry about grabbing those items at the last second. The thing is that we constantly rotated out the water and food so that they would be fresh and useful if they were ever needed. Now applying these lessons to our lives we can begin to ask ourselves what the extra oil would be in our own lives. What is your oil, extra oil? Jesus indicates that this oil has to do with preparation and entrance in with Him. This is in reference to our spiritual preparation. We should not wait until times of catastrophe to cry out to God. We miss out on many spiritual blessings if we become complacent and stop developing our spiritual relationship and understanding of God. Some days our lives are in catastrophe, and some days they are calm. The question before us is what do we do to prepare spiritually. What do you do to replace your oil? 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 being 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 Updates: Final Question: What do you plan on doing to fill extra stores of spiritual oil. Final Thought: God has greater desires for us than to profess saving faith at one point in our life and muddle through until we die. With the aid of His spirit we can continue to store up extra spiritual oil, not only that we can help people realize the need for them to build their own reserves. There are undoubtedly ways that you can positively influence those around you to more fully live in the love of God. 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

Bible verses for Meditation: John 5:41-44 NIV 41 "I do not accept glory from human beings, 42 but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. 43 I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44 How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? 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

278 I Do Not Accept Glory from Human Beings, A Guided Christian Meditation on John 5:41-44 with the Recenter With Christ app I'm Chaplain Jared and I work as a hospice chaplain and an ICU chaplain, my purpose in making this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and to be more open for your heart to be changed by the Spirit of God. By using centuries old form of Christian Meditation named Lectio Divina: Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes. Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation: Breathe and direct your thoughts to contacting God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Bible verses for Meditation: John 5:41-44 NIV 41 "I do not accept glory from human beings, 42 but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. 43 I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44 How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? KJV 41 I receive not honour from men. 42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. 43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. 44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? Meditation on Scripture: This scripture occurs when Jesus is rebuking those who claim to follow the scriptures but have no love of God in their hearts. I chose to cover this scripture so that we can critically examine the role of human approval and the value of prioritizing God. Due to a lot of reasons people are becoming overly invested in the opinions of other people to the point of inducing hatred in their hearts. People mistakenly think that these human perspectives become the most important thing in determining the way we interact with each other as human beings. As followers of Jesus Christ we should be suspicious of anyone who promises salvation in their own name. There is nothing short of the Grace of God which is enough to deliver us from the weakness inherent in the human heart. Knowing this, the enemy attempts to create an artificial salvation through human communal hatred. I invite you to become suspicious of dedication to things that inspire hatred. Our faith should certainly not require that nor should anything else. If we attempt to adhere to the laws of God while fostering hatred or feelings of superiority in our hearts then we are no better than pharisees. Jesus gives a higher calling. One that requires us to humble ourselves. Jesus came to save us, and in so doing shared a message denouncing human pride. Our loyalty should be to God above all else. 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 being 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 Updates: Final Question: In what ways are you similar to the pharisees Jesus denounced? Final Thought: Our loyalties should focus on learning how to fulfill the commands of Jesus, which is to love God, love our neighbor, then follow Him in faith. Human pride and loyalties to political ideals can foul our ability to live the command of God. I don't mean to say that any secular activity is a distraction from God, but as we pursue any human or secular activities we need to keep them in the proper priority. Love of God should be the highest value we work toward. Loving others comes second to that. 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

Bible verses for Meditation: Ecclesiastes 3:1-5 NIV 1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, 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

276 To Everything There's A Season, A Guided Christian Meditation on Ecclesiastes 3:1-5 with the Recenter With Christ app I'm Chaplain Jared and I work as a hospice chaplain and an ICU chaplain, my purpose in making this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and to be more open for your heart to be changed by the Spirit of God. By using centuries old form of Christian Meditation named Lectio Divina: Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes. Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation: Breathe and direct your thoughts to contacting God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Bible verses for Meditation: Ecclesiastes 3:1-5 NIV 1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, NRSV 1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; Meditation on Scripture: This scripture is an often quoted scripture about the timeliness of God. Many times when I have read this scripture, I see it as a reference to the impermanence of life. It seems to point to the unimportance of changes that occur. When we see it in the context of the previous chapter it adds additional meaning. In the greater context of the book of Ecclesiastes we see an existential wrestle with purposelessness. The antidote to this purposelessness is God. In other words Although there are changes in life due to the extremes and the thing that happen to us in life, the answer remains unchanged. Its not just a meaningless change from some set of arbitrary markers. It is the fact that the love and purpose of God transcend all of these. In your life, God loves in as you weep and as you laugh. God's grace applies as we break down and build up. There are times when we embrace and refrain from embracing, yet our eternal worth before God remains unchanged. This awareness transforms these changes from meaningless noise, to a series of opportunities to reveal spiritual development. When we recognize a shortfall in what we want vs what we experience, our focus can go beyond the desire itself and look to the greater question of how we are developing in our love for God and our neighbor. God's goal for us includes undeserved unconditional love, as well as a saving grace and purifying force to lead us toward a recreation in the perfection of God. We don't need to fear the bad times as some sort of indication that we are not measuring up. Those things come and go. What doesn't have to be is our developing trust and in Him. Our faith can grow regardless of the circumstance of our life. 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 being 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 Updates: Final Question: How do you treat the needs of others? Final Thought: During last week's episode I recommended a practice of enhancing the naturally occurring moments of life. This can lead to improved mood as we learn to give gratitude to God for these moments. I want to take a moment and perhaps slit a hair between salvation and bringing the kingdom of God into our lives here and now. If we trust Jesus as our savior, he takes our sins away. Yet this is not the only thing Jesus offered. He constantly was trying to teach the people how to bring the kingdom of Heaven to earth. That comes through consistently following Jesus. Practices of gratitude, expressions of worship and faith, as well the most important is developments in our capacity to love as Jesus did, reflect Jesus' invitations and result in His promised blessings. FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email:

274 Without God, Who Can Find Enjoyment, A Guided Christian Meditation on Ecclesiastes 2:22-28 with the Recenter With Christ app I'm Chaplain Jared and I work as a hospice chaplain and an ICU chaplain, my purpose in making this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and to be more open for your heart to be changed by the Spirit of God. By using centuries old form of Christian Meditation named Lectio Divina: Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes. Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation: Breathe and direct your thoughts to contacting God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Bible verses for Meditation: Ecclesiastes 2:22-28 NIV 22 What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? 23 All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless. 24 A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, 25 for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? 26 To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. NLT 22 So what do people get in this life for all their hard work and anxiety? 23 Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest. It is all meaningless. 24 So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. 25 For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him? 26 God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. But if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please him. This, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind. Meditation on Scripture: Reading through Ecclesiastes is depressing in a way if we don't realize what the underlying point is. King solomon the wise was lamenting a life devoid of meaning. He stopped giving gratitude to God, and living in God and it left him feeling empty. We have an opportunity to give glory to God, and that is what gives meaning to our action. God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. I want to invite you to a practice It is a practice of learning how to feel more happiness and gratitude. When you experience something genuinely good, no matter how small. Apply this tactic. It may be viewing a pleasant sunset, finding a good parking spot when you are running late, or even something more prodounced like experiencing the love of family or joy in worship possibly even this meditation. When you feel that experience, allow it to simmer in your awareness. Allow yourself to just have that positive feeling stay in your heart. Enhance it in your mind without forcing it to stay longer than is genuine. Then take a moment to absorb it into your heart. This is kind of an abstract idea but allow it to sink in and realize it as a part of your life. This strategy is a scientifically proven method for changing happy feelings into a personality trait. It comes from the book "hardwiring happiness" by doctor Rick hansen. It is also the basis for how I do the visualize step of the meditation. So without even realizing it, we have been applying this method. 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 being 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 Updates: Final Question: How do you treat the needs of others? Final Thought: HEAL 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

274 Without God, Who Can Find Enjoyment, A Guided Christian Meditation on Ecclesiastes 2:22-28 with the Recenter With Christ app I'm Chaplain Jared and I work as a hospice chaplain and an ICU chaplain, my purpose in making this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and to be more open for your heart to be changed by the Spirit of God. By using centuries old form of Christian Meditation named Lectio Divina: Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes. Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation: Breathe and direct your thoughts to contacting God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Bible verses for Meditation: Ecclesiastes 2:22-28 NIV 22 What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? 23 All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless. 24 A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, 25 for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? 26 To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. NLT 22 So what do people get in this life for all their hard work and anxiety? 23 Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest. It is all meaningless. 24 So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. 25 For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him? 26 God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. But if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please him. This, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind. Meditation on Scripture: Reading through Ecclesiastes is depressing in a way if we don't realize what the underlying point is. King solomon the wise was lamenting a life devoid of meaning. He stopped giving gratitude to God, and living in God and it left him feeling empty. We have an opportunity to give glory to God, and that is what gives meaning to our action. God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. I want to invite you to a practice It is a practice of learning how to feel more happiness and gratitude. When you experience something genuinely good, no matter how small. Apply this tactic. It may be viewing a pleasant sunset, finding a good parking spot when you are running late, or even something more prodounced like experiencing the love of family or joy in worship possibly even this meditation. When you feel that experience, allow it to simmer in your awareness. Allow yourself to just have that positive feeling stay in your heart. Enhance it in your mind without forcing it to stay longer than is genuine. Then take a moment to absorb it into your heart. This is kind of an abstract idea but allow it to sink in and realize it as a part of your life. This strategy is a scientifically proven method for changing happy feelings into a personality trait. It comes from the book "hardwiring happiness" by doctor Rick hansen. It is also the basis for how I do the visualize step of the meditation. So without even realizing it, we have been applying this method. 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 being 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 Updates: Final Question: How do you treat the needs of others? Final Thought: HEAL 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

Bible verses for Meditation: KJV 23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. 24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. 26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. 27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! NRSV 23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24 A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him up, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" 26 And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, you of little faith?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. 27 They were amazed, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?" Meditation on Scripture: I have been somewhat vague in past episodes and social media but I spoke at the funeral for my brother's wife this week. One of her favorite hymns was "Jesus, Savior, Pilot me" 1 Jesus, Savior, pilot me, Over life's tempestuous sea; Unknown waves before me roll, Hiding rock and treach'rous shoal; Chart and compass come from Thee: Jesus, Savior, pilot me! 2 As a mother stills her child, Thou canst hush the ocean wild; Boist'rous waves obey Thy will When Thou say'st to them, "Be still!" Wondrous Sov'reign of the sea, Jesus, Saviour, pilot me! 3 When at last I near the shore, And the fearful breakers roar 'Twixt me and the peaceful rest, Then, while leaning on Thy breast, May I hear Thee say to me, "Fear not, I will pilot thee!" 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

272 Even the Winds and the Waves Obey Him - A Guided Christian Meditation on Matthew 8:23-27 with the Recenter With Christ app I'm Chaplain Jared and I work as a hospice chaplain and an ICU chaplain, my purpose in making this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and to be more open for your heart to be changed by the Spirit of God. By using centuries old form of Christian Meditation named Lectio Divina: Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes. Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation: Breathe and direct your thoughts to contacting God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Bible verses for Meditation: KJV 23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. 24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. 26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. 27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! NRSV 23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24 A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him up, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" 26 And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, you of little faith?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. 27 They were amazed, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?" Meditation on Scripture: I have been somewhat vague in past episodes and social media but I spoke at the funeral for my brother's wife this week. One of her favorite hymns was "Jesus, Savior, Pilot me" 1 Jesus, Savior, pilot me, Over life's tempestuous sea; Unknown waves before me roll, Hiding rock and treach'rous shoal; Chart and compass come from Thee: Jesus, Savior, pilot me! 2 As a mother stills her child, Thou canst hush the ocean wild; Boist'rous waves obey Thy will When Thou say'st to them, "Be still!" Wondrous Sov'reign of the sea, Jesus, Saviour, pilot me! 3 When at last I near the shore, And the fearful breakers roar 'Twixt me and the peaceful rest, Then, while leaning on Thy breast, May I hear Thee say to me, "Fear not, I will pilot thee!" There are multiple purposes of this message. One is that the pilot is someone intimately familiar with the shore line, and were the dangerous rocks are. Modern day pilots work exclusively around one shoreline and guide each large ship into safety. Another aspect is that Jesus changes the whole equation. He is not only helping us deal with things he can't change. He has power to change the forces of nature. This is equally applicable to us. He is equally capable to calm our hearts. I remember a distinct moment when I was feeling strong emotion, then upon reflection on these principles, peace and strength replaced the sadness. The Lord bound up my broken heart. Trust that God can do the same for you. He can, and will, either now or in the future. 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 being 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 Updates: Final Question: Do you allow Jesus to be your pilot. Final Thought: I have been doing this podcast for coming up on 3.5 years and have never missed releasing an episode until this week. Regardless of how busy I have been or how late I have stayed up I have always got it done. This week I redirected my flight from Washington DC to the home of a family member to be there to support. I didn't have podcasting gear and I couldn't do the live mobile because I don't have enough subscribers yet. I appreciate the thoughts of concern and support for those who have reached out on facebook and in emails. It means a lot knowing that my experience, even in death and grief, can be a testimony of God's Glory and bring people peace. I want you to know that God is aware of your suffering and your full situation. Your suffering will be for but a brief moment and when it is over, your growth in God's eyes and the love that you have learned to feel will be all that matters to you. FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditatio

Bible verses for Meditation: Psalms 23:3-6 KJV 1The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. NABRE The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. 2 In green pastures he makes me lie down; to still waters he leads me; 3 he restores my soul. He guides me along right paths for the sake of his name. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me. 5 You set a table before me in front of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Indeed, goodness and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the Lord for endless days. 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

270 Though I Walk Through The Valley of the Shadow of Death, A Guided Christian Meditation on Psalms 23:1-6 with the Recenter With Christ app I'm Chaplain Jared and I work as a hospice chaplain and an ICU chaplain, my purpose in making this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and to be more open for your heart to be changed by the Spirit of God. By using centuries old form of Christian Meditation named Lectio Divina: Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes. Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation: Breathe and direct your thoughts to contacting God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Bible verses for Meditation: Psalms 23:3-6 KJV 1The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. NABRE The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. 2 In green pastures he makes me lie down; to still waters he leads me; 3 he restores my soul. He guides me along right paths for the sake of his name. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me. 5 You set a table before me in front of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Indeed, goodness and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the Lord for endless days. Meditation on Scripture: Much of my professional life is working with people encountering tragedy and suffering. Many times I spend time with others who are grieving losses. Most of the time I am not directly connected to those people. This week was different. I experienced a family tragedy. A dearly loved family member of mine was engaged in a lethal car accident. I have shed many tears as you can imagine. What has been so comforting is the way in which God has bound up my broken heart not to the exclusion of sadness but just to prevent me from being driven into the dark recesses of the soul. In the middle of our mourning I have felt the concern and prayers of people across the world. There were church congregations fasting for our emotional wellbeing. We felt this support. God has an ability to bind up our broken hearts. As David says Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for you are with me. I have spent a long time thinking about suffering and how to comfort it. One thing I have come to believe, and I feel is represented in this scripture, is that fear around grief increases suffering and creates feelings of darkness. I don't claim to understand the full depths of human suffering, but this is something that I am intuiting about grief. Not all sadness produces darkness. I think it is a gift of God that I am working to understand. If you are currently struggling with the depths of suffering, know that trusting in God can help us gain strength to carry on and grow toward the image of God. For now I echo David's words. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. 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 being 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 Updates: Final Question: Do you fear sadness? Final Thought: I have been doing this podcast for coming up on 3.5 years and have never missed releasing an episode until this week. Regardless of how busy I have been or how late I have stayed up I have always got it done. This week I redirected my flight from Washington DC to the home of a family member to be there to support. I didn't have podcasting gear and I couldn't do the live mobile because I don't have enough subscribers yet. I appreciate the thoughts of concern and support for those who have reached out on facebook and in emails. It means a lot knowing that my experience, even in death and grief, can be a testimony of God's Glory

Bible verses for Meditation: John 5:20-24 NRSV 20 The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished. 21 Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever he wishes. 22 The Father judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life. 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

268 The Father Judges No One But Gives All Judgement to The Son, A Guided Christian Meditation on John 5:20-24 with the Recenter With Christ app I'm Chaplain Jared and I work as a hospice chaplain and an ICU chaplain, my purpose in making this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and to be more open for your heart to be changed by the Spirit of God. By using centuries old form of Christian Meditation named Lectio Divina: Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes. Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation: Breathe and direct your thoughts to contacting God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Bible verses for Meditation: John 5:20-24 NRSV 20 The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished. 21 Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever he wishes. 22 The Father judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life. ESV 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. Meditation on Scripture: When you ponder the throne of God is it a moment of terror or a moment of joy? There is a Holy Day in the Jewish Calendar this time of year called Rosh haShanah. It is a time when Jews ponder on forgiveness. It is a time to solemnly remember how we need forgiveness from God and celebrate Yom Kippur as the day of atonement. Even for many Christians the prospect of forgiveness seems unresolved despite clear teachings countering this fear. We know what God has asked and we know what we have done and continue to do. We read in the Book of Revelations about the Great White Throne of God. It is the throne from which God will stand in judgement. This is an idea that has cast terror and fear into people's hearts for generations. It becomes obvious to see why, but not when we understand Jesus' intentions with us. This scripture says that the father will not stand in judgement at all. He has given all judgement to the Son. What is more it goes on to say that if we believe in Jesus will not stand in judgement at all. Ponder this, instead of standing trial before a God in fear and trembling, we will be received in love by a God of Mercy. The thing that you have been fearing will not go the way you fear it would. With that said I think there is profound healing that comes from taking personal accountability for our sin. What do we do with our lives once we know that we our out of trouble so to speak. Do we get lazy and complacent? If so there is no way we can receive all the spiritual blessings God has in mind for us. As you ponder that your God was willing to allow the horrors of the cross to get out out of the horrors of being on the wrong side of the judgement seat I hope that you feel inspiration to draw nearer to God and embrace the Love he offers by following Christ's law of love and discipleship. I want you to ponder This is a huge relief because if we were to go to trial we most certainly would be found guilty. 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 being 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 Updates: Final Question: Do you live righteous to avoid judgement or to live in harmony with the God of Glory? Final Thought: I encourage you to take full accountability for your actions, embrace the love of God, make amends, and then move forward with a purer heart than before. Through humility and grace we overcome our sinful natures and

NABRE 1 If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing. 3 Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, 4 each looking out not for his own interests, but [also] everyone for those of others. 5 Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, 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

266 In Your Relationships Have the Mindset of Christ, A Guided Christian Meditation on Philipians 2:1-5 with the Recenter With Christ app I'm Chaplain Jared and I work as a hospice chaplain and an ICU chaplain, my purpose in making this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and to be more open for your heart to be changed by the Spirit of God. By using centuries old form of Christian Meditation named Lectio Divina: Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes. Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation: Breathe and direct your thoughts to contacting God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Bible verses for Meditation: Philippians 2:1-5 NIV 1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 'NABRE 1 If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing. 3 Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, 4 each looking out not for his own interests, but [also] everyone for those of others. 5 Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, Meditation on Scripture: When you hear this invitation from Christ what comes to your mind? I suspect that each of us think something different. Perhaps we think of challenging relationships, or beautiful relationships that have been attacked by conflict. Perhaps you feel shame or guilt, perhaps you feel vindication, or judgement on someone else. Continue to ponder this. How do you feel as you hear of Christ's love for you? How is that different than the way you feel when you ponder your attitude in human relationships? I believe that the example of Christ can help us reconcile the love we feel from God into the way in which we interact with others. Do we truly regard others as more important than ourselves? Are we willing to embrace the strength of God within us to become as Christ. Christ's attitude was not one of self hatred, or lack of awareness of his value. He knew, as the Son of God he was of infinite worth. Similarly you as a child of God have infinite worth, not because you are so great but because God said so. He makes us join heirs with Christ. May we rise up to live more like an heir of glory. What can others take from us that is greater than what God does and will give 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 being 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 Updates: Final Question: How do you treat the needs of others? Final Thought: Some people are threatened by the idea to consider others as more important. This is especially dicey when people have been abused or mistreated. I believe that this message from Christ is not one of self hatred or degradation. As we embrace the value God has placed on us we are more able to let go the approval of others and the approval of the world. Because our value comes by Godly decree we also shouldn't take pride in it. What are we that we should be considered greater than others? This is certainly a dichotomy but it is one that keeps us humble while also being empowered through God to rise up to overcome anything that would prevent us from living in the love of God. 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

Romans 2:12-16 ESV 12 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. 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

264 Their Own Conscience Bears Witness, A Guided Christian Meditation on Romans 2:12-16 with the Recenter With Christ app I'm Chaplain Jared and I work as a hospice chaplain and an ICU chaplain, my purpose in making this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and to be more open for your heart to be changed by the Spirit of God. By using centuries old form of Christian Meditation named Lectio Divina: Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes. Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation: Breathe and direct your thoughts to contacting God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Bible verses for Meditation: Romans 2:12-16 ESV 12 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. NRSV 12 All who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous in God's sight, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 14 When Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves. 15 They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, to which their own conscience also bears witness; and their conflicting thoughts will accuse or perhaps excuse them 16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God, through Jesus Christ, will judge the secret thoughts of all. Meditation on Scripture: What is your conscience? This scripture contrasts the conscience with the heart, in other words it is something beyond the human heart. When you feel that you have done something wrong or are being tempted to do something wrong, how is it that we can know that? This above scripture is difficult to parse the exact meaning, there are others more skilled than I, but I think it is important to wrestle with this idea of conscience and how we can respond to it. Similarly, what are the effects of responding, or failing to respond to it? The challenge is that, because of the fall, our will as humans is at odds with the desires of God. How is it then that people who are not Christians can have moral laws that share major components to the Ten Commandments and even the love of neighbor that Jesus taught? The challenge of reconciling this with the above scripture has a lot to do with where a conscience comes from. When Jesus said that we should let our light shine for others, what light is it that we are sharing? Is it the same light that Jesus said he was in John 1? In this way our conscience which guides us may be a representation of invitations from God's light to take a certain action, or avoid a certain action. As we deny these invitations we become increasingly unable to perceive it. We become hardened even beyond our nature. Even those who Our goal then is to adjudicate our conscience in the context of the light of God's teachings and determine what action the Love of God is inspiring us toward. This requires an immense amount of humility and determination. 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 being 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 Updates: Final Question: How do you treat people who reject God or Church? Final Thought: In life we are not always the villains or the heroes. We are however, always in need of the help of God regardless of what we are doing. Over the coming days take time and think about specifically how you treat others who struggle with faith, doing things 'right, or who dont treat others well. Perhaps remember this scripture and realize the true goal is to bring joy to the lives of all we can and help them find lasting peace. God can help us find ways that we can do that in our lives. You can do that in ways I can'

Luke 15:27-31 NIV 27 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' 28 "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' 31 "'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'" 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

I'm Chaplain Jared and I work as a hospice chaplain and an ICU chaplain, my purpose in making this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and to be more open for your heart to be changed by the Spirit of God. By using centuries old form of Christian Meditation named Lectio Divina: Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes. Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation: Breathe and direct your thoughts to contacting God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Bible verses for Meditation: Luke 15:27-31 NIV 27 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' 28 "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' 31 "'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'" KJV 27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. 28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. 29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. Meditation on Scripture: Many times when we look through the eyes of history, we see ourselves through a certain lens. We constantly look at things through the side we assume that we would have taken. We romanticize certain perspectives and sides and oversimplify others. You can see this in the different perspectives captured in classical literature and how differently we view things today. For example, in the story of the prodigal son covered last week and this week. Which of the two sons do you identify more with? Which one are you like? The examples of Jesus would have had a different meaning to His audience at the time than they do to us, just in the way we think and reason. I think Jesus uses such perfect examples with many facets. For example this story has different purpose depending on which one we see ourselves as. How do you see people who you feel have rejected God? How do you treat them? What do you think about them? What exceptions to you make for yourself that you don't make for others? 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 being 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 Updates: Final Question: How do you treat people who reject God or Church? Final Thought: In life we are not always the villains or the heroes. We are however, always in need of the help of God regardless of what we are doing. Over the coming days take time and think about specifically how you treat others who struggle with faith, doing things 'right, or who dont treat others well. Perhaps remember this scripture and realize the true goal is to bring joy to the lives of all we can and help them find lasting peace. God can help us find ways that we can do that in our lives. You can do that in ways I can't and vice versa. Invite God to help you. 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

Bible verses for Meditation: Luke 15:11-14 NRSV 11 Then Jesus said, "There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' So he divided his property between them. 13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 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

260 He Began To Be In Need, A Guided Christian Meditation on Luke 15:11-14 with the Recenter With Christ app I'm Chaplain Jared and I work as a hospice chaplain and an ICU chaplain, my purpose in making this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and to be more open for your heart to be changed by the Spirit of God. By using centuries old form of Christian Meditation named Lectio Divina: Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes. Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation: Breathe and direct your thoughts to contacting God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Bible verses for Meditation: Luke 15:11-14 NRSV 11 Then Jesus said, "There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' So he divided his property between them. 13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. NLT 11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: "A man had two sons. 12 The younger son told his father, 'I want my share of your estate now before you die.' So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. 13 "A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. Meditation on Scripture: There are times in our lives when we can grow distant from God. We can allow the allure of our world to draw us to pride or indifference to the value God offers. The is a simple grandeur of the life God calls us to and yet at times we lose sight of it. We lose sight of the promises he offers. We set our hearts on the wrong things. Each one of us also knows other people who are not prioritizing God in their lives like they have in the past. Sometimes that person is us. Out of concern we wonder where their hearts are at. Then in a moment of clarity you realize an emptiness. A feeling of purposelessness and loneliness. We begin to realize our want, our need before God. The worry of our mind can lead us through anxious paths. That is not the way back to the Father. He offers more. Later in this scripture, the young man remembers what his father has to offer and decides to return. The real question is how do we respond to the same feelings. What is your need before God? What is the most important thing you need in your life right now? 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 being 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 Updates: Final Question: In what way are you most in need before God right now? Final Thought: What does it mean for God to hear you and know your need? What is the difference between what you think you need and what you actually need? Many times we determine what our true needs are only to realize that we missed the mark. We may squander possibilities before us. Yet that is not how God will treat us. When we bring our hearts back to Him, He will always embrace us as we return but the road back may be dusty and long until we feel His embrace. I invite you to reach out to your loving father regarding your needs, your true needs, then do what he asks you. 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

Bible verses for Meditation: NABRE 6 Enter, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the Lord who made us. 7 For he is our God, we are the people he shepherds, the sheep in his hands. Oh, that today you would hear his voice: 8 Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah, as on the day of Massah in the desert 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

258 If Only You Would Hear His Voice, A Guided Christian Meditation on Psalms 95:6-8 with the Recenter With Christ app I'm Chaplain Jared and I work as a hospice chaplain and an ICU chaplain, my purpose in making this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and to be more open for your heart to be changed by the Spirit of God. By using centuries old form of Christian Meditation named Lectio Divina: Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes. Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation: Breathe and direct your thoughts to contacting God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Bible verses for Meditation: NABRE 6 Enter, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the Lord who made us. 7 For he is our God, we are the people he shepherds, the sheep in his hands. Oh, that today you would hear his voice: 8 Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah, as on the day of Massah in the desert. ESV 6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! 7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, Meditation on Scripture: What does God's voice do in you? I've had conversations with people who are searching for a way to connect with God. It is my experience that the influence of the spirit reaches each of us in different ways. Just as each person has unique spiritual gifts, so too does each person receive God's word differently. A huge part of the purpose of our lives is to learn how that works for us. Once we learn to listen, what do we hear? What else in our lives can we hear? St Benedict said in the 500s AD, "Listen carefully, my child, to the teaching of the master and bend close the ear of your heart." I find this a powerful concept. Listen with the ear of our heart. When we learn to listen with this ear we can more clearly hear others and then love them. The teachings of our Master Jesus Christ constantly invite us to listen and follow. What does that listening and following look like in your life? 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 being 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 Updates: Final Question: How does listening to God teach you to listen to others? Final Thought: I periodically get emails from people who have used this very podcast to help them deal with relationships. For example, I have heard from people who connect with God to help them overcome current or past abusive relationships God's influence helped them get emotionally and spiritually safe. I also had someone reach out to me and show me how the very last communication she ever had with her own mother was to recommend this podcast and her mom liked the text. Then her mother died. Having faith in Christ can speak into every single relationship we have, including those we consider our enemies. 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

Bible verses for Meditation: James 2:14-18 NIV 14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 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

256 I Will Show You My Faith by my Deeds, A Guided Christian Meditation on James 2:14-18 with the Recenter With Christ app I'm Chaplain Jared and I work as a hospice chaplain and an ICU chaplain, my purpose in making this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and to be more open for your heart to be changed by the Spirit of God. By using centuries old form of Christian Meditation named Lectio Divina: Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes. Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation: Breathe and direct your thoughts to contacting God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Bible verses for Meditation: James 2:14-18 NIV 14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. NABRE 14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well," but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? 17 So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 Indeed someone may say, "You have faith and I have works." Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works. Meditation on Scripture: What does your faith motivate you to do? What do you wish your faith would motivate you to do? Faith is a principle of action. Our faith connects us to God and God can motivate us to greatness both in this life and the next. I want you to ponder how your faith motivates you in terms of other people. Having a Christ centered view of others is the foundation for positive human relationships. The way we connect with those closest to us is a direct reflection of our Christian faith. What is the relationship between your faith and the way you live with others? Do we say to others Go in peace while not actually doing anything to help? Ponder for a moment the unique spiritual gifts that you have that may benefit others. Perhaps you have influence on others and can recommend this podcast or something helpful. Perhaps you have strong skills in one area or another. Perhaps you have a strong prayer life and can pray for others. I know I would appreciate all the prayers I can get. Consider how your actions can bring the Kingdom of Heaven to earth. Consider this. There is no greater adventure than to ally with God. Our goal should be to receive the invitation that God gave us to live by his spirit. There is no greater adventure and this is what leads to His reward. Is there some good thing 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 being 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 Updates: Final Question: How do you plan to take up the courage of God? Final Thought: I periodically get emails from people who have used this very podcast to help them deal with relationships. For example, I have heard from people who connect with God to help them overcome current or past abusive relationships God's influence helped them get emotionally and spiritually safe. I also had someone reach out to me and show me how the very last communication she ever had with her own mother was to recommend this podcast and her mom liked the text. Then her mother died. Having faith in Christ can speak into every single relationship we have, including those we consider our enemies. 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

Bible verses for Meditation: Joshua 1:6-8 NRSV 6 Be strong and courageous; for you shall put this people in possession of the land that I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to act in accordance with all the law that my servant Moses commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful. Meditation on Scripture: I think much of human weakness is rooted in fear. Fear we aren't enough. Some fear there isn't enough attention or glory for themselves. We fear for the safety of others and for unjust things in this world we both experience and cause. We fear what we dont understand both what we dont understand around us and what we dont understand within. There are facets of our hearts that are dark as well a facet that longs for God. Each human heart carries within it a ferocity. Some have defined this as the warrior spirit. In the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe series CS Lewis there is a character who is a symbol of Jesus. He is the Lion Aslan. Throughout scripture God is represented as the Lion of Judah. He is both ferocious and kind. The spirit of God within you has those elements as well. Why should we take courage? To what end should we hope? To do what God wants us to do in all things. His covenant of old was around the law passed down to Moses. Now it is the way fo Jesus and is the root of the conscience He writes upon the fleshy tables of our heart. Be courageous to do what you know is right no matter what stands in your way, just be cautious it is really what God calls. 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

254 Be Strong and of Good Courage, A Guided Christian Meditation on Joshua 1:6-8 with the Recenter With Christ app I'm Chaplain Jared and I work as a hospice chaplain and an ICU chaplain, my purpose in making this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and to be more open for your heart to be changed by the Spirit of God. By using centuries old form of Christian Meditation named Lectio Divina: Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes. Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation: Breathe and direct your thoughts to contacting God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Bible verses for Meditation: Joshua 1:6-8 NRSV 6 Be strong and courageous; for you shall put this people in possession of the land that I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to act in accordance with all the law that my servant Moses commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful. KJV 6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. 7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Meditation on Scripture: I think much of human weakness is rooted in fear. Fear we aren't enough. Some fear there isn't enough attention or glory for themselves. We fear for the safety of others and for unjust things in this world we both experience and cause. We fear what we dont understand both what we dont understand around us and what we dont understand within. There are facets of our hearts that are dark as well a facet that longs for God. Each human heart carries within it a ferocity. Some have defined this as the warrior spirit. In the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe series CS Lewis there is a character who is a symbol of Jesus. He is the Lion Aslan. Throughout scripture God is represented as the Lion of Judah. He is both ferocious and kind. The spirit of God within you has those elements as well. Why should we take courage? To what end should we hope? To do what God wants us to do in all things. His covenant of old was around the law passed down to Moses. Now it is the way fo Jesus and is the root of the conscience He writes upon the fleshy tables of our heart. Be courageous to do what you know is right no matter what stands in your way, just be cautious it is really what God calls. 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 being 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 Updates: Final Question: How do you plan to take up the courage of God? Final Thought: Although most of the time we focus on the peace of God there is also a tenacity and ferocity of God. As God is within you, you also have access to this wild strength. When you stand before challenges you can either cower in fear or stand in courage being supported by the dreadful yet loving arm of God. Take courage. God is on your side. 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

Bible verses for Meditation: Romans 3:9-13 NIV 9 What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. 10 As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." 13 "Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit." "The poison of vipers is on their lips." Meditation on Scripture: 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

252 Alike Under the Power of Sin, A Guided Christian Meditation on Romans 3:9-13 and the Recenter With Christ app I'm Chaplain Jared and I work as a hospice chaplain and an ICU chaplain, my purpose in making this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and to be more open for your heart to be changed by the Spirit of God. By using centuries old form of Christian Meditation named Lectio Divina: Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes. Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation: Breathe and direct your thoughts to contacting God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Bible verses for Meditation: Romans 3:9-13 NIV 9 What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. 10 As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." 13 "Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit." "The poison of vipers is on their lips." NABRE 9 Well, then, are we better off? Not entirely, for we have already brought the charge against Jews and Greeks alike that they are all under the domination of sin, 10 as it is written: "There is no one just, not one, 11 there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have gone astray; all alike are worthless; there is not one who does good, [there is not] even one. 13 Their throats are open graves; they deceive with their tongues; the venom of asps is on their lips; Meditation on Scripture: Most of the time I focus on a message of God's love and this may seem out of sync with that. I recognize the power of this scripture. Many people receive it differently. I know many people who receive this message with shame. It can seem like this is a message of the wrath of God and his anger at us sinners. I don't think that needs to be our response to this message. This may seem counterintuitive but I think that a recognition of the darkness that resides in us can actually help us release shame. Many times as Christians and those who attempt to follow the master of peace, we feel some dissonance between our Godly aspirations and our heart at times. Each of us have within us the capacity for evil. When we can confess our hearts to God and are open about this there can be a sense of relief that He loves us despite our worst parts. I recently Read the book Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. It is a compelling story of a man who attempts to create a potion that allows him to split his good will and sinful nature into two different manifestations. Little by little as he gives license to his sinful nature the portion of him that remains good deteriorates. This is what we stand in danger of in life. We have a choice to yield to darkness or light. The evil that surrounds us, or the still small voice of God. Modern psychological experiments like the Stanford Prison and Milgram experiments reiterate what we see echoed in history and scripture. Even regular people have a terrible capacity. Intimacy before God is an acknowledgement of reality. We don't need God and redemption for some hypothetical sins but very real ones. Yet here is where the light of God illuminates the darkness. We are are not grateful to God for overlooking some slight annoyances but for loving and redeeming us for profound darkness and an eternity subjected to evil. He provides the way out. We need not remain slaves to sin as we follow Him in faith. 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 being 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 Updates: Final Question: How do you relate to the idea of our sinful nature? Final Thought: I want to mention something in the context of self honesty. For some people who suffer greatly from anxious negative self image the concept of being so blunt about our failings may seem like a black hole from which we can't escape. If you find yourself overwhelmed by these sorts of thoughts I recommend finding someone to help you work through this. Obviously praying directly to God about it and continuing to meditate on His love for you is helpful but you may also find it helpful to have someone walk alongside of you as you reconcile

Bible verses for Meditation: Isaiah 53 KJV 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. NRSV 4 Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 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

250 With His Stripes We Are Healed, A Guided Christian Meditation on Isaiah 53:4-6 (continued from episode 158) Recenter With Christ I'm Chaplain Jared and I work as a hospice chaplain and an ICU chaplain, my purpose in making this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and to be more open for your heart to be changed by the Spirit of God. By using centuries old form of Christian Meditation named Lectio Divina: Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes. Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation: Breathe and direct your thoughts to contacting God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Bible verses for Meditation: Isaiah 53 KJV 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. NRSV 4 Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Meditation on Scripture: This scripture came to me in an flash. I had nearly finished preparing another one when it became clear that I should change to this one. We need to be reminded that Jesus bore our grief. He carried our sorrow. Yet even in that, we don't see it. Some people find themselves asking God where are you? When we are in this mindset we are willing to ignore the horrors of the Cross because we are having a hard time of life. Yet even in the midst of this, Christ was wounded for our transgressions. The reason and the method of our redemption was a literal weight upon his back, that his mortal frame struggled to carry. Yet it is though those stripes that we are healed. This is far from a theological turn of a phrase. When we struggle to wonder were God is, this question is known to Him. He asked it too on the Cross when he cried "My God my God, why have you forsaken me?" Even in this declaration Jesus was quoting Psalm 22. Remember this, in the middle of our struggle, God declares that His stripes heal us. Ponder in this moment how the challenge of life would be much greater with the knowledge that our lack of purity would cause us to be cast out from God's presence forever the moment we die. As it is we struggle from time to time on earth. Sometimes we struggle more than we think we can overcome, yet even in the middle of that, we can trust in the Mercy of a God who forgives despite our failings. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift. 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 being 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 Updates: Final Question: What did you experience today as you pondered on the offering of God's redemption? Final Thought: Many people have reached out to me due changing situations that have brought unfold emotional and even spiritual hardship. Even in the middle of this, there is hope. There is promise of a better day ahead as we have faith. This is not a time when we need be somber and sad. It is a time when we can regather our strength, rise up and put off the things of this world as we place our focus on the Lord and what He has done for us. May gratitude replace the struggle in our hearts and may we experience His peace. 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

Bible verses for Meditation: 1 John 4:7-12 NIV 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 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

248 If We Love One Another, God Lives In Us, A Guided Christian Meditation on 1 John 4:7-12 I'm Chaplain Jared and I work as a hospice chaplain and an ICU chaplain, my purpose in making this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and to be more open for your heart to be changed by the Spirit of God. By using centuries old form of Christian Meditation named Lectio Divina: Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes. Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation: Breathe and direct your thoughts to contacting God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Bible verses for Meditation: 1 John 4:7-12 NIV 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. NRSV 7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. Meditation on Scripture: We know in our hearts that Love is the highest ideal for us to reach toward as we grown in our understanding of God. Unfortunately we all struggle with pieces of hate and rage in our hearts as well that can be provoked to come pouring out. In this moment let us take intention of embracing the love. It would be immature or incomplete for us to claim that we are free from hate. Yet John's epistle equates love with faith. As our faith matures it must move toward love, for God is love. What does it mean that God is love? I believe it means that God's presence is primarily defined as love. In other words wherever and whenever we are near Him, we are encompassed by love. It is comparing fire to light. When we are in communion with God, we are living in His love. I remember a time when I was a young man and I was praying. I had a notion of faith and was actively praying to God. In one moment I became incredibly aware and confident that God could hear my prayer. My heart was overcome with a feeling that I was loved. My goal became to live in such a way that I invited that experience into my life as often as possible. I have accomplished this with many failures but a dedicated focus for decades. It is a feeling that has become much more common to me to me know but at one point in my life it was a new surprise. I see the love of God as directly connected to the kind of faith that Jesus demands from us. Our goal should be then to live in that Love and to constantly pray and act to build that faith and love. 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 being 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 Updates: Final Question: What can you do in your life to more clearly reflect the love of God? Final Thought: My hope is that my repeated message focusing on love will not come across as unimaginative or unsophisticated. I firmly hold that there is nothing more important in our lives than God and His central message through Jesus Christ was a command to love and then to follow Him. It is my hope and expectation that the more focus we place on making our hearts open to the love of God, the more we invite God's influence into our hearts. When it arrives it is the most rewarding thing we can seek. This Love forms the center of an eternal relationship with God. FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: [email protected] Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcas

Bible verses for Meditation: 2 Kings 6:14-17 ESV 14 So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city. 15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" 16 He said, "Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, "O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see." So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.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

Bible verses for Meditation: 2 Kings 6:14-17 ESV 14 So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city. 15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" 16 He said, "Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, "O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see." So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.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

246 Do Not Be Afraid, There are More With Ws Than With Them, A Guided Christian Meditation on 2 Kings 6:14-17 I'm Chaplain Jared and I work as a hospice chaplain and an ICU chaplain, my purpose in making this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and to be more open for your heart to be changed by the Spirit of God. By using centuries old form of Christian Meditation named Lectio Divina: Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes. Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation: Breathe and direct your thoughts to contacting God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Bible verses for Meditation: 2 Kings 6:14-17 ESV 14 So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city. 15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" 16 He said, "Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, "O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see." So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. NABRE 14 he sent there a strong force with horses and chariots. They arrived by night and encircled the city. 15 Early the next morning, when the servant of the man of God arose and went out, he saw the force with its horses and chariots surrounding the city. "Alas!" he said to Elisha. "What shall we do, my lord?" 16 Elisha answered, "Do not be afraid. Our side outnumbers theirs." 17 Then he prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes, that he may see." And the Lord opened the eyes of the servant, and he saw that the mountainside was filled with fiery chariots and horses around Elisha. Meditation on Scripture: The story of Elisha in the Hebew Bible is fascinating, inspiring, yet also intimidating. It is amazing to see such direct involvement between God and humans. We see here his absolute confidence and awareness of the protection of heaven. As people who attempt to follow God, we are constantly assailed by forces trying to drag us down. Those take many forms. I have had many people write me emails explaining their struggles with grief and other emotions as well there struggles with mental health. I have had many people write me with depression. I have had more than one write me about psychosis where they tell me how the struggle understanding what is reality. Each of us has our own struggle that will help us grow in ways we need. When Jesus encountered a blind man his disciples asked who sinned to make the man blind. There was a built in assumption that the blindness must have been a curse from God. Jesus dismissed this idea and said it was to show the power of God. Similarly I think we should be cautious to think that people who struggle with mood disorders or mental illness have somehow invited it by sin. Perhaps it is to invite you to learn and grow. Mental health can challenge our expectations of fairness and it should. One in five people has or while have a diagnosable mental health disorder at some point in their life. There is no shame in struggle. If you are struggling with mental health, know this. Many good people are also. Many people of faith are weighed down by similar weights. The important thing to know is that you are not facing it alone. Those that are with you are far greater than those who oppose you. Adding to that, the God of the universe is on your side. I truly believe that each of us is surrounded by the forces of God to lift us up and help us. I suggest you seek whatever help you need to move through the though times in your life. Be humble and persistent to get the help you need. God loves you. This life with be a blessing for you in the long run if our struggle draws us to God. 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 being 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 Updates: Final Question: What biases do you have about mental health? Final Thought: Having served as a hospital Chaplain, I have encountered many people with severe mental health disorders. I have meet more than one person who told me they were God himself. As humans it is hard to respond to things that are outside of our experience.

NRSV 23 Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. 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

Bible verses for Meditation: Hebrews 10:23-25 NABRE 23 Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, for he who made the promise is trustworthy. 24 We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works. 25 We should not stay away from our assembly, as is the custom of some, but encourage one another, and this all the more as you see the day drawing near. NRSV 23 Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Meditation on Scripture: Hebrews is a powerful text. It teaches us that Christ is a High Priest that came to perform a redeeming sacrifice for us. This is a prevalent theme as is how we can serve each other. This scripture has a few powerful messages for us in that. First is to maintain an unwavering confession of our hope in Him even in the middle of such uncertainty. God's promise is trustworthy. Another powerful aspect is the idea that we provoke each other to love and good deeds. Generally provoking someone tends to be used as a negative. Sometimes we provoke others to anger or even sadness. As Christians our goal should be to help each other live the highest law that Christ gave, which is to learn how to love deeply. This scripture also talks of gathering together. As we ponder collectively what it looks like to gather together in our context let us be mindful of others that we don't provoke them to shame or rejection due to physical concerns. Gathering is a sacred tradition instituted by God even before the coming of Christ. We have more tools available to gather than ever before. How are we using them? Are we using our technology to reach out to those who are hesitant to meet due to physical health? As you and your congregation consider what is appropriate for meeting I hope we can find ways to make worship available to as many people as possible using all available technology and tools. I don't think technology can ever truly replace the value of physically worshiping together but I hope we can be mindful of reaching out to others who are isolated and vulnerable. Let us encourage one another and provoke each other to good deeds and love. 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 being 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 Updates: Final Question: How can you provoke others to love and good deeds? Final Thought: This has been and continues to be a very stressful time for many people. I think in this context it is valuable that we are patient with others and ourselves. The love of God extends to us even when we make extremely poor choices. To act as Jesus would I believe includes aspiring to this kind of love. Perhaps over the next week at least you can ask yourself if the words you speak or write provoke love or shame. Do we use our words to try and show how others are ridiculous or to build bridges of understanding and love? We, as a world and community of believers, need compassion now more than ever before. Let us choose the example of Jesus Christ and pour out our love onto as many people as possible. 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

Bible verses for Meditation: Romans 8:18-25 KJV 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Meditation on Scripture: I do not believe that the collaborative scourges afflicting the world right now are meant to destroy us or even divide us. That may be the case with some people. For us who have placed our trust in God and work to draw near to him, we can actually grow amidst this struggle. This scripture indicates how the sufferings of life will not matter when we see it compared to the Glory of God. I dare say we can even grow and learn things in this life in the midst of the difficulties of life which cause us to embrace the hope of God even more and which we could not have done without the struggle. These glories will be revealed in us through God's spirit. The aspect of us that is the creature, or the natural fallen nature, gives way to the glorifying spirit of peace which helps us rise up. Although we feel the labor pains of the birth of the new creature, the end result of the redemption of our God is glorious. Take a moment and feel the goodness of God well up in your heart now We can be free. Free. Free in every way that one can be free. Hope grows within us even when we can't see this end result. I encourage you to consider ways that you have already grown during this time of struggle. Look for the blessings and strength of God in your life today. If you feel that this time has caused you to slide backwards, rededicate yourself with the knowledge that this earthly suffering does not need to overcome your spiritual progress. If you have noticed spiritual progress, look how you can expand it with God's help. FIND ME ON: Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com App Store App: Recenter with Christ Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: [email protected] Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod

Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation: Breathe and direct your thoughts to contacting God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Bible verses for Meditation: Romans 8:18-25 ESV 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. KJV 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Meditation on Scripture: I do not believe that the collaborative scourges afflicting the world right now are meant to destroy us or even divide us. That may be the case with some people. For us who have placed our trust in God and work to draw near to him, we can actually grow amidst this struggle. This scripture indicates how the sufferings of life will not matter when we see it compared to the Glory of God. I dare say we can even grow and learn things in this life in the midst of the difficulties of life which cause us to embrace the hope of God even more and which we could not have done without the struggle. These glories will be revealed in us through God's spirit. The aspect of us that is the creature, or the natural fallen nature, gives way to the glorifying spirit of peace which helps us rise up. Although we feel the labor pains of the birth of the new creature, the end result of the redemption of our God is glorious. Take a moment and feel the goodness of God well up in your heart now We can be free. Free. Free in every way that one can be free. Hope grows within us even when we can't see this end result. I encourage you to consider ways that you have already grown during this time of struggle. Look for the blessings and strength of God in your life today. If you feel that this time has caused you to slide backwards, rededicate yourself with the knowledge that this earthly suffering does not need to overcome your spiritual progress. If you have noticed spiritual progress, look how you can expand it with God's help. 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 being 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 Updates: Final Question: How have you responded to the difficulties you have experienced ove the last few months? Final Thought: Even now, inside us there are pieces of unresolved undeveloped creaturehood. The spirit of God is what roots that out of us and helps us continually reject the less than holy influences that attack us as we await a unified and complete adoption of the father. The simple fact is that these sufferings in our life are not a representation of the lack of God's love or understanding. They are obstacles that, with God's help we can learn to climb over and become stronger and close to Him. I know that God loves you and wants the best for you. May you feel that blessing in your life. FIND ME ON: Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com App Store App: Recenter with Christ Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: [email protected] Apple Podcasts - Christian Medita