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Feb 3, 2019

097 The Heavens Declare the Glory of God - A Christian Meditation on Psalms 19:1-6

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 to be changed by the Spirit of God. by using a centuries old form of Christian Meditation called Lectio Divina. It consists of:

Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation, Visualization

Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should 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.

Bible verse for meditation:

1 John 3:1-3
NABRE
2 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the firmament proclaims the works of his hands.
3 Day unto day pours forth speech;
night unto night whispers knowledge.
4 [b]There is no speech, no words;
their voice is not heard;
5 A report goes forth through all the earth,
their messages, to the ends of the world.
He has pitched in them a tent for the sun;[c]
6 it comes forth like a bridegroom from his canopy,
and like a hero joyfully runs its course.
7 From one end of the heavens it comes forth;
its course runs through to the other;
nothing escapes its heat.

ESV
1 The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above[a] proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
4 Their voice[b] goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,
5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them,
and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

What does this scripture mean to you?
Has it had a different effect this reading as compared to times past?
How does this scripture make you feel?

Continue breathing deeply as you ponder this meaning.

Meditation on scripture / bible verse meditation:

I have spent many hours looking through telescopes with my brothers. Winter is an amazing time for me. The constellation Orion is out all night and I have memories of my father showing me Orion. I have never lost a sense of wonder about the stars. The closer I look, the more amazed I am with them. There is an amazing Nebula on Orion’s sword. It amazes me that light has traveled over a thousand light years from that nebula to be focused by some glass to be pointed into my eye. For example I have seen M31, the Andromeda galaxy, through a telescope.

It amazes me to think that Andromeda is estimated to have over a trillion stars. It is 110,000 light years across. It is over a million light years away. Meaning the photons of light that have hit my eye left Andromeda over a million years ago. Yet God could scoop those trillions stars up in one swoop if he wanted. He could also wisk the earth off and plop it down in the middle of Andromeda if he chose to. Yet he lets the laws he has created into the universe declare the might of creation. We are not sitting on some crusty rock next to nothingness. We are surrounded as far as light can travel by creation.

If our ears are open to hear the wisdom of God in all creation it can fill us with wonder and amazement at the glory of God. I trust that God’s hand has crafted our universe. As believers in the God of the Bible we can solidly reject the idea that change and creation occurs by randomness. The entirety of space is full of the witness of 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:

Details:

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Final Question: What in creation and nature fills you will awe?

Final Thought:

Try looking at the night sky intently. Be careful my friends in Canada and the Northern States. If you can do it safely see if you can find a pair of binoculars and look at the constellation of Orion. From the northern hemisphere it is visible to the south. If you find the three stars of his belt then you are halfway there. Look down from his belt and you will see a small line of stars forming his sword. The bottom one of these is surrounded by a cloudy haze. That is a Nebula. Even at very low power it whispers the wisdom of God. Enjoy creation around you and God’s handiwork. If we learn to relish these moments of sublime wonder they will grow in our heart and we will feel an increase of gratitude for God.

 

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