Short Thought continued.....
A Self-led Retreat Resource accompanies this Short Thought and can be found below.
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Glimpses of God
I caught a glimpse of God in the clouds floating effortlessly in the vast blue sky.
I caught a glimpse of God in the coolness of the breeze as I stood drinking in its freshness.
I caught a glimpse of God as I gazed up at the wonder and mystery of the darkness
holding the twinkling stars suspended in its enormity.
I caught a glimpse of God in the gentle movement and soft rustling of the wheat field,
in the colourful beauty of a fragrant rose.
in the intricate detail of a bug,
in the beautiful choral melody of bird song,
in the smile of a stranger,
in the laughter of a friend,
in the mischievousness of my child.
God’s beauty, wonder and mystery are all around.
Displays of His craftsmanship which need no voice, speak of His marvels;
they proclaim His splendour and glory, they make Him known to all the world.
‘The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display His craftsmanship.
Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make Him known.
They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard.
Yet their message has gone throughout the earth and their words to all the world.’
(Psalm 19:1-4 NLT)
‘God’s splendour is a tale that is told; His testament is written in the stars.
Space itself speaks His story every day through the marvels of the heavens.
His truth is on tour in the starry vault of the sky, showing His skill in creation’s craftsmanship.
Each day gushes out its message to the next, night with night whispering its knowledge to all.
Without a sound, without a word, without a voice being heard, yet all the world can see its story.’
(Psalm 19:1-4 TPT)
Thought: How are you catching glimpses of God?
Prayer:
Pause…
Look and listen for Him.
Stop!
Don’t let this glimpse pass you by;
this moment of beauty, wonder, mystery will never repeat itself.
Pause…
Breath in the glimpse... it is a gift.
Be in awe.
Praise Him!
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A Self-led Retreat Resource
This resource has been created to help and encourage you to be with God. There can be times when
we would like to spend time with Him but we perhaps get distracted with the how to or what to use.
What will help us to come into His presence, to be with Him?
How can we slow our rhythm to enable us to pray, listen and be still for a while?
Sometimes we can spend more time considering the how and what, than actual time with God!
By creating this simple resource hopefully you can spend more time with Him and less time preparing.
My prayer is for your relationship with God to deepen; for you to witness Him in new ways as
He awakens you to new things, and for your journey with Him to be enriched.
There is no set timeframe for this individual retreat; it could take an hour or a whole day.
To begin
Read all the material through once to get a feel for the theme, content and flow.
You will probably need some simple writing materials - paper, pen and possibly colouring pencils.
You might like your own Bible. You might like some refreshments.
The questions posed are there to guide and inspire.
Don’t be restricted by them, they are not a list where each must be answered.
Be free to add to or change them. Your heart may stir to ask additional questions, go with your stirrings.
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Sometimes we spend time with God and come away enthused and have discovered ‘answers’
– we have clarity, direction, peace…
On other occasions, no ‘answers' present themselves. That’s Ok! The important thing is you have spent time with God. Quite often over the next few days or weeks ‘answers’ present themselves; you read something or have a conversation or hear a line of a song or a sermon and you just know God is speaking or showing you the ‘answer'. ‘Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.’ (Psalm 37:7)
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Entering into
As you enter into spending time with God, enter prayerfully.
Is there anything you want to bring to God? A need, a worry, a fear...
Is there anything you need to confess?
What do you want to ask Him for?
Activity
Read the Short Thought titled ‘Glimpses of God’. (A copy is above)
Choose a way to connect with and experience God’s creation. You might like to:
Take a walk
Sit in an outside space
Sit inside looking out of a window.
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You might like to choose a focal point… a flower, a leaf, a tree, a landscape, water, sky, woodland…
Choose something to watch for a time, to absorb, to take in…
to interact and engage with… to touch… to feel… to smell… to listen to…
Perhaps, watch a living being… a bird… a bug… a butterfly… an animal.
Or watch the effect of the wind. Feel its movement. Breathe it deeply into your lungs.
Or climb a tree… hug a tree!
Or dip your toes into the refreshing water.
As you experience, interact and engage with God’s creation the following questions may be helpful:
What am I seeing? What am I hearing?
What am I feeling? What am I smelling?
What is awakening with in me?
What am I enjoying? What am I delighting in?
How is God’s creation speaking to me?
What is it showing or revealing to me?
How am I catching glimpses of God?
What beauty am I glimpsing?
What wonder?
What mystery?
How do I want to respond?
Read Psalm 19:1-4
(These verses are in the Short Thought)
Re-read the verses slowly.
Re-read slower still.
Either, take each phrase, or particular words to mediate upon and to reflect on.
Questions which may be helpful:
How is God making himself known to me?
What beauty, wonder and/or mystery is being revealed?
How is God’s craftsmanship being displayed?
What truth or message is being spoken?
How do I want to respond?
To Close
As you draw this time to a close, ask yourself:
Why was I gifted this space and time?
What am I grateful for?
What have I witnessed? What has God shown me?
How has God spoken to me? What is His message to me? What has God awakened?
How has this experience deepened my relationship with God?
How will it enrich my journey with Him?
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