Saint Lydia Purpuraria
Alkelda. Saint Lydia Purpuraria, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=56894 [retrieved May 20, 2022]. Original source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/alkelda/8347293119 - Alkelda.
First and foremost, I felt a sense of being home, a place where “they have to take you in,” but also, a place where they want to take you in. In the ideal experience of it, home is a place for healing wounds and celebrating fulfillment. It’s an environment which welcomes you to kick off your shoes, sink into an armchair, and put your feet up. You can be yourself. The masks are down, and you become as comfortable and vulnerable as a sleepy puppy. How I wished the church could be such a place for me!
Chris Glaser, Come Home!
Chris Glaser, Come Home!
Imaging the Word An Arts and Lectionary Resource, Volume 1
Spiritual Practices: Breath Prayer
Overview
Like Paul, and the others with him, God is calling you to tell someone else about him. In this case, God was calling Paul to share the good news about Jesus in Macedonia. In the verses previous to this, we see that Paul was actively looking for someone to share the gospel with. He tried to go into Asia, and then into Mysia (Acts 16:6-7). Both times, God prevented him from doing so because he had other plans. The key thing for us to realize though, is that Paul was actively looking for someone to share Jesus with and God guided him to the right people. God wants us to share Jesus with others around us just like Paul did. And just like Paul, if we are open to it, God will lead us to the right people. That is what this breath prayer is about.
Prayer
Abba Father, who are you sending me to?
Overview
Like Paul, and the others with him, God is calling you to tell someone else about him. In this case, God was calling Paul to share the good news about Jesus in Macedonia. In the verses previous to this, we see that Paul was actively looking for someone to share the gospel with. He tried to go into Asia, and then into Mysia (Acts 16:6-7). Both times, God prevented him from doing so because he had other plans. The key thing for us to realize though, is that Paul was actively looking for someone to share Jesus with and God guided him to the right people. God wants us to share Jesus with others around us just like Paul did. And just like Paul, if we are open to it, God will lead us to the right people. That is what this breath prayer is about.
Prayer
Abba Father, who are you sending me to?
Exploring the Text: A missionary to someone
This passage has great significance to us today. This was the beginning of the westward expansion of the gospel. Upon seeing this vision, Paul changed the course of the missionary journey. This move opened up the gospel to all points west.
Are you willing to be used by God to spread the message of the gospel? You may be thinking, “well, I am not a missionary”. In actuality, we are all called to be a missionary to someone. You may not be called to travel around the world, sharing the gospel as your career, but there is someone that you can reach. What about your neighbor? Can you make the trip next door to tell them about Jesus?
Rick Heinrich
This passage has great significance to us today. This was the beginning of the westward expansion of the gospel. Upon seeing this vision, Paul changed the course of the missionary journey. This move opened up the gospel to all points west.
Are you willing to be used by God to spread the message of the gospel? You may be thinking, “well, I am not a missionary”. In actuality, we are all called to be a missionary to someone. You may not be called to travel around the world, sharing the gospel as your career, but there is someone that you can reach. What about your neighbor? Can you make the trip next door to tell them about Jesus?
Rick Heinrich