Comments on: Be Still http://topshelfediting.com/religion/be-still/ Writing, Editing and Proofreading Services Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:43:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Pastor Don http://topshelfediting.com/religion/be-still/#comment-88 Pastor Don Sat, 23 Aug 2008 04:20:11 +0000 http://topshelfediting.com/religion/be-still/#comment-88 Karen, Great article on prayer! PTL you use your gifts in the kingdom. God bless, Pastor +Don Karen,

Great article on prayer! PTL you use your gifts in the kingdom.

God bless,
Pastor +Don

]]> By: Linda http://topshelfediting.com/religion/be-still/#comment-79 Linda Fri, 01 Aug 2008 21:20:06 +0000 http://topshelfediting.com/religion/be-still/#comment-79 Great article and very well researched. My only concern in using prayer beads over time is making them too legalistic, having to pray a cerain way over time making it ritualistic. As long as it does not go that far, and I have see it done, I don't see anything wrong with using them as your prayer template. As you said, "Our father..." is just that. Great article and very well researched. My only concern in using prayer beads over time is making them too legalistic, having to pray a cerain way over time making it ritualistic. As long as it does not go that far, and I have see it done, I don’t see anything wrong with using them as your prayer template. As you said, “Our father…” is just that.

]]> By: Carole Winchell http://topshelfediting.com/religion/be-still/#comment-78 Carole Winchell Thu, 31 Jul 2008 17:20:43 +0000 http://topshelfediting.com/religion/be-still/#comment-78 What a blessing this article is...a refreshing relief from ALL THE TRASH put out on the web. Thank you for researching prayer. I will incorporate this as it seems to mirror Ephesians account of '...putting on the armor or God...', a necessary component of every day! God's blessings to you and your family. What a blessing this article is…a refreshing relief from ALL THE TRASH put out on the web. Thank you for researching prayer. I will incorporate this as it seems to mirror Ephesians account of ‘…putting on the armor or God…’, a necessary component of every day!
God’s blessings to you and your family.

]]> By: Sharon http://topshelfediting.com/religion/be-still/#comment-77 Sharon Wed, 30 Jul 2008 02:26:33 +0000 http://topshelfediting.com/religion/be-still/#comment-77 Karen, I enjoyed reading about your journey and revelation about prayer. I admit that the first time I heard about "contemplative" prayer it was in a negative view. You are right to say that so many fear the New Age connection with this kind of prayer. New Age can be so subtle because it can be 99% "christian" looking with a small 1% twist from the enemy. This type of prayer that you describe is not New Age. New Age type of praying does "empty the mind" and it is left wide open to be filled with things not of God.......at least not the one true God! The contemplative prayer you share does meditate on scripture and the Lord......like David! I'm glad that you pointed that out. I believe that we all need to make a real effort to be still and quiet and HEAR the gentle whisper of the Holy Spirit. He is such a gentle, patient listener.....so many times we forget to share turns and actually let Him talk! I do have one question........what are the seven spirits of God? I do not recall ever having learned that.......would be interested to hear about it! Thanks for sharing this intimate discovery! Karen,
I enjoyed reading about your journey and revelation about prayer. I admit that the first time I heard about “contemplative” prayer it was in a negative view. You are right to say that so many fear the New Age connection with this kind of prayer. New Age can be so subtle because it can be 99% “christian” looking with a small 1% twist from the enemy. This type of prayer that you describe is not New Age. New Age type of praying does “empty the mind” and it is left wide open to be filled with things not of God…….at least not the one true God! The contemplative prayer you share does meditate on scripture and the Lord……like David! I’m glad that you pointed that out. I believe that we all need to make a real effort to be still and quiet and HEAR the gentle whisper of the Holy Spirit. He is such a gentle, patient listener…..so many times we forget to share turns and actually let Him talk!

I do have one question……..what are the seven spirits of God? I do not recall ever having learned that…….would be interested to hear about it!

Thanks for sharing this intimate discovery!

]]> By: Rebekah http://topshelfediting.com/religion/be-still/#comment-76 Rebekah Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:04:04 +0000 http://topshelfediting.com/religion/be-still/#comment-76 This is great! Like most of the people who have commented before me, My spirit has been so hungry for a greater intimacy with Christ...it's so nice to know that I'm not the only one "experimenting" with different types of prayers. I think I'm going to print out Eph. 6:18 as a reminder! :) This is great! Like most of the people who have commented before me, My spirit has been so hungry for a greater intimacy with Christ…it’s so nice to know that I’m not the only one “experimenting” with different types of prayers. I think I’m going to print out Eph. 6:18 as a reminder! :)

]]> By: Fade to Black http://topshelfediting.com/religion/be-still/#comment-75 Fade to Black Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:36:18 +0000 http://topshelfediting.com/religion/be-still/#comment-75 I came to your post by way of a Google alert. About 9 years ago, I wrote a review on Madam Jeanne Guyon's book (Experiencing the Depth of Jesus Christ) that had been translated from the French, to English. It resonated deeply within my spirit and soul. Regrettably, I allowed "life" to impinge upon this new taste of intimacy I'd received from the Lord. Further, I allowed the "nay-sayers" to quell my desire for quieting myself before the Lord. A naturally active person, it didn't take much cajoling before I fell back into the hurried lifestyle I wished to understand and bring under subjection to the Lord's will. Then, this past February - with the longing for deeper intimacy with the Father tucked deep into the core of my being, someone experienced in this type of "contemplative/listening" prayer modeled it for me. An answer to my continued search, although I had not know how to quiet myself until this time. Also, a part of me feared that if I failed to draw close and be intimate with him, that it translated to my unworthiness (a subject for another day, and certainly an incorrect understanding of the redemptive work of the cross). Anyway, this experience revolutionized my life. We serve an amazing God who is deeply interested in our "following hard after Him, and becoming "one with Him" (as Jesus said - as we, Father, are one). While they may be springboards for revelation, most frequently, the unanswered questions of our faith are not found between the covers of books (save for the revelations of scripture), but in the quiet communion between God and those whom He loves so dearly. I've managed to gather some courage and post one of my crafted prayers to my Silent Mornings blog (I do this several times a week - that is: writing vs. speaking my communication which can still find itself in the quiet process of enjoining myself to the LORD.) Take a peek at the post entitled: Sehnsucht, if you might find interest. http://silentmornings.blogspot.com I came to your post by way of a Google alert.

About 9 years ago, I wrote a review on Madam Jeanne Guyon’s book (Experiencing the Depth of Jesus Christ) that had been translated from the French, to English. It resonated deeply within my spirit and soul. Regrettably, I allowed “life” to impinge upon this new taste of intimacy I’d received from the Lord. Further, I allowed the “nay-sayers” to quell my desire for quieting myself before the Lord. A naturally active person, it didn’t take much cajoling before I fell back into the hurried lifestyle I wished to understand and bring under subjection to the Lord’s will.

Then, this past February - with the longing for deeper intimacy with the Father tucked deep into the core of my being, someone experienced in this type of “contemplative/listening” prayer modeled it for me. An answer to my continued search, although I had not know how to quiet myself until this time. Also, a part of me feared that if I failed to draw close and be intimate with him, that it translated to my unworthiness (a subject for another day, and certainly an incorrect understanding of the redemptive work of the cross).

Anyway, this experience revolutionized my life.

We serve an amazing God who is deeply interested in our “following hard after Him, and becoming “one with Him” (as Jesus said - as we, Father, are one).

While they may be springboards for revelation, most frequently, the unanswered questions of our faith are not found between the covers of books (save for the revelations of scripture), but in the quiet communion between God and those whom He loves so dearly.

I’ve managed to gather some courage and post one of my crafted prayers to my Silent Mornings blog (I do this several times a week - that is: writing vs. speaking my communication which can still find itself in the quiet process of enjoining myself to the LORD.)

Take a peek at the post entitled: Sehnsucht, if you might find interest. http://silentmornings.blogspot.com

]]> By: Jackie http://topshelfediting.com/religion/be-still/#comment-74 Jackie Sun, 27 Jul 2008 22:10:21 +0000 http://topshelfediting.com/religion/be-still/#comment-74 HEY, whatever it takes!!! I personally am tired of "old religious mindsets" that say, "this is the right/only way to the throne" If God could use a donkey... You go Karen! I love your beads and only God knows your heart. He knows that it is your desire to be pleasing and acceptable in His sight. I think that you should make them and sell them!!! Keep writing... HEY, whatever it takes!!!
I personally am tired of “old religious mindsets” that say, “this is the right/only way to the throne”

If God could use a donkey…

You go Karen! I love your beads and only God knows your heart. He knows that it is your desire to be pleasing and acceptable in His sight.
I think that you should make them and sell them!!!

Keep writing…

]]> By: Cheryl Craig http://topshelfediting.com/religion/be-still/#comment-68 Cheryl Craig Sat, 26 Jul 2008 01:19:05 +0000 http://topshelfediting.com/religion/be-still/#comment-68 Wonderful blog -- very inspiring! I would compare the prayer beads to an outline, which we know sets the order for an essay or speech. I think it's a great idea to use the prayer beads to give order to your time you set aside for the Lord. God is a God of order -- He surely will not frown upon one's use of beads to help keep order in prayers and thoughts. By the way, did you make those beads? They are beautiful. Wonderful blog — very inspiring! I would compare the prayer beads to an outline, which we know sets the order for an essay or speech. I think it’s a great idea to use the prayer beads to give order to your time you set aside for the Lord. God is a God of order — He surely will not frown upon one’s use of beads to help keep order in prayers and thoughts. By the way, did you make those beads? They are beautiful.

]]> By: Aunt Maurine http://topshelfediting.com/religion/be-still/#comment-67 Aunt Maurine Fri, 25 Jul 2008 23:38:32 +0000 http://topshelfediting.com/religion/be-still/#comment-67 Thank you so much for sending this.I think this will work for me. I LOVE YOU, Maurine Thank you so much for sending this.I think this will work for me.
I LOVE YOU,
Maurine

]]> By: Guy Earle http://topshelfediting.com/religion/be-still/#comment-66 Guy Earle Fri, 25 Jul 2008 21:42:33 +0000 http://topshelfediting.com/religion/be-still/#comment-66 I have been reflecting on the same concepts lately and believe it is vital that we learn how to hear from God. Thank you for sharing! I have been reflecting on the same concepts lately and believe it is vital that we learn how to hear from God. Thank you for sharing!

]]>