Discerning Grace Heidi Beckman-Warren

Welcome to the series on Lent. Today is Ash Wednesday and the start of the 40 days of Lent culminating with Easter Sunday. Come walk with us as we look at how we can prepare ourselves for this holy time. We will start with what some of us remember of childhood Easter time - giving something up. What does that mean for us today?

Join as I enter Holy Week and look at a Discerning Life and a preference for God. How do we do that and what does a “preference for God” mean?  Listen as I share what I have learned from the book titled “A Discerning Life” and begin to notice where God might be encouraging you look, notice, and connect with God.

Ponderings:


Looking back on this Lent, how has it been different than other years?
Can you notice where God was trying to grab your attention today?
Is your life too busy or time so budgeted you don’t get time to feel the Spirit’s presence in everyday activities?
What does “savor the sorrow” mean to you?

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Many songs have been written about the cross of Christ.  How can we sit with a song and take a moment to accept the emotions of the words? How can life, death, and resurrection  mingle together? Reflecting on the death of her father, Flannery O’Connor wrote in her journal, “The reality of death has come upon us and a consciousness of the power of God has broken our complacency like a bullet in the side.  The cross brings up many visual images for us. I wonder what you see when you visualize the cross.



Ponderings:


What do you see when you think about the cross of Christ?
When you listened to the song  ”When I Survey the Wonderous Cross” what did you notice?
I wonder how Jesus would respond to me if I sang this song to him.
What can I pick up from today’s chat to carry with me this Lenten season?

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This is the third and last talk on Confession in the greater series of Spiritual Disciplines. The discussion is focused on the reasons it is considered a “Corporate” discipline, one done in community. How comfortable are you with a public confession? When you are with a group that participates in a read confession, I think it suddenly levels the playing field. Yes, we are all sinners, yet God calls us Saints and His own children, what a powerful thing.



Ponderings:


How might confession, admitting your faults or mistakes to another, change your life? Actions, character?
Would this help you grow in humility? In courage? Compassion for others?
When was the last time you admitted, “you’re right, I am wrong”?
What do you believe about God?
What changes need to be made so you can comfortably confess without the feeling of self-shaming?

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This weeks post on discerninggrace.com

Today is our 2nd chat on Confession. Building on the first chat, I will look at why your view of God affects your belief in forgiveness and your desire to confess. Then, I will lead us into a general confession of sin.

Ponderings:


Am I ever hesitant to ask God for forgiveness?
Do you ever get tired of confessing your wrongs?
Is there any physical or emotional change after confession?
How might I work forgiveness into my daily life?

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Click here for the rest of the series

This week I will begin a new Spiritual Discipline, one that is the least talked about, and if we do it is in secret. I certainly didn’t think of it as a “discipline” something to practice as a young Christian. Come along as we learn together how much freedom and joy can be found in confession.



Ponderings:


What are your thoughts and practices in relation to Confession?
Do you find yourself on either extreme as discussed in the chat?
What if confession truly could bring your soul freedom?
When you think about confession, what is the largest obstacle for you?

Click here for the transcript