thinplace: transfiguration...glory and the mountain top

 

here's your taste of thinplace for this week...sunday is the sunday of the transfiguration and it's always good to reflect on this amazing happening in the life of Jesus and his close friends. every time i listen to the story i learn and see new things...

for me last night , it was about experiencing the glory of king jesus...too often i know and experience jesus as my friend, "my buddy" jesus...but not the KING of KINGS glorified Jesus...

too often i don't take the time to be awestruck by jesus...i don't focus enough on his glory and his position as king...

so this lent (starting next wednesday btw) i am reflecting on how i might engage the wonder and awe of jesus in tangible ways.

i also spent time wondering about the last verse..."don't tell anyone..." i know jesus didn't want peter shooting off his mouth and declaring his messiahship and kingship before the cross, but do you think they really did keep quiet? do you think peter really could ?

and what about the 9 disciples that were left down the mountain...i've always wondered how they felt...i would have felt left out and i know i would have bugged peter for information about what happened up there! ...just some wonderings...

to be honest, i almost didn't use this week's lections because i've "done that story" so many times before...and i hate skipping forward too far in the gospel rather than just doing the next chapter.

turns out i'm so glad the holy spirit is the teacher and not me! had two folks at thinplace last night who heard this passage for the very first time!!!!

i always say in my workshops never to assume that anyone knows the story...and i proved to myself i need to remember that fact myself!!!

got a little carried away with the questions to consider ...really shouldn't be more than 5...just had lots of thoughts 

as usual you don't have to journal from any of them if you don't want to...

the TAKE AWAY was a small white light bulb...to put on our desk or kitchen window or by our beds..keep it somewhere where you'll see it each day...to remind us of the light of Jesus...and to remind us that we too carry his light into the world...think also of someone who needs the light of God's love in their lives...and use the light bulb as a reminder to pray for this person in the coming week/month.

and if you have to change a light bulb or buy new light bulbs in the near future...remember to shine your light, the light of God's love to the people around you.

 

THINPLACE march 3, 2011…

Opening Prayer…

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:17-18

Help me, Lord, to notice how you are speaking to me.

Matthew 17  New Living Translation  The Transfiguration

Matthew 17 The Message

Listen to the passage read three times

Things to consider while journaling….

1. Had any mountain top experiences lately? Would you be interested in having one? Do you need one?
2. Was there ever a time when you just wanted to build a shelter, pitch a tent, and not go back down the mountain, not have to return to real life?
3. Anything making you scared right now?
4. What would it be like to have Jesus touch you when you are scared?
5. What is it that you just don’t get about what Jesus is doing …in this passage, in your life, on your journey? On the other hand, What things are making sense?
6. What things help you see Jesus more clearly…?
7. Why do we forget about the Glory of God? What blinds us to the glory of God?
8. Do you think we get too comfortable with “buddy” Jesus and forget the king of king side of Him? Why?
9. What area of your life do you need illuminated and perhaps cleaned out?

10.What are some ways you can reflect the light of King in the coming days?

 

IDEAS: Use the last two questions as meditations to close your time together....

#9 CONFESSION: HOLD a light bulb in your hand ...what areas of your life need to be illuminated/cleaned out... talk to God about this.

#10. ways that you can reflect the light of king jesus in the week to come...write these down on paper to take home...or as a prayer station...

use a large mirror and write these ways to reflect Jesus and His light on the mirror.

TABLE: center piece ...large white candle, bowl of small white light bulbs. several types of light bulbs displayed around the candle

TAKE AWAY: Small white light bulbs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jesus …

We ask you to give us eyes to see …to see your Light around us

To see your Light in other people

To see your Light and realize how much you love us.

We ask that you give us ears to hear …to hear your voice above the crowd

To hear your voice above our own…

Help us to hear your voice in the midst of our fears and our pain.

We ask that you help us remember the mountain top experiences when we’ve felt close to you, especially when we are feeling down in a ditch.

Help us to remember that you are with us

Thank you for loving us before we even had a clue

Thanks for loving us when we feel un-loveable.

Thank you for loving me …all that I am. AMEN