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The BEMA Podcast – Creating a space

These are the disciplines that I love. I would call these maybe disciplines of presence. Disciplines of presence. My favorite one is the first one, solitude, Sabbath, and silence. This is what Bill taught me when he told me to take that Bible and a lunch and go out to the lake. What he was telling me to do was he was telling me to create a space, to become more aware of the love, grace, and companionship of God than the companionship, demands, and duties of life and others. I’ll say that again, creating space, becoming more aware of the love, grace, and companionship of God than the companionship, demands, and duties of life and others.

Building Joy and Resilience – The Presence Project

Our brains naturally slide to scarcity. It’s time to ask for eyes to see the tables God has set in our everyday wilderness. 

Union With Christ – The Village Church

The Imperfect Disciple – Jared Wilson

“There is more security with Christ in the middle of a stormy sea than without Christ in the warm stillness of our bathtub.”

How Guilt And Shame Can Bring Us Closer To God – Scott Sauls

Jonah, Paul, and David were not seeking attention through melodramatic over-sharing. Rather, they saw the value of sometimes putting their worst foot forward as a way to show a watching world how long, high, wide and deep is the love of God. They wanted their readers, whoever they would be throughout the world and through the centuries, to become convinced that where sin abounds, the grace of God abounds even more (Romans 5:20). In other words, they viewed the transfer of grace as not only something that happens between a people and God, but also between people and people. It’s a community affair, not a private affair.

Are You Hearing From God? – Priscilla Shirer

Lessons in Becoming a Better Listener – Tim Challies

Good listening requires patience. We must not succumb to hasty or inattentive listening, but be willing to listen patiently and thoroughly. We must focus on the speaker and not on the inevitable distractions in our minds or in our environment. We must listen in such a way that we are not already planning what we will say to combat the speaker or to defend ourselves. “Good listening,” says Mathis, “silences the smartphone and doesn’t stop the story, but is attentive and patient.”

Identity: Embracing Your Limits – Jen Wilkin

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